New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-07-20
THE EXEMPTION.

The French are the hrst Military nation OF
modern as the Romans long were Of ancient
Europe, and the former assert, AZ the latter
maintained, tho liability of every citizen to
render Military service TO biz country. Every
Frenchman at twenty years of age must stand
his chance among the French males of like
age of being drafted TO serve in the Army
his liability to serve ceasing with his thirtleth
year.
But there arc various grounds Of exemption
from service, while the right to servo by sub
sttute WIS long ago established. Hence aross
an extensive traffic or brokerage in substitutes
-specgptou buying up all the stock in mar
ket 10 sell to whomsoever should choose 10 pay
their price for it. Under this system. it WAS
found that the substitutes usually received about
500, while the brokers eIscted from $500
upward, according to the ruling Of the market
And the Government found that its substitutes
wero apt TO DO hard lot-discbarged oonvicts,
igstes, reprobstes, and bad boys generally.
Tho speculator in substitutes bad no interest IN
the matter but to procure the cheapest article
was governed by q similar impulse. Thus the
substitutes corrupted and dcteriOrated the army.
In view Of these facts, the Government took
tho substitute business wholly into its own
hands, fixing a uniform price for substitutes
in time Of peace and . somewhat higher price
IN tme Of war. Whoever chooscs 70 serve BY
substitute pays that price over to tho Govern
men, and receives q certificate Of exemption,
and tho Government employs the money 80
paid 10 hire the best substitute it can fnd-a
veteran soldier if possible. who is worth two
average recruits 10 the service. And that Is
exactly what our Government aims at in the
$500 exemption. A fixed, well.known price
all paid TO tho substitute, not q cent to specu.
lator; the very best substitutes that the price
will commands and the Government managing
the whole business in the interest Of the serv.
ce-such are the results Of system which
has stood tho test OF experience IN tho most
effective military service on earth.
-"But why not mako every drafted person
serve in person =" it is asked. We answer
because that 10 not best. II the rule, it would
render military service far moro onerou' and
less effective than at present. He who will
.tpuate to serve for bounty Of $500, |"
presumptively q better soldier than he who
will pay the $500 TO escape serving. Thus the
semi. Rebels of lower Maryland would DO worth
very little to tho Union service; but the $500
each that they will pay to escape serving Will
induce far better men to take their places.
Moreover, there are thousands Of patriotic
men, who would mako good soldiers, who can
DO Of moro service 10 the National cause else.
where than in tho field. To send them to the
war 10 to take them from positions where they
are now rendering important service to the
cause of the Union. The Nation wants sol
ders for ito defense; but 1t needs men at
work iu various civil capacities, TO render the
soldiers 10 tho field effective. The law az 1t
stands 10 well meant aud well considered. Let
us stand by it as II is!