Washington telegraph., 1862-05-07


present. One is thaat the law has already
passed, and the exigencies os the country
render 1t hig hly unpatriotic to offer any
caPtous opposition to its immediate exc
cntion, ana the other is that it was
framed with the sole design of ensuring
our success in the great struggle in which
we are now orgaged. Every member
who voted for it must have been actnated
by that motive and that alone. Ii u an
act emiucntly free from all provisions
which can by possibility cnure TO the pro
motion Of private interests or party sue
cess. Whatever error may exist in the
policy is rot of the heart but of the head.
1t IS not generous to criticize the de.ail-
of great measure demanded by Mill
tary nee essity, urgent enough to deter.
mine the question OF cur existence as a
nation, Suchis the colscript law. 1t is
q rev thing to our. people, and marks. an
era in the history of our race on tic
western continent. We make 10 doub.
that it will familiarize our people will
some new ideas of government, vlich
Uany confidently anticipate will result IL
ultimate good. This is matter, however,
for the politicai philosopher Our pres
ent Guty is to obey, witk that cheerful
alacrity which follows the conviction
that cur lives and all we have belong to
'he country.
The exact provisions Of the law NAV
not be readily comprehended by these un,
accustomed to the cons traction of statutes
We will endeav to simplify its mean.
ing:
All persons between the ages Of Is and
80 years, (not legally cxempt,) are to be-
enrolled. la making this enrolment the
President is authorized to employ the
services Of such State officers as he may
select, or in default Of their compliance
to appoiht specia, officer o. those So
enrolled, those BOW in the army are to be
retained fer tie term Of three years from
che date cf Iheir enlistment. This is
imperative on every soldier within those
ages, wit out any regard to the term oi
lbs original enlistment. Those hot in
the army already, are to ba kept as re
serve, from which number is to be cho.
sen from time to time, by lot, 10 fill up
companies and regiments already organiz-
ed It is no; the intention Of the lazy +.
withdraw the balance from their usual
avocations, uaIess IN the opinion Of tho
President, the emergency should { mand
II, in which case new Regiments viii be
formed, out Of the excess Of clnscrip'e
after filing tbe o'1 regiments.
Thirty days after the date Of tLe act are
allowed 10 fill up vo,un,e.r companies
under authority Of .he Secretary OF War
Afcr which time everything must yicld
to the CONSUMPTION.
With regard 30 volunteers now in scr
vice who were outside the aees Of Coz,
scription at tie time tie act was passed
they, Of course are not compelled TO serve
for the war, but to prevent the dissolution
or weakening Of rccin Its too suddenly
they are required to remain for so days
after their term may expire, unless their
places may BE- sooner supplied by "ew
conscripts.
1t i an error TO consider ii q disgrace
TO be enrolled as couscript. y patriotic
sutm ssiou aud cheerful obedience to tlc
law is in.ofeot saying that We through
cur representatives tffar ourselves one
and all TO the country, to be called for
and taken as occasion may demand, whilst
the balance of Us at home labor here for
the support Of the government and the
families Of those who are gone. If how
ever, any oue shouli fear the cdium %
conscription, he may at any time before
drawn, unite himself voluntarily with any
company from his own State, not already
full
The only remaining obscuriiy is with
regard to those who are exempt by law
The conscript law merely refers to them
but does not specify. y special statute
was passed, the last day Of the session Of
Congress, declaring who might be cx-
empt from enrolment. This OF course
superceeds all State laws concerning those
free from draft, and is the only a which
governs. The law has not been publish
ed. but so far as we can learn it oxempts
all State and county officers; editors and
employees sufficient to conduct the bust
ness cf printing cfice; preachers with
actual congregations; all persons engaged
in the mail or post Office service; millers,
ferrymen, and unnaturalized foreigners,
and, of course, those physically iucompe-
tent, There may b. other exemptions
besides these, contained in the law, Of
|