The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-08
THE DRAFT.
L. S. navy.

to keep large standing armies and the uni
form reluctance of republics to tolerate them
has occasioned among our citizens some.
what obstinate prejudice against any but
volunteer troops. Consumption is apt to be
regarded either as evincing lack of zeal on
the part of the citizen soldier, or as attesting
tyrannic demand on the part of the gov.
eminent.
So far as this feeling may operate in favor
of voluntary enlistment, it is well. So far
as it may operate to the odium of men who
honorably await the draft, it is i'll.
We need to be aware at the outset that the
burdens of war cannot in the nature of the
case fall exclusively upon any particular class.
AS good government is indispensable to the
successful prosecution of any business SO
all departments of industry must share the
peril and pay tribute to the support of the
government. In the attempt to equalize
these burdens the world will admit that our
nation is unrivallcd. Indeed, so liberal is
the pay of the soldier, that in no case does
it become him to disparage the patriotism OF
the civilian. Nor Oh the other hand can the
civilian complain, if under such inducements
some hirelnss should fall in with the Ii sions
Of patriotic citizens, who have taken up
arms. Civilians and soldiers are working
together in the same great cause; and they
must accept each other despite all human i'm
PROJECTIONS.
The truth is, all citizens owe service to the
government, those who 60 to the war and
those who stay at home. If they are loyal
men they render service cheerfully. The
military service in particular is always con-
templated in free nations as no less privi-
lege than duty. The Spartans reckoned all
between the ages of twenty and sixty years
as liable to Go service as soldiers; the Athe-
mans enrolled all between the ages of eigh-
teen and sixty; and in both cases others were
available in an emergency. These were all
free citizens, men who constituted the state ;
while among the Athenians, to evade militia
ry duty or to show cowardice in the discharge
of 1t was to incur the penalty of public dis
grace. A disgrace not ineffective by reason
of the forgetfulness or good nature of the
citizens-but disgrace made perpetual and
practical in the total withdrawment Of civil
rights. The parricidal wretch, who would
willingly surrender his country to destruction
Was regarded as henceforth dead to the
state. He could not hold office, he could
not bear testimony, he could not speak in the
popular assembly, he could not prosecute in
the courts though he could be treated as
nuisance and punished for any ir.trusiveness.
The poor skeleton of citizen was not to
stalk out of his closet. 1t is to be hoped
that all our refugees in Canada will some
how get hint from this Athenian Justice.
and never return.
In Rome for hundreds of years the militia
ry service was confined to the favored classes
OF citizens; and property qualification was
recognized, on the principle that a man must
have something at stake as the guarantee of
his zeal. But under our more liberal insti-
tutions, not only are civil rights made COM
mon to all but the career of honorable SER
vice is open to all who have the mind and
muscle tor it.
The question, which draft under our gov.
eminent proposes to solve, is not, Will we
fight? We will. 1t is a foregone conclu
sion. We are all determined upon any con.
tct, and conflict to any extent necessary to
maintain the integrity of our nation. Blu:
who shall go? This is the question. If the
war is of ordinary magnitude, it answers it
self. The government has only to say who
shall not so. If the war is of gigantic pro-
portions, then it answers itself to a cer,ai,
degree. Hundreds of thousands rush te
arms, and the movement pauses Why
Because those who are left behind are les,
patriotic BY no means. Their patriotism
may be of a vastly more substantial charac
ter than that of multitudes who have alread,
enlisted Will they grudge their services
Not they. What they want is some decisive
and, ii You please, providential intimation O
duty. The exisency is portentious. All art
ready to meet it. All are eager to meet it
This is the ideal of good citizenship. But ;
portion must meet it in a peculiar persona
service, which they are willing to render
They have many responsibilities, which oper
ate as check upon them. Many one cal,
not see why he should go in preference te
another. Hence the appeal is made to God
that He may determine who shall be hi
apostles in this peculiar work. A sensitive
| conscience sometimes makes a coward of :
man-until, satisfied by the divine intima
ton OF duty, the same conscience makes thu
same man hero. His military oath is ;
sacrament. He is the most enduring anl
trustworthy of soldiers.
Hence, when We come TO drafting far from
having exhausted our patriotism, We first al,
tain to the consciousness of its reality. w
are waking up our reserved power. The wal
has come home to mems business and bosoms
Push on the column. There is no securi,,
till We finish this work.
Indeed it is very possible tlat a war should
demonstrate its popularity by peremptor,
demand on the part Of the people for draft