Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-05-01
The Conscripticn.

GC&~@N~~&N
 We have not been ahic to procure copy oi the conscript act. and can only uGseit by the s}nopss ruhlisbedj in our last issue. Warm objections have boeu made to it, and some of these ogectlops vou,d have much weight if they were not porfe down by the stern necessity which exists to III and n,a;atain the ranks of our army. The despotic or .,,,r;caI nature of the law vanishes upon closer oya,oination of the subject. All men owe cer- +oin dnty to the country, and enough may voun- ,eorto perform that duty. But the cold hearted, sbo shirk, should not be allowed to complain if tbev are forced to do tbat which better men do voluntarily. The law embraces all able bodied men between the ges 0t eighteen and thirty live. We are not sure but that it should have been cz- tended to embrace all under forty-fYe But as t was necessary to leave some at home 10 raise crops and protect families, our Congress put the limit at thirty-fve That, in individual cases it will work 1 barlships, cannot be deniel. It would be impos sible to frame general law that would not be oppressive in some eases. We must l'aye an army The number heretofore raised by volunteering 'naVe' | always, been overe5Nmated. We have lost me tide several times because we have not ha1 sa1n- l cieut number of men to make an onward move nent and sail upon it to success. While brave men, some of them of three-score years, ana peys of twelve and fourteen, have rushed 10 the ranks of the pltriot army, others have skulked ana shilke ed the high duty they owe to the country Aasppeals to their manhood have failed to stir their thin blood or kindle pttriotism in their re- creant breasts. These fellows have feeling enough | to be ashamed, and many are the pitabie excuses | they put forth in defence of their cowarace'- Hundreds pretend to be awaiting for q chance to go--expecting position, or are getting up coln- panes. Many put on brass buttons, and assuming 2 title, go 10 some town, where they call them selves officers on furlough, or or recru ing service ! Others seek some sinecure in & so-caHed State army, where with good pay and nohing to do, they talk extensively of their labors in the arny, and while they flch the peoples money for prete"ded services they keep their cowardy carcasse; out ot the range of the enemy's bullets Others, "ho may, by accident, have been engaged in some bat' tie or skirmish, return home and bank on that, as though being in one action coud release them from further service let others stay to speculate and prey upon their fellow men. It is these men who will be found to oppose tho conscltpt law. 'akes' or should take these gentry by the wrist and lead them where better men have voluntarily gone.
 This is a time when every man must do hia duty, or we all perish AS in q ship in storm, there are times when every man, whether officer pas'en- ger or one of the crew, must work to keep the ship from sinking, so every man now must take lis tuIn at the pumps. When the storm is over and the vessel saved, we will listen patiently to te clbin passengers complaint Of being made to work, or the plea now put up Of an invasion os constitu- tional privileges.
 It is a measure that has for it3 object the sava- tion of the country Il promptly enforced it may vet save us and put an end to this war upon our liberties It las been deferred until the lasE hour when all other exDedients have failed, and now il has become grcat-a vital necessity. It i5 a
 measure that patriots will see the reason for and acouiesce in, and which, with very few exceptions, will be complained Of by those on who have not the nerve or the will to do the'r duty-Uho are willing to be free if that freedom bought with the blood of others, and who stay at home talking dercey, criticising military affairs and trying to hide from the world the visible fact that they are 2 com1ina- ton of the fool and coward
 There are some, i, slas 5e i lool many, brave men and true patriots, vi,h famjc- dependent upon ahcm, whom it may take from their loved ones.- Men, too, who if t were not for these things would have been in the army long aeo. We respect these men and honor those feelings which have kept them at homo. And while VIC are permitted to wield pen, we shall in every way tAat may pre- sent itself, urge insist and demand, tht the fam lies of such men shall be cared and provided for' The wealthy must do it, and we trust they will - If they refuse, public opinion and the law mus; be invoked to make them do their whole duty. | they will not be generous, at least they must De mado to be just.