Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-05-21
CONSCRIPT DISEASES.
Fur the Standard.

CONSCRIPT DISEASES
Nh EorroR: Frouf the reading Of the conscript
law, tho supplemental act passed by Congress, and
the regulations of Mr. Secretary Randolph it would
seem that the President and his Secretary clothed
with unlimited power, either for veal or for woe.
Under the law, the President has the right to place
IN service all male persons between the ages Of
eighteen and thirty five years. who are not legally
exempted by law. Just here, very important In
quiry arises what constitutes unfit for mill
tary duty-and whether the discharges given by
Physicians without the authority OF law. and dis.
charges given by Surgeons under the authority of
State laws, will be regarded by the proper authori-
ties under the conscript act as legal exemptons!-
The regulations of the Secretary are not explicit
the subject and hence great abuses will be prac-
ticed by thousands of persons who ought to be in
the service who will skulk behind soue imaginary
or feigned disease, and thereby escape their just
responsibility.
Under the supplemental act exempting certain
persons, &c. the Secretary is clothed with wide dis
cretionary powers In the first part OF the act he
is authorized to determine by prescribed rules who
are unfit for military duty; in the latter part of the
act, after the words superintendent, operatives"
&C., the Secretsfy is clothed with powers and re-
sponsibilities more comprehensive than those dele
gated to him in the conscript law itself; and unless
he exercises his authority to the txten of the law
frauds and abuses nnumerable will he practiced up
on the government.
1 would ask whether the law was intended to op-
crate on those only who were in Office at the time
of the passage of the law, whether il intend
ed to be prospective in its operation9 Unless the
Secretary closes the door against abuses offices and
4 officers, employers and employees, preachers and
schoolteachers those employed in foundries, fur
naces and factories, will be multiplied ad in6nitum.
| will enumerate few Of the many instances Of
abuse that have heard of from responsible gentle
and hat Hou L..
ton. Gentlemen, with all the requisites for good
soldiers, have turned school teachers since the pas
sage OF the law one Of them, SO ignorant of the
rudiments of the English language, that doubt
whether he could spell cruci6s correctly another,
man Of some position in society, has turned mail
| boy; third real sxfooter, who has been en-
gagged in the disreputable business for years. of de-
noralizng and corrupting the community, by sell
ling mean whiskey, has been trying to become gov
eminent agent in putting up wagons; fourth, is
anxious to engage in the manufacture of leather
at season Of the year when no sane man would
engage in the business, and doubt very much
whether he has yats, hides Or bark. Magistrates
ana constaoles claim exemption upon the ground
that they are Judicial and executive officers. In
fact, every body-fathers, sons, nephews, and cous
ms to the fourth generation, seem to have been
thought of and provided for but the poor law srs
and doctors. Why they should have been ,aade
scspegoats for every body's sin is passngly and un
accountably strange l do not mention the fact BY
way Of complaint but simply for the purpose Of
showing Mr. Secretary Randolph the injustice Of the
law and asking at his hands even-handed Justice to
ail-the high and the low, the rich and the poor.
alike. ''
There is another class Of persons not likely to
come in for their just share Of the burthens Of the
war, unless President Davis and Secretary Ran.
oopa take them under their special care It is the
rich fathers sons, nephews and cousins-men hoh
| havo al 1