Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-30
Jefferson Davis E.nouneed as Dictator.

From the Richmond Examiner, Dec. 10
The astounding propositions which have
signaiized the first days of this present seq
sion, for placing the entire population Of the
/ Confederate States III the field, leaving no
producers of food to feed the enormous army
so raised, and as tax-payers 10 find the money
to furnish il, have created d considerable
sensation. A feeling ci dependency has
been produced by then among reflective OBJ
servers; not by the prospect of the universal
cessation of national life and organization,
which the realization of those wild projects
would certainly cause-tor one can fail 10
see that there is no danger of realizing pa
tent impossibilily; but by the singular want
of discernment which they indicate. II is
difficult TO Geiiepe that many members Of the Com
gress really intend tie establishment Of Dictator
ship tbs country, still less to make N'. Darts
dictotor. Yet it requires but little reflection
to perceive that such law lately suggested
in his message, suggestion which members
of Congress have taken in trust from it, as
nothing less than that.
An entire nation cannot remain in the field
more than twenty four hours, under the pen
atty OF death by starvation. A law requiring
the whole population to take up arms and go
into camp is q nullity Few will dispute the
remark; and the President blandly proposed
that the power and discretion should be given
him to detail such persons as he pleased to
continue the pursuits of civil life. The rela-
tive numbers of those in the army and those
out of it might not be changed by a
Law of universal enrolment, if accompa-
MED by this provision. The sole differ
ence between the present and prospective
condition of the military force and nation
would be the change Of details for a ex-
empts." One of these words designates per-
sons who continue the work that must be
done in and peace, under the authority of
a law the other those who 90 about their
business because of the favor of the Presi-
dent and his office-holders great and small
Tbs is proposition 10 giye them despotic control
eae1y a,ai0idstal IN tbs country and 10 de-
stroy eee7,y check upon their aciR. Tie parasites
Of poaeer are pleased acjH II. There erists a
small faction Ia this country cto hare long lan1-
ored for tbs measure, because they ecpect poees,
profit, and ,'eue7ege from it. But it is impossi-
bic to believe that those who have echoed
this cry in some of the resolutions offered in
Congress, intended&a do so. 4 resolution of
luqmry, fortunately, Is not law, and, when
the force of the measures suggested in the
first has been examined, as it must be before
1t is fixed in the last, there will be little dan
ger that Congress will stultfy itself or sacri-
flee the cause BY such insane steps as are
now feared by many.
The motive Of those who have given a
quasi-sanction to these projects is easily I'M
derstood. TIE Confederate A1my so,eiy needs
replenishug. But some means of effecting
that purpose must be found which is not at
once folly and crime. The present army
is created by CONSUMPTION. # tie aettal con
sc,iption lar does not furnish sufficient number
Of men, tie natural and rational means of rene
dylng the defect IS to enlarge tie sphere of its
action By Increasing tie age Of coaScripty and
diminishing, anere 1t can be done ruth Safey, tie
exempted class.