Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-12-02
Principals and substitutes.

2 We copy from the Richmond Ezaminer the fol-
lowing just and sensible remarks on this subject:
: ."But is there no such thing as due balance be-
tween the civil and the military spheres Of national
hfef This is worth considering; for we have pass
ed the period if thes6 ever was such perod, when
teuee nsasss would have been desirable; and it
must be remembered that We are engaged in strug-
gle Of indefinite duration. Are we to have the
same uncertainty and confusion, that have been
the bane Of our finances perpetuated in the recruit
ing of our armies Is the came bad faith which
was shown in the virtual reputation OF the eight
per cent Treasury issues, to be exhibited in the
cancelling of the obligations of the government to
those who have furnished substitutesi 1t was in
judicious to issue the eight per cent. notes; but
once issued they ought to be redeemed on the orig
inal terms 1t was perhaps, wrong to allow sub
stitution it was certainly impotic to suffer it. to
be made matter of private contract; tor, the
government bad retained the control Of this whole
matter, and regulated the Communication Of military
service all the abuses to which substitution Is a.
ble might have been prevented. But the harm has
been done and it cannot be undone by breach OF
public faith. Are we to have another eVerhsullng
of the Exemption Bill-another attempt on the part
of the military committee to sweep the whole male
population, with the exception of members OF Con-
gress, into the various camps of instruction! we
hope not and yet our hope IS not unmlngled with
fear. 1t is so pleasant to resolve that everybody
else shall do the work, and that the resolutiOnists
shall enjoy the pro6ts-t is so cheap to be patriotic
at the expense of the rest of the world and things
which at once cheap and pleasant are so rare in
Richmond, that we should not be shocked at any
measures which the next Congress may pass.
Exemption from military service is privilege.
granted to the exempt because his work is benefit
to the nation-it would be cant to deny it but it is
a privilege which becomes disgrace as soon as the
exempt fails to perform his part of the contract
We care not how much this is insisted on Let
every sham preacher, every untaught teacher every
swindling cobbler every detailed man who does not
fulfil his duty be forced into the service But let US
have more meddling with the lists until it is as
certaned what the requirements Of civil life are
Disabled soldiers do not straightway become geni
uses of the first order, although we acknowledge
tageously replaced by udicous selection from the
number of our mutilated soldiers. Let the con-
scrption act it is, be fully carried out. But let
us have no hasty measures for increasing the size
of our armies until our subaltern officers bring all
the men "for duty" into the field until VIC get rid
of generals who do not know how to handle all the
forces at their disposal
1t is clear that we as well as the Yankees, need
efficiency rather than mere number; and, unlike
number efficiency admits of indefinite increase. 1t
would not be an inactive winter which should wit
ness thorough revision of all the departments Of
our army. A wholesome course of csshering
through all the grades of the service-a rigid re-
organization of the picket system-an entire re-
modelling of the cavalry-are among the urgent
necessities which must be met before another spring
summons US to meet again the recruited hosts Of
Yankeedom."