Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-30


The Journal assumes the duty Of wet nurse
for the Governors reputation. Ii charges that
copying an article frvm the Cincinnati Enquirer,
contrasting the course Of the Governors OF Ohio
and Indiana in reference TO conscientious"
exempts. was an attempt on part to injure
the reputation and impair the influence of Gov.
MosroS We are exceedingly sorry that the
Governors reputation and influence easily
impaired
Let "a examine the matter a little, as the
Journal by its criticisms has invited investiga
ton. That print says:
Now the Enquirer may have been ignorant OF
the fact that persons cOnscientiously opposed to
bearing arms are exempt from militia duty, - by
provision of the State Constitution. (r-e section
8. article H. and that the Governors orders
only declared exemption which he had
power To annul but the SratiRel knew better. Ii
knew that the exemption was made by the
Constitution, vet il willing lay upon the
Governor the ridicue Of making il upon his own
thJrity.
The State Constitution says mo person con
scientiously opposed 10 bearing arms shall be
compelled to do military duty" Under this pro
vision the Governor assumes to determine who
have consciences and who have not. In his
der he thus defines the consccntious-"all mem
bers in good standing of any religious denomina-
ton. who make opposition to bearing arms an
article Of faith are exempt from military duty"
So We must conclude, then. accepting the Gov
ernors authority therefore, that no one can have
conscience unless a member in good standing
OF some religious denomination. Nobody but this
class, the Governor by order declares, can be
attribute. which we have been led TO believe was
a part of every mans moral nature. This edict
of the Governor will relieve large portion Of
mankind from heavy load of responsibility.
But there is another point in this Exemption
of Drafts which is worthy of consideration.
The provision quoted from our Constitution re-
fers solely to liability to military duty under
State law. The draft is ordered under a United
States law. and unless the Governor desires to
carry out the Southern doctrine of STATE rights,
he can emily exempt from military duty those
whom the United States laws exempt AS we
understand il, the Governor has no authority
whatever to make any exempts except those thus
eXtmptcu he OOnSlllutiOu VI the
States does not make conscience conscientious
scruples an exemption from military duty. 1t does
not even exclude himself from the same liability
to military duty as the humbest citizen 1T his
name il not enrolled. unless physically or by age
disabled, the Commissioners has failed to do his
duty. Every able bodied male citizen of the
United States. betwee the ages OF eighteen and
forty five. are subject to military duty. aud only
certain employees OF the Federal Govern
ment, enumerated by law. are exemIi
thereirom. This is Governor Tons view OF the
Law. Such should be the common sense con.
struction OF il. But the Governor sets up his
authority against Law, places the Constitution of
In,iiana above the Constitution of the United
States. and issues his pronunciamento ms to who
are exempt from military duty, without regard to
the latter instrument the laws under it. And
he goes step still further by declaring no man
has right to conscientious scruples. unless a
member OF some religious denonin ition in gool
standing. Weoes the Journal 70 understand that
IN making these comments. we have not the
slightest intention to ipjure the reputation. i'm
pair the influence of His Excellency. but. other
wise. To show what wonderful man We have 10
rule over ~