Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1862-10-04
A HoIe IN the DraftfnE seine 20
Let AhOlltlOnIatn Encnne.

found in another column. The third par
agraph provides that members Of reli1
gious denominations conscientiously op.
posed to military duty, who may be draft
ed. will be discharged from service by the
commissioner, upon payment to him Of
the sum of two hundred dollsrs each.''
This is not fair. for it allows every can't
ing, hypocritieal abolition disunionist,
who belongs to some religious denomin-
ation," land they seem to control most of
the churches) to escape by paying the pal
try sum of fsoo hundred dollars, while
the man, no matter how honest, virtuous
and upright in his dealings, who, has not
connected himself with some Church, is
compelled to obey the draft, or hire q SUBJ
stitute at enormous figures. '4'q = 71i'el
This is not justice. and Gov. TOP knows
it. All citizens of Ohio are entitled to
equal privileges and rights, all have equal
duties to perform, all should be made to
equally share the responsibilities, and all
should be made to share equal burdens
Neither the Constitution or laws make a
mans rights or privileges subject to the
decision Of the prejudice or fayoritism-
like or dislike--of the Governor or any
tool Of a Commissioner. Citizens have
rights beyond the reach of their public SER
wants, and of which the latter cannot de-
privs them. If it is the duty Of one man
to obey the draft, it is the duty of all
Gov. Ton has issued an order, which gives
certain class OF our fellow-citizens the
privilege of setting up their eoAscieHces
against the LAW, by paying the sum of two
hundred dollars. Now if one citizen has
this right, then all are equally entitled OF,
by paying similar amount. If 5000 is
equivalent for one mans service, then It's
for all. Members Of churches, simply be-
cause they are such, are no better citizens
or more entitled to the protection Of the
State, or the partiality Of State officers,
than men who are not. The Constitution
recognizes no difference-the Laws recog
nize no difference-between citizens who
are church members and citizens who are
not, and what the Constitution and the
Laws fail to do, the men selected to enforce
them cannot do.
Men who deliberately and knowingly
vote for war principles and war men--if
they do everything that a man can do, to
bring on and keep up war-if they induce
others to fght-they do not deserve, and
should not ask, to be relieved of any of the
burdens which their own action has aided
in imposing upon the people. If mans
conscience does not otprevent him from COM
mtting murder, it ought not to prevent
him from being hung. The incendiary
may have conscientious scruples about go
ing to the Penitentiary, yet his scruples
come too late Had his conscience pre-
vented him from committing the crime, he
would not have been punished. If men
are conscientiously opposed to going to
war. let them vote for those men who, and
with that party which openly and boldly
proclaim in favor of the speediest, honora-
BILE peace ! hich can be obtained. If they
vote for men who "believe in fighting till
, h--ll freezes over and then lighting on the
ice" as do the Opposition hereabouts, ther
: must they. expect to be called npon to fght
, for some time yet, and do not deserve tC
: be exempted on account of conscientioui
scruples, .'5A d HagI
Place all men upon an equality, and j
Q will afford no cause for complaint. Eth
8 sr rescind the order, or make it 30 broaS
Is to apply to all men who choose to avail
= themselves Of it. The people ought to an'
t will oppose all favoritism, no matter wheth
= er it be for the benefit of a political party
v or whether it be to shield men who, unde
It the gsrb Of religion, desire to evade the du
n ties which the Law imposes upon them.
!, Meeting at DHlddIetOVvn mex
II Friday Evening. ioL
g HEKDEAsoS ELLIOTT, Esq, Of this city, wi