Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-08-08

Inc IUliOWin1 uItlc.t 4I0M lus WV 4D4A 4
World contains a great deal Of good sense,
sharply spoken
CONsCRIPTION NOT An EVIL.
Many men dread a r, SORT to drafting as a dire
ful evil. They ws1ld almost rather let the old
/ aag 90 by the board than save it so. The men
I who talk thus are Of two s0rts-the weak-heacei
/ who shun reflection, and the Ntak-hearted who
I shirk danger. We have something to say 70 both
/ classes.
Z You people vino have clucht the ro.ill tlat
/ there is something oppressive and shameful In
| substituting compulsory for volunteer service
/ why DO you not honestly ask yourselves what dis
I tiuction there cln be between compulsory con-
/ scription and compulsory taxation How i5 o
government more uiscredited in obllsing you %
shoulder your muskst in defense, than obi sing
You % surrender your dollars for the same end &.
/ Why not apply the volunteer principle % the
Z raising Of money as we'll as 70 the
raising Of soldiers Unqucsti0uabiy great deal
Of cash might be raised. There are mutitudes Of
no0le-heartei patriots who would contribute all
Z in their power TO carry ON this war Millions
! iaigdt be 10 realized. But snail government
4 therefore burn mp the FAX bin and trust % the
subscription paper OF course You siy, No The
government which would thus forego l;s Authority
90 tax, AMI trust its existence go the disposition
I Of this that and the other man 20 volunteer as
money-iuruishers, you would despiso; and jet
you think It unreas- na5ls and dis-rc1ltab!c talt
tie same government In ne same stIai.s, should
not fOreeo s authority 20 drait an1 trusts Its eX-
is.encs 60 the disposition Of i0m, Dick, and Harry
o. volunteer as muskct-bearcrs. DO you say that
the latter cnmpulsion is not necessary Nha,
prophet Informed you Where DO you get y0ur
assurance that tie three hundred thousand men
called lor vii be scasonably forthcoming, on The
voluntary principle We say sc1g1Hlt.g forth
coming. Not SIX months hence. nor three months
hence, bat in time % confront the armed hosts
whIcl Confederate c5nscripti1n has raised, and
ior anght Jet known Is ab, ut 70 Luri agaust u.s.
The man outside Of Richmond does not live WHO
can guarantee that hostile army may not be
thrown upon Washington within four WeeLsi ami
an army lot 20 be resisted b. my t1-cs VIC shall
then have AZ command. 10 believed that
three TO one would he prooipAted upon
MCCLELLAN a mo1th ego. II did happen,
AID Richmond was not taken. Who c1n say that
three to On; may not be precipitaied upcn Pope
month hence IL may happen, and Washington
be LOST. Our only security lies iu greatly rcialorc
ing our armies at once. Every days delay in
creases the danger. There is no assurance that
volunteers enough will be ready IN time. Gov
cIumeut lc.I % its chances; and all tc-l sa it
holds bsck from exercising power given 90 i- by
the express t,er Of the C5ustitutill, as well a.
by natural right, and which 10 GovC-uuent On
tae face 4 the oa.th ever before shrulk ;1-m, on
any occasion, even though it were only tenth
part so urgent. This idea that the Federal Tow
ernmcat Will lose credit by imposing a lr4i, is
az aL-urdty. such act would have just the
contrary Rect II would impress the weIlI With
a new sense OF republican strength. IL would sacF
that the Republic Is not a. the mercy Of the pop
uiar feeling q the hour, but has reserved powers
ior It's preservation equal % those ct the p--l-t
empire among the nations. IL would prove that
the American people are something more than
mere organized mob;' t-Gt they are members Of
q mighty Commonwealth, having its oEa ni.iea-
NAL life to live, its own responsibilities 70 meet,
rs JWn sJFereis "a p0we!s % exercise gei0re W-l-l
when al Is 40 stake, the mere Convenience Or
pleasure ot individual men IS Of no acc-l-- v-a--
aver.
10 the other class, WHO otjsc, 60 Graft.u-, be-
cause u will expose them 10 bullets, we have pre-
ci1us little 10 say. II any new reason were needed
for this measure, we should tui t in the prospect
II would open that such pitiigI sneaks as you
should be made 10 u lie 0l yauFseves, O. play che
man. What right have you % ru1 alear ~ tie
cluuon lot' Has the G0Eerume1t failed O. pro-
,.c- your paltry kin and pusilaaim1as 51-.3 Mean
as you are nave not the sane priceicss blessings
descended upon you, as upon the n5tlest soldier
uuw imper.lcl "a the peninsula Nay, you are
the very men that are of all o-lers the most iu-
leJ.cd 10 good government. Brave men can take
care % tleusr.yes ia any Circumstances, by tLc.r
own good ri i-ht arms; but, without Jaw auI order,
y-a would not be safe ilr a moment. There BE- a
ua- irll irliguatiQu-au iE5lrn contempt, in tao
human breast toward ail -litil- all poltr9.u- lie
Pawuees or tie Camauches would have your r-1l1
within two minutes at-er t4ey had found you .u-.
awles1ucss Is surc death e. ylu. Turn il then.
AID help sustain the law. It s Y.a- special lI-y.
IL yol haven't the spirit % 10 %, the government
should lend its strong ann g. help you. The cone
c-iTti9u that would sweep in this entire white
llF-l,J t-ccl would Pc, iar tIlt ycry .hiu- b.. ~.
ether o. great blessing. At home t-c~ are worth
less. Ia camp they ,lu be put o. lany uses.-
Here, they can but grow sclrvi.r until they rot.
There, slltpeter sht save them. Whether
tls-c be a general clnscriptil1 lr not tls-e f-I-
lows BY al means should be drafted.
Bat general draf--1ns which should ri l1.t
million instead Of three hundred thousanl-wculI
be great benefit. 1t is the only means which
can insure the putting down Cs the rebellion
l-is result may, by fortunate train OF ciceuu-
s-carcd by volunteering. Yet it is all uncertain.
Ile only safe reliance e 10 tie supply which 11ly
drafting can yield. Iae rebellion collosssiiy,
though It sty ies Itself o Qopu!4r revolution, ha,
no other resort. It has imposed draft of a ri-.r
laFc. before heard o. 30 su-h universal c.l-
scrptilu Is necessary in our case. But c11scriP-
g. sl--e extent is dictated by every consIdera-il1
of prudence. Tie repabli- may paszi1ly be saved
without it, t1t it the republic !. uot saved tls
omission t0 drst. the necessary men will he tie
only cause. Not only pgllclc1, but Justice also .
lrses 10. said Napoleon one day il the Col1c.l .
%. ate, " am Inexorable on the subject OF cx- /
cmpl7n lrlm cJnscrptlol--.- would be criminals ]
How could l reconcile j, 20 ny conscience % cx- I
pose the life OF one man for the advantage Of an
other 10 not think I would exempt 10y own .
SON. Has an American citizen IN the life 0r .
death struggle pi his country less conscience
than Napoleon M heroaI 10 personal d1-liuati3a2
Napoleon was right. We should all tlkc cur
;hancos. " Ith sgcl Cause appealing % us-tle
most momcntous that ever appealed TO humanity
III IS a disgrace Tor any man % expect that hls
leighbor rather than himself should respond 20
t. All have an equal interest IN tho stake. and .
iI houli be brought up 10 The sam line ci duty. !