Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-07
Tha Yankee Law Of Conscription.

The period Is now rapidly approaching when by the
terms of their enlistment three hundred thousand oil
neoln troops are to be disbanled No intmation has
vet been given out from Washington we believe, that
they are to be retained in service by virtue of the con-
scrpdon act of the astsessOn of the Yankee Congress
If they are so retained then there will be three hundred
thousand dissatisfied soldiers in the army suen mutt
nous and ready to desert revolt whenever occasion
may Offer If they not so retained then the army
of Lincoln already impotent for the task assigned it.
will be rendered still more incapable by this heavy re-
duction.
We have no information that steps have been taken
to put in force the new law among the people Of the
States The delay is significant In several of the
States, assembages of the people have vowed and
pledged themselves openly to resist it. In Connecticut
where an election occurred yesterday, the Democratic
candidate for Governor Mr.. Seymour, had taken the
ground that if elected he would not permit the law to
be enforced in that State. Perhaps it is to ascertain
the result Of that election that Lincoln pauses But the
time lost is precious.
The Wilmington Journal thinks it is pretty evident
that the Weather classes the North the native mer
chants farmers and manufacturers merchants specula-
tors professional men and others of the influential
classes who have not already entered the ranks of the
Federal army, have noidea of doing voluntarily
as indeed it is admitted that next to none of any class
would now volunteer or enlist Neither would these in
suentiJ classes submit silently all to cOnscrip-
ton that took themselves in common with their poorer
neighbOrs,
The Yankee conscrpt law meets this difficulty, in
deed its devsers evidently intended thatt should meet
it. that is by providing easy way Of escape for all
persons composing these called influential classes
To the men of means, even if comparatively limited
three hundred dollars the price of exemption affords
easy way of eape and of which they will readily
avail themselves, while to the emgrant without means
the straitened or mprOvident native three hundred
dollars may be as unsttanabe as three thousand. The
ranks of the Northern army may hereafter be expected
to be recruited from among pennless and reckless emf
gran -poor and oppressed natives, and the most low
down and unthry aud immoral dregs of the large cit
lee and the ohcasts Of the rural districts. Discipline
NAV mould such men into regiments and into the
sembance and something of the reality Of soldiers but
can hardly make ont of them nnad sniiars "Aiiaii
giments, or an efficient army. But if they will thus
fail in one respect of realizing the expectations of their
emplovers or masters-it can hardly be doubted that
they will fully come up to them in another respect
Thew will equal if exceed all previous examples OF
apiue and brutality of destruction, plumber and
rage With no principle involved in which they feel
any interest; with no excitement save in the lawess
license their service affords them with nothing at stake
on either side, Wha; expect from any Yam
kee eyies but that they U act thieves, murderers
and robbers? Nothing and must be prepared for
conduct becoming such in the campaign of the spring
and summer, and in any subsequent campaigns should
the war be pro,ractsd beyond the present year.