Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-04-30
THE C0NS0RIPTION ACT Elk.
PLANNED BY ITS AUTHOR.
Letter from Senator Wilson to Fer
~ nandO Wood.

the ofAin, the neart, the soul, the phiioSo-
pher and guide of the Mozart Hall Demo
cratic faction of the city of New York
Your restless brain inspires its utterances;
your plastic hands molds and fashions its
actions. Surely, then, it is fit that you
should he held responsible for the utteran-
ces and acts of your liege clansmen who
are wont to assemble in Mozart Hall and
do your bidding.
Inspired by your councils, Mozart Hall
pronounces against the "Act for enrolling
and calling out the National Forces" to
preserve the unity of the republic and the
life Of the nation. Mozart Hall, illumina-
ted by your presence proclaims that this
act for the preservation of our periled coun-
try "makes an infamous distinction be-
tween the rich and the poor!' Sir this is
false, wickedly, wantonly and UNANIMOUSLY
false-a foul, shameless and damnable IL
bel upon the law and is trainers. The Oft
repeated avowals of redhanded traitors,
whose souls are stained with the blood of
our murdere countrymen. that this accur-
sed rebellion now upon US was forced upon
them by the aggressions ofthe libertylov-
ing, law abiding. Got-cearing people Of the
loyal States are not more shamelessly.
wantonly. and wickedly false than is this
declaration of Mozart Hall that the con-
scription act makes distinctions in favor of
the rich and against the poor.
Pray, sir, do not misunderstood me-
Of course cannot mean to accuse Mozart
Hall of intentional falsehood. Oh no.
Surely no one would suspect Mozart Hall
of intentional falsehood or misrepresenta.
tion! Its stainless purity of character.
will rescue Mozart Hall rom suspicion of
intentional Misrepresentation or false.
hood.
Of course, sir. this shameless accusation
against the provisions of the Conscrption
Act was inspired by ignorance net by false
hood. This exhibition OF sheer ignorance
concerning the provisions of this prescrib-
ed law of the nation will. perhaps, be ex.
cused and pardoned in view of the mani
festations of that intense. passionate, out.
spoken loyalty Mozart is wont to put
forth in behalf of the Government. 1t is
nevertheless not an agreeable spectacle to
see you. sir, and your Mozart hall patriots,
whose exquisite regard for human rights is
only eqnaled by that deep concern for the
country which impe's you to delvc into
the mysteries of negotiations with the Rich
mond traitors. cropping along in utter ig-
noranee OF the provisions of a law framed
expressly to more effectually defend the
endangered nation, tighten the burden of
the Treasury and the people. equalize the
dntIes, and relieve as far as possible the
toiling. dependent poor from the hard, if
not harsh provisions of existing militia
laws.
But, sir. it matters not whether this &C.
cusaiion of Mozart Hall against the con.
scriptiou act. vas born Of ignorance or of
falsehood. 1t is equally malicious, decep-
tive. and mischievous. 1t is an ac usa-
ton flung before the people by the reckless
hand Of malignant demagogism, to poison
the heart and mislea the reason. Surely
the heart. conscience and reason of a loyal
people will mark and brand the brain that
cnsceived. the hand that pennei and the
tongue that proclaimed this foul. wicked
and shameless calumny agains. an act
which bears the amplest evidence in every
line that its trainers intended its burdens
should fall as lightly as possible on the
toiling masses.
Sir. this "Act for enrolling and calling
out the National Forces" was framed to
be more efficient for war purposes than
were the existing militia laws, less bur-
densome upon the treasury and the people
than were the existing laws. and more hu-
name to the poor who have the aged, the
infirm, and the helpless dependent upon
their labor for support, than were the ex-
isting statutes. These objects. sanctioned
by patriotism. economy, Justice and hu-
manity. were ever kept steadily in view,
and they have been attained as nearly as
the unequal lot of humanity will permit. in
this law so fiercely denounced by the Mo-
zart Hall Democracy. at your bidding
Yes. sir, this law, enthusiastically welcom-
ed by the armies of the Republic. referred
to by other nations as the highest evidence
of the determined purposes of the Ameri.
can Government. dreaded by armed trail
tors and denounced by rebel sympathizers,
bears in every section and in every line.
evidence Of the patriotism, Justice and hu-
manity, Of the Thirty seventh Congress.
Its just and humane provisions. perpetual
ly give the lie to the accusation of Mozart
Hall, that it makes an infamous distinc-
tion between the rich and the poor.
Contrast, sir. the provisions of this de-
nounced act with the provisions of the ex-
isting militia laws of the United States,
and of your own State of New York. By
the provisions of existing militia laws the
President is authorized to call into the SER
vice Of the United States the militia Of the
States. By the laws of the United States
and by the laws of New York, certain
classes Of persons are excepted and ex-
empted from military duty, from being
drafted into the service Of the United
States. Are these exempts the poor, who
have widowed mothers, aged and infirm
parents motheFless infant children, or fa-
therless and motherless young brothers
and sirters dependent on their labor for
support No, not these. Neither the
laws OF the nation nor the laws of New
York exempt the poor who have the aged.
the in6rm, the helpless dependent upon
them. At the call Of the Government
they must leave widowed mothers. aged
and infirm parents. fatherlsss and moth
erless sisters and brothers. and motherless
infant CHI dren. all dependent on their dai-
" toll for suDnork and h;o .u.v - H.