The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-06-10
THE $500 CLAUSE.

In the Enrolling which provides for
the drafting of soldiers passed by the last
Congress, the clause which provides for sub
stitutes, reads as follows: 'R
SEC. 49, And be it further enacted, That
any person drafted and notified to appear as
aforesaid, may, on or before the day fixed for y
his appearance furnish an acceptable substi-
tute to take his place in the draft; or he may
pay to such person as the Secretary of War
may authorize to receive it, such sum, not
exceeding $500, as the Secretary may deter
mine, for the procuration of such substitute;
which sum shall be fixed at a uniform rate by
general order made at the time of ordering
adraft for any State or Territory; and there
upon such person so furnishing the substitute,
or paying the money, shall be discharged from,
further liability under that draft
It's said that. Secretary Stanton has deci7,
ded that the clause allowing. exemption by the
payment of three hundred dollars, is, not OBJ
ligatory upon him, but is discretionary, and
that he shall annul that provision. We trust
the report is false. ..5 ,..., l.. 5,t
The clause seems to be as plain as the nose
on a mans face, and unless there is some 9TH
er section explanatory of. said clause, or some
hidden qualification not visible to the naked
eye, it means that drafted man can buy his
exemption for three hundred dollars. And
we believe if the Secretary has made any
such decision as reported, ne will be overruled
by the President. We certainly hope so, for
it will be sad commentary upon the paipable-
Specification of words, if Congressional Act
can be made to mean Just the contrary from
what it says, while the injustice towards men
Of limited means will be moustrous. al,
| We say injustice, for although Democratic
cayilers and carpers pirate of this clause as
discriminating against the poor man, it is no
less true that such clause is the feature of the
law which the poor man should commend.
| OF course no man would argue that draft
ing or enrolling law should not have a Z" sub
stitute clause; that is, it will not be preten-
ded that a drafted man should not have the
privilege of substituting for himself as able
| bodied man as he is. Well, this three hum
dred dollar clause has Just the effect to guard
! that right of substitution. by fixing that price
as the maximum price for substitute. There
may be poor men who cannot command the
three hundred dollars, but no law can be form
ed so as to bear Nth perfect equity upon. all. z
Without this three hundred dollar clause,
the price of substitutes would depend upon
! the demand and supply, and in all probability
would advance hundreds of dollars beyond
the sum fixed in the act Thus the man of
small means, who could raise, say three hun
,dred dollars, would be placed in com petition
with the rich man, who could command his
thousands and the former be compelled to
serve, while the latter would be excerpt be-
cause he had the most money.
ANY man who wishes to see the true effect
of the act, can readily discover that the equi-
| ty of the law, for the poor man, lies in that
SO much abused three hundred dollar clause
1 Cleveland Herald.