Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-28
FROM WASHING EON.
Proposed Amend menfs TO the Con
scriptiOn Hill and their Probable
fate-GrOss Injustice OF the Present
Act-ConfedcrateP Plans for the Next
Campaign.
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Times.

f WASHINGTON, December 20.
One of the most curious features in the pro
ceedings of Congress thus far is that which re
lates the manner in which the members, of diff
ferent parties, treat the conscrption act. The
conservative members would desire to repeal the
act altogether, as unwise, unjust, aud wholly I'M
necessary But that at present is out OF the
question. The radical members endeavorng
TO graft upon il several amendments, which. il
passed. would tend TO make il still more odious'
and oppressive than it is; and they are ell
deayOring, too, 10 force these amendments
through instanter The majority of the mem
bers of the House, however, seem disposed 70
obtain all the light they can upon the practical
working of the act. and to amend il in such a
manner as will make il as little oppressive rs pos.
sble. The notorious Schenck has commenced
his Congressional career at this session by an at
tempt to force upon the bill an amendment that
would make it thousand times more oppresiye
than il is now, namely, to abolish the two classes
OF those enrolled, and TO throw both into one
class His persistent attempt TO force this ex
ceedingly unjust measure attracted TO him some
remarks more emphatic than complimentary. and
the proposal was promptly voted down 1t il
stated however. that Schenck acted in this affair
in accordance with the wishes OF the administra-
ton. and that the whole power of the latter will
he exerted to procure the passage OF Schenck' ;
amendment at an early day Ii seems TO Judge
from the present temper OF the House, that the
exemption clause will be retained, but the
amount will probably be raised to $500 and in
that it will be distinctly stated that the pay
ment OF that amount secures exemption for three
years.
An amendment will be proposed in "A day or
two, changing somewhat the composition OF the
two classes of enrolled men, so as to make them
correspond with the French system, which is con
ieSsedly, the INST just and the least oppressive
system of consumption in the world lit that can
be called more just which at the best is bad as
Shakespeare says of murder.) In accordance
with this amendment the first class will comprise
all unmarried men and widowers without children,
+ between the age OF twenty and forty five years:
and married men, and widowers with children,
between the same ages. will constitute the second
class. The first class is to be exhausted before
/ the second class is called upon. The justice of
/ this amendment is obvious NJ once. The expert
/ eBce of every member OF Congress has brought
/ TO his notice during the last few months. the
cases OF many unfortunate men, who, merely be-
cause they were between the ages of twenty and
thirty-hve, were drafted, and were compelled 20
enter the army because they we're too poor to
raise the $500. These men married and
| had families. know of several instances nv
self and have heard OF a great many more.
! These unfortunate men we're from 80 to 30 years
! OF age Their wives were young women Of from
/ 81 TO 2c wears of age, many of them in delicate
health. AS long their husbands ore
NAMED with them they were spared the
necessity of labor beyond their strength, and
were enabled to provide the necessary comforts
for their families. They had some one, sosse
two. aud some three children EACH none OF ,he
children over seven years of age. but eli healthy
and strong Now mark the result. of the opera
ton OF single lecture OF the conscription act
as IL j.. Of the families OF ibis kind coming un.
der NV own observation one man only was able
TO raise the requisite $500, and so got exempt
But this debt OF $500 banging over him keeps
t him. and will keep him and his Fl ny all this
winter. IN stale OF great desttutiou and suffer
ins.. let his IS happy case compared 10 the
others The wife Of another poor man Who had
to 60 and leave her endeAvorcd heroicay tolabor
for the support OF ner little family. But the la
Dor hey ond her strength and she fell sick and
died, leaving three orphan children. without a
relative IN the world. What will become OF them
+ The wife of another man. who has been thus
/. iorced Into the army, was already IN delicate
health. and needed ali her husbands care. She
+ : nov on her death bed, aud viii die in a few
days. leaving an infant TO the cold charity OF the
world. The wife of another conscript hss be
come deranged IN consequence of the loss OF Der
husband and companion, aud Is now the inns "a
F OF q lunatic asylum. while her two children both
beautiful Little girls, N The pooT-house. ]
mention these cases, because they are not isolated
instances bat are the types OF hundreds OF Others
of the same kind. i, IS IN order TO avert suffer
ing and injustice Of this kind thai the amendmen,
last alluded TO will De introduced.
The statement in nv last letter. in regard &c
the movements Of Gen. Longstreet. are con-
6rmcd BY the facts which came 20 light yes
! .eiday aud whica are ,@rdiIy Published has morn
4 ing.
! There : rnn.or prevalent here 10 the effect
that the Coniederstes are preparing for grand
assault on Wasi,iugto.. and an invasion OF the
North. 20 take place next spring Quite a mum
Der Of gentlemen have arrived here from Rich