The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1863-12-23
Increase Of the Army.

The President has issued his proclama.
ton calling TOR SOC, 900 volunteers 10 in
crease the army SO as 10 render ii capable
Of operating efficiently against he rebels
We suppose that this large number Of men
are actually needed, or they wonld not
have been demanded. But if needed-if
without The addition of that number the ar
my will not be in condition 10 act with ef-
tect against the rebsl forces, or perhaps to
bold all the important positions of which it
is nov in possession-il strikes as that very
strong indnce ments should be held out to
iempi men into the service.
Il may be said tha such inducements are
offered that large bounty will be paid. and
that there is probability amounting almost
to certainty, that the soldiers pay will be
increased from Si3 TO $l6, or even larger
sum, per month.
Very true. But is there no drawback to
this Does moi the present policy OF the
Administration in regard to our soldiers cap.
tured by the enemy more than neulralize
all the inducements held out by high boun-
ty and increaed pay
There is an act of Congress, we believe,
providing for The punishment of persons
who may be convicted of discouraging en-
listments. Is mol The administration guilty
Of that offence ? What could possibly be
more discouraging 10 enlisting than the fact
that our men taken prisoners by the enemy
can see no end to their captivity and their
sufferings in rebel prisons, because of the
policy adopted by the administration in re-
gard 10 exchange ? Under that policy any
OF our brave soldiers, who are go unfortu-
naie as to fall prisoners into the euemy's
hands, may lie in rebel prisons, aHd starve
and 70, there, cn,il such time as the Con-
federaie administration may see proper TO
recognize the negro as the equal of the
white man, aud exchange Lincoln darkey
in uniform for a rebel soldier.
As the time is not likely soon to arrive
when the Confederate administration will
do this, and as Mr. Lincoln has not, up TO
this time, shown the slightest disposition to
change his views, or recede from or modify
the policy we have indicated, the conclu-
sion cannot be avoided that our soldiers
now prisoners, and those who may hereaf-
ter be captured, must languish in captivity
10 the close OF the war, unless, in The mean
time, death Steps in TO their relief, and
while he kills their bodies, sets their spirits
Tree.
l. this a wise or humane policy towards
our white soldiers who have borne the
brunt Of the war so far, and must bear it to.
the end 2 In our judgment i. is cruel, afro
cious injustice. Will men, with the proba-
bility of such fate staring them in the face
enlist as freely as they would under wiser
and jusier policy Of exchange, through
which, it SO unforsnaIe as to be taken pris-
oners, they might confidently expect a
speedy release
Certainly not. The bravest mamie who
will stand unmoved amid the STORM of bat
lie, and unflinchingIy peril his life, viii
shrink from the horrors of prison life, the
poisonous aimos phere of crowded room,
the filth and yermin that, under such cir
cumstances are unavo1aable, unwholesome
water and starvation rations.
We trust that some Influential and hu-
name friends of the administration, who re-
ally wish to see the decimatei ranks of the
army filed by brave, intelligent white sol
diers, will move in this matter, and urge
upon The administration the necessity Of
changing their policy.