The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-11-20
LOCAL MATTERS

The ItrH Of Snbs.ifMtion.--Onc Of the dan
gers which surround the principal Ia all the
transactions incident thereto have been most
strikingly illustrated in the interesting
habeas corpus case hlch has recently hcen
so elaboratcly argued before Judge HaIy
burton in the e. 8 District Court
It seems that Fayctte Allen, of Halifax,
purpose OF purchasing "a substitute for the
war" For the sum OF ono thousand dollar
he procnreda substitute in the person 6i
the Rev. Z Z. Orvis. attorney mt law, eler
lyman of the Reformed Baptist Church, and
Allen conformed to all the requirements Oi
the Government, In having his substitute
regularly enlisted in the company of Captain
Cropper, an artillery company then organ
lied. The principal in tlis transaction nc.
turned home, believing that the substitute
whom he had paid and placed in the service
for the ,rar would protect him from all
.clims whatever of the Government on the
score of military service. The unhappy
Allen, however, was not at the end of his
troubles, as the SEQUEL will show. The War
Department, after mastering Capt Cropper's
company into service, disbanded it, and or
ages Of is and 35 years, to join another ar
tfIlery company. Therefore, the Rev. Mr..
Orvis. although paid by Allen to serve as his
s,ibstif,xe for the scGr, insists that the action
OF The Government has released him from
al obligations of service, and iLvokes thr
Court to susfain him in his position. The
disbanding Of his company. he contends, re-
leased him from all his obligations to the
Government as Aliens substitute for the
him, he contends, Il ON cOnscriptiop. Should
the technical pleas of the substitute prevail,
despite his Obligati ,ns to Allen to serve as
his substitute. for the war, the fate of poor
Allen cOmmcnds itself to the attention Of
all unhappy principals in. similar substitute
transactions. The substitute, with Aliens
thousand dollars In his pocket, will 60 free,
exempt from all military duty, to preach to
al who may feel disposed to listen to the
sacred teachings Of the successful substitute
clergyman and attorney, whilst Allen, minus
his money, will be at once sept to camp OF
eonseription, there to repentsat his leisure
Of having expended his meney most unpro-
fiably, except to the lucky Rev. Mr. Orvis.
Should Judge Halybnrtor, on Monday
next, when he renders decision, release
Orvis, we suppose the only remedy of the
lnckIess Allen will be an action gainst Orvis
for damages, or the institution of criminal
proceedings against him for obtaining money
upon false pretenccs, Oryis having bound
himself to act as Aliens substitute for tn ),
war.
Allen, We learn, Is poor oversecr, and the
father Of a large and helpless family, who
spent every cent which he was worth in pro-
curing n substitute for the ar in the person
of the Rev. Attorney, Mr.. Orvis. The resti
tuition to the poor man Of the thousand dol
lars which he paid his substitute would no,
enable him to procure another, as five thOu
sand dollars is now paid for able bodied sub
stitutes in the market. His case is peculiarly
hard, and common justice, If not law, dc
mands his protection.