Smyrna times., 1862-09-04
Draft Insurance.

On Thursday last from early in the morn
ing until late in the afternoon, men belong
ing to the Breckenridge or Peace Party
could be seen in knots of from three to
dozen In various parts of the town in quiet
but earnest conversation of such character
as to lead to the suspicion that &c something
was IN the wind" And what gave greater
credence to the opinion that something
important was on the tapis, was the pres
ence of number of influential men from
Dover, Wilmington and other places.
Sometime during the day we learn that
meeting or caucus was held at the Delaware
House. What transpired of course we do
not know, but the object of the gathering
was, it is said, to organize Draft Insu-
rance Company On the principle that every
man subject to draft by paying into the
company 800, would have substitute
procured. The payment of the above sum
was required as prospective contingency
and had to be paid whether the individual
be drafted or not. The papers on that day
contained the order issued by the War De-
partment regarding all attempts to procure
substitutes as discOuraging enlisttnents, and
hence, rendering such persons liable to ar
rest. Here was an unexpected " chock"
in their proceedings which gave rise to
much speculation, but a learned attorney
from Dover gave it as his opinion that in
asmuch as the substitutes were to be pro-
cured after the draft, the new order did not
interfere with their project. His opinion
evidently, however, was not as weighty as
Judges, and hence, the meeting adjourned
for further consideration until the following
Tuesday at Dover.
The Government has very properly taken
IN hand the speculative gentlemen who have
embarked In the business of insuring against
drafting. So far as the Press is concerned
the order is received with entire satisfaction
There can be no question that the eager and
public canvass of the means of ESCAPING the
draft, and of evading military service alto
gether, must act Extensively and discoura-
glngly upon those who are volunteering.
under the compulsion of the coming draft
and whose insufficient means prevent thor
from purchasing immunity. But this is
secondary evil. Such extreme activity in
the substitute market naturally prompts the
half-decided to reserve their valuable per-
sons for the better prices which are to pre-
vail after the draft, if the present artificial
excitement produce its natural effects upon
the rates. Thus thousands are withheld
from volunteering by considerations of an
utterly sordid character.
! What the country wants is men nou,-
not men month or two hence. Whoever
respons to the demands of the Government
does we'll. Whoever, for pecuniary gain
not only declines to go at once to the war.
but to contribute by every means in his
power to send others forthwith, deserves
rebuke and punishment, and to this penalty
the so-called draft-insurance spectators
have fairly exposed themselves.
We hear that these insurance companies
are being gotten up in many if not in all
parts OF the State. The question very nat
urally arises, where are these substitutes to
come from. If all the Breckinridoers are
going to have substitutes, it is very certain
that they cannot all come from that party.
and after all it may be an electioneering
dodge to keep their own men at home and
get the Union men off to the war. so thew
will be absent at the next election. The
soldiers now in the field are of course Union
men, and if those who are yet to 90, be
all Union men it takes no very diserimina-
ting eye to see at glance that as near as
the public sentiment is divided in our State
we shall be in the hands of the Philistians
!. Let every Union man watch the PROGRESS
of this Draft Insurance Company. and see
that their substitutes are not Union men
Ii they procure men from their own ranks
well and good, but the Union cause should
not be so weakened by the soldiers who
are now in the field and yet to 90 as to
leave US at the mercy Of Seeessionists
- --e
4 NJ