Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-04-12
MILITARY CoNSCRIpTIoN.

the repeal of the military laws now exls ing, and
the substitution therefor of transcription laws,
it is proper that the subject should be thoroughly
ventilated before the people, that they may under
stand what transcription Is, and IT'S effects upon
themselves individuality and upon the character of
the government they have adopted for themselves.
1t will also be in place to examine the necessity for
such laws.
CONSUMPTION, as the term implies, is an enroll
ment or registering Of persons, and is the plan
adopted by France, and by some other nations for
recruiting their armies 1t is compulsory military
service, and one of the most tremendous engines of
military despotism. 1t was known TO the Romans;
but its revival in modern days may be dated from
the year 1898, when it made general law in
France. By law of the Directory all Frenchmen
pronounced soldiers and liable to be sum-
moned to the defence of the country; but in ordi-
nary circumstances recruiting for the army is sup
Piled by CONSUMPTION. The age within which con-
scripts are drawn Is from twenty to twenty-five, and
the period OF service seven years. The country Is
divided into departments, and when recruits are
wanted, the Legislature, at the suggestion of the
Executive, determines the number Of conscripts re-
qured, and each department has TO furnish its quo
ia according to its population. Recruiting officers
are sent into the departments; the enrolled are sub
iect to draft by lot and the unfortunate victims
dragged 10 the camp. The laws of France are Sc
the matter, enforcing the CONSUMPTION with
rigOr; treating the drawn deserters and liable to
u
Der of days after the drawing; holding parents
sponSible for their children and denouncing every
one who nterferes with the operation of the law,
Furnishing all such with fines Imprisonment, and IN
some cases death.
As has been remarked of it, 1.-The system of
CONSUMPTION is, no oubt simple and ready means
for obtaining the requisite number of soldiers; aud
so would system of confScation be ready means
for obtaining funds for carrying In fact,
the CONSUMPTION is system of conscation; it falls
with peculiar hardship. Upon the poor and upon
those of slender fortunes (who cannot afford readily
to furnish substituteS) When dragged from their
peaceful pursuits, their prospects life are often
ruined; and whether they sacrifice their domestic
happiness aud join the ranks or ransom themselves
at the expense of their small property, they are
equally despoied of their most valued possessions"
And what adds to the uiagnity Of the
system is the fact that the conscrpts taken at
a time of life when they beginning TO settle
down iEto those habits of industry and enterprise
which form the useful and respectable citizen; hab
its which scarcely be acquired after years OF
rowing restless excitement in camp and warfare"
Such is conscriplioD, and well termed Hsnlen-
d0us engine IF military despotism. 1t is, in TRUTH
the devils own invention Tor the subsection OF lIb
erty. 1t was used for that purpose in ancient Rome
and was introduced into France and has been
tanned there to the present day with the same OBJ
iect. Shall such system be introduced among
under a mistaken notion of its necessity, TO be
wIeIued sooner or later inevitably, TO the ueStruc-
ton of our liberties?
CircumStanced now are it is imperative for
all those who can bear arms TO rally around their
country's standard when called to do so; and are
not the present laws adequate to the emergency?
Or is it necessary to substitute organized system
Of compusion to force men into the ranksg At
present the President can call upon the Governors
of the States for the quota from each State to make
up the whole number of the troops required; and
he may call for either volunteers militia The
Governors acting in their sovereign capacities as
Commanders. in Chief of the military forces of their
respective StateS-the rock upon which the
eighty and the rights of the States depend-deal
with their people themselves and while complying
with the acquisitions OF the President enable him
to do what the States in common have entrusted
him. their agent, to d. or them, at the time
can hold him, their agent IN check within the Inn
It's Of his authorized powers This is the theory of
the old United States Constitution, which
brought away with from that connection. On
this theory Georgia has, in this revolution, been
called upon ny the President to furnish thirty
odd regiments and appeal to the State at large to
say IL there has been the least delay hesitation
in responding promptly 10 the calls Indeed may
we nut say that our regiments Sprang into the field
like Minerva from the brain Of Jupiter, and fully
armed? Has this system failed, then, in theory or
practice? In this State it most aSSuredly has not;
and we have the right to assume the same of all the
other States
To this provision for troops we must add another,
giving the President further facilities; and herein
hes his complaint of embarrassment from conflict
between State aud Confederate legislation" Here
is the Of this appeal made for change,
and hence our apprehensionS from CONSUMPTION.
On the 1lth of May, 1861, that Irish Parlia-
ment," the Provisional Congress, like its prototype
that voted away the independence of ireland, pass
ed act that the President be authorized to receive
into service such forces as may tender themselves,
ana as he may require without the delay of for
nal call upon the respective States, to for
such time As he may prescribe, and this too in the
face OF the Constitution and of the debates upon
the Constitution by its trainers, in which this very
power was discussed and decided againstl
Was this act due to Ignorance or to criminal per-
Sonal ambition whose elevation was sought ut the
expense of constitutional restrictions? Hardly to
ignorance, for facts do not justify the plausible tie
cause untruthluD use of words delay of a formal
call upon the respective States" Who is there in
this State who does not know that within two weeks
after the call upon the Governor, his Regiments
were always OH the field equipped and armed;
while those termed independent" and rendered
under this act Of May llth, 1861, were i'll no case
ready under six weckS-in some cases not under
tiree months and in never grew into Regi-
urnts, but dumped down to Battaions. All! my
countrymcu, facts are stubborn truths, and every
man should hold to strict accountability each repre-
sentative from Georgia who sustained that first SUBJ
tie step towards military despOtism the destruction
of State rights, and consolidation of power in the
Confederate Government Taught by history,
measure the future of States by those that have
been and knowing the Unsuitable ambitions and
seliishness Of human nature. | mark the inSidous
step to power, crum5ling away rights and liberties
peacemea under the plea of necessity until at last
only the shadow of freedom is left to the deluded
masses. Conflict of legislaton!" By what right
does the Confederate Government speak of con-
flIct Of legislation? Where the Constitution has
given it rights the States must be SILENT where it
has no rights, it must not complain of conflict.
"Embarrassments from legislation" By whom
were these embarrassmcnts made but by the Con-
federate Government itself in the usurpation of an
unconstitutional power Let it return to the SIM
pie theory of the Constitution, and look to the Gov
errors of the States for troops, and endorsements
in lenislafnn will and he WIN rms INN