Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-12-18
n BUS, OHIO, FRIDAY MORNING DEC CEMBEI

! III circulation, by Offering inducements 4
! voluntary fnnding. The measures adopted
for that purpose have ebeenbutpartially sue
cessfnL and the evil has now reached such
magnitude as to permit no other remedy
than the compulsory reduction of the cur
reney to, the amount required by the busf
ness of the country, Thisreduetion should
be accompanied by pledge that, under M
stress of circumstances, will that amount bC
exceeded. No possible mode of Using tho
credit of the government cam be so disas-
trous as one which disturbsl the basis of al
exchanges renders impossible all calcula-
~ tions of future values, augments, in con-
stantly Increasing proportions the price Of
all commodities, and so deprcciates all fixed
wages, salaries and incomes las to render
them inadequate to bare Subsistence. If to
these'be added the still more fatal influence
on the morals and character of the people,
to which / have already reverted, / am per-
suaded YOU will concur in the conclusion
that an infleXible adherence to the elimination
of the currency at "a fixed sum is an indis-
pensable clement of any system of finance
now to be adopted al, ~
The holders of che currency now out
Standing can only be protected in the recov-
cry of their just claims by substituting fol
thcirnotes some other security. If the cur
rency is not greatly promptly reduced
the present scaleof inflated brides will not
only. continue to exist, but. in the conduct OF
the war, those prices will reach rates still
more cXtravagant and the whole system
will fall under its own weight, thus render
ing the redemption of the debt impossible,
and destroying itsw Whole value inthe hands
of the holder, J7x. ~
TIE ARMY. ot
To the report of the Secretary of War you
are referred for details relative to the con-
dition of the army and the measures of leg
islation required for maintaining its eff
cheney. recruiting its numbers, and fur
nislling the supplies necessary for its sup
port.,
: sThough weslave lost many of tie best OF
our soldiers and most patriotic of our. citi-
Zcns-sthe sad but Hnav voidable result OF. the
battles and tolls of such campaign as that
which will render the year 1863 ever memo
rable in our annals-the army is believed TO
be in all respects III better condition than at
any previous period Of the war. Our gal
lant defenders, -uOw veterans, tamiliag with
danger. hardened hyeXposure, and conf
dent in themselyesaitl their officers. endure
priyatons with cheerful fortitude and well
come battle with alacrity. The officers. by
experience IN field service and the action OF
examining boards in relieving the incpmpe-
tent, are now greatly more efficient than at
= the CONNIE cement. of the war. The aSser-
ton is ibeicved to be fully justified, that,
regarded as q whole, for character, valor,
efficiency and patriotic devotion, our army
has not been equaled by any like number OF
troops in the history of war. igHO 7
In view of the large cOnscription recently
ordered by the enemy, and their subsequent
eill forfyoluntcers, to be followed, if inef-
fectual by still, further draft, we are adj
monished that no effort niust be spared to
add largely to oureilectiye force as prompt
" as possible. The sources of supply are
vte-be found by restoring to the ARMY adj
WHO are improperly abs6nt.putting aai end
substitution, modifying the exemption
law, restricting details, and placing in the
ranks such of the able-bodiedmen now en-
ployed as wagoners, nurses, cooks. and
othsr- employees as are doing service for
eWltch the negroes, may. be found compe-
The act of the lGti oflltpril, 1899, pro
vidcs that persons not liabh ,fqrGpy may
be received as substitutesAOr tliosc-who are,
under such. regulatiols as may be prescrb-
ed by the Secretary. of War" The policy
of granting this privilege has not been sus-
tanned by experience. Not only has the
numerical strength Of the army been Sc
riously impaired by the frequent desertions
for which. substitutes have become notori-
ouss but dissatisfaction has been excited
among those who have been unable or uii-
willing to avail themselves of the opportll-
nifty thus afforded of avoiding the military
service oftheircountry. -.
] fully concur III the opinion expressed by
the Secretary, that there is no ground fol
theyobjeetion that q new; provision, to in
clrdc. those who furnished substitutes under
the former call, would be a breach of con-
tract, TO accept a substitute was to confer
privilege; not to enter into q contract and
whenever tire substitute is rendered liable
to conscription, it would seemto follow thai
the principal, whose place he had taken
should respond for him, as the government
had received no consideration for hiseXemp-
tion. Where, however, the new provision
of law would fail to embrace substitute
now in the ranks, there appears, il the prin-
cipal should again be conscribed,c to be an
equitable ground fof compensation itotht
,conscfipt, whoo then MOULD have added tC
the service d soldler;not otherwise liable tC
enrolment. .# n' 1T 7TE ~
On the subject of exemptions it is believ-
ed that abuses cannot be checked unless tht
system is placed on basis entirely differen
from thatno provided by law. The oh.
iect of your legislation has been, not to con.
fer privileges on classes, but to exonerat,
from military duty such number of persons
skilled in the various trades, professions
and mechanical pursuits, as could render
I more valuable service to their country by
lzlaboring ino their. present occupation thar
I by going into the ranks of the,arnly. Thi
policy is unquestionable but The lresul
would, it is thought, be better obtained by
enrolling all SUCH persons, and allowing de
tails to. be made Of the number ne ecessary t.
meet the wants of the country. Consider
able numbers are believedtd behow exempt
ed from the military servicetwhor are no
neetlftl to the 6publie in their civil voca
I tions. 'i
IoiCertain dutiesare enowperformed through
out the country by details, from the arm,
which could be as well executed hye person
aboYe the present conscript Age. An exten
sion of the limit, so as to embrace person
over fortyaiiyeyears and physically lit fb
service in guarding posts, railroads 'ran
bridges, in ~apprehending deserters ant
li'where practicable, assuming the place t
\ younger men detailed for duty with the nj
/ ter, ordnance, commissary and quartermas
\ ters' bureausof the War DepartmentSwoNlt
J it ishoped, add largely'to the effective fore
in the field without an undue burden o
1.-The population. y 10 ymfA u
IF to the above measures be added la
to enlarge the policy Of the act tof-the.2ll
April, 1862, SO as to enable the departmel
to replace not only enlisted cooks, but Nas
toner's and other emDloyes in the army. Ii