Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-07-24
The Draft Law.
riCTs FoR THE CANDID TO EEFttcr rPos.

FACTS FOR T9E CANDID To EEFtGCf tPpN.
The Congressional "Ac, for enrolling
and calling out the national forces, was
framed TO be more Efficient for var purro-
ses than were the existing militia laws,
less burdensone upon the treasury and
the people, and more humane to the poor,
than any similar law in the world. These
objects, sanctioned by patriotism, economy.
justice and humanity, haoe Jeea attained
us nearly as the unoqaai lot of nidnAiind
rW permit This Law is enthusiastically
welcomed BY the armies of the republic,
j. referred to by other nations as the high
est evidence Of the determined purposes Of
the Uuiied States Governseu', is dreaded
By armed traitors, and is denounced by
Rebel sympa,hizers.
Contrast the provisions Of this act With
the provisions Of the previously existing
militia laws of the United States, and Of
the militia laws Of the several States.
BY those laws, certain classes Of persons
are ercepted and eremptai from military
du,y-irom being drafted into the service
Of the United States. Neither those na-
tional laws, nor the laws of any State in
:he Uniop, exempt the poor, who have the
aged, the iu6rm, the helpless, dependent
upon them. At the call of the Gorerp-
meut, under those laws, they mus. hasten
a~sy TO the camp and the battlefield.
Who, then, we're exempted BY the exis-
ting militia hvs of the United States,
aud of the several States o: the Uuiou ?
Not the poor, the dependent sons of toll,
but the mos, fortunate aud favored Of the
peopls-Menbers Of Congress, custom.
house officers aud clerks, posrmss,ers and
clerks, professors and students in colleges,
ministers Of the gospel, Judicial ofhcers
aud other officials, persons who mag pro-
fsss conscientious scrupies sgaios: bearing
arm-, members of engine companies, hook
aud ladder companies, or persons other
wise connected with the fire department.
The Draft (or Conscrip,ion) Act, on the
other hand, eIempts, in addition TO such
as are physically or mentally uua: for
military duty, ouly-
First. The yice.Presiieni of the United
the heads cnIy of The executive departments
nors of the several Safes.
Second. The only son liable 10 military
dury OF a widow dependent on his labor for
support.
Third. The only son of aged or infrm
parents, or parents dependent on bis labor for
support
Fourth. Where there are two or more
sons of aged or infirm parents subject 10 a
draft. the father. or. If he be dead, the neither,
NAV eject which son shalt be exempt.
Fifth. The only brother OF children not
Twelve years old. having neither father nor
mother. and dependent upon his labor for
support.
Sixth. The father Of mo,herle>s children
under Twelve years OF age, who are dependent
upon his labor for support.
Seventh. Where there are a father and
sons IN the same family and household. and
two Of Them are IN the military service Of the
United States as non-commissioned officers,
mnsicIans. or priyales. the residue OF such
family or household, not exceeding two,
shall be exempt.
Eighth. Young men 5ciween the ages Of
Is and 20 are exempt. for the reason that ex-
perence proves tina, soldiers under 20 years
of age Can not sustain the burdens Of camp
life as well as men between 20 and 35.
These exemptions are in favor Of those
upon ~hcse daily toll the aged, infrm, and
helpless rely. l. it, as has been charged
upon it, making "inf.mous- distinctions
between the rich aud the poor" to exemp,
the only sons Of poor widows, aud to COM
pei Members of Congress to hsh', procure
or pay for substitutes to
exempt the only sons Of aged or infrm
parents dependent on them for bread, and
eompe. the whole army Of custom. house
officers, postmasters, and Government.
clerks to fight, procure or pay for subs,i.
,u,es? to exempt the only brothers Of
fa,herless and mo;herless little brothers
and sisters dependent upon their daily toll
for support? TO exempt the fathers Of
motherless infant children dependent up
on these fathers daily toll for sus,enauce,
md compel State judges, justices of the
peace, clergymeo, and college professors
to fight, procure substitutes, or pay for
substitutes Shame on the men vbo
nisrepresent the beneh,eut provisions of
IN &C. passed to uphold the cause Of our
mperiled country.
The 18Th section of the act in question
provides ,ha, any person drafted and noti- |
led to appear at the rendezvous, may, on !
II before the day fixed for bis appearance,
urnish an acceptable substitute to take
lis place in the draft; or be may pay to
uch person as the Secretary of War may
Iu,horize to receive it, such sum, not ex. .
.eeding $500, as the Secretary may deter.
nine, for the procura.iop of such subsii:
ute, which sum shsll be fixed at q uniform
ate BY a general order made at the time
# ordering . draft fer any State or Terri
ory. Aoy person may furnish an accep-
able substitute TO take his place, At any
rice for which be can procure one.
The sum to be fixed BY the Secretary is
10, to enoeel $500. II may be less, i.
an not be more. This provision VAS pat
n,o the Law for the sole and single pur.
ose of KEEPING DOWN THE PRICE OF
INSTITUTES, so iha, men of moderate
,eans, and even poor men, could more
eadiIy obtain substitutes. Wi:hou. this
revision. i, was believed ,ba: the price
,r substitutes would 60 up at once to
| 900 or 1000, SO that none but very
ch men could obtain them. If any
raf,ed man can obtain a substitute for q