The Goodhue volunteer., 1863-03-18

draft. Thus far the language is so plain that
there can be but one construction of it.
I'd. The drafted man may pay to such
persons as the Secretary Of War nay-not
must-authorize to receive it, such sum not
exceeding $500, as the Secretary may de-
terminc, for the procurement of such sub
stitute..
ID. And thereupon the drafted man fur
nishing the substitute or paying the money,
shall be discharged from further liability
under that draft.
1t will be perceived that it is not made
obligatory on the Secretary of War TO author
'ze' any person to receive the money. He
may do SO or he may not. Neither is the
conscript obliged to offer it. He may or
may not, and The former !. may or = may not
accept it; but if he should, then the drafted
man is discharged from liability under that
draft. The Secretary is not obliged to Ax
the sum at any particular amount. 1t may
be $500, or 800 or $40.
Again 1t will be perceived that the
language Of the law is, that the $500 is for
the procurement of such substitute The
Communication money is not paid into the
Treasury Of the United States at all but
goes directly to such substitute as will
agree to serve in the place Of the drafted
man. The plain meaning Of the law is that
every man who is drafted must serve three
years or during the war, unless some other
acceptable man volunteers to take his place
The only exception to The rule is found in
the five exemption clauses in behalf of la
boring men having poor Or helpless relatives
to support.
Suppose draft is made on Illinois, and
the quota for Chicago is 1000 men; we
contend that 900 men have got to be fur
nlshed, either by principles or substitutes.
The government don't care whether it be
A, B and c. or their substitutes, X, Y and
z, but it must have the exact number called
for, anyhow. II the Secretary Of War au.
thorizes person to receive $500 from a
drafted man. it is for the purpose of paying
some man who steps forward and volunteers
as a substitute. If the Government can
not find the substitute it is not bound to re
ceive the money; and the drafted man must
r 60 or find a substitute. Obviously If the
Substitute shark fails to furnish its prime.
pal with substitute, the principal must go
The Government substitute officer takes
precisely the same position and responsi
bility as the substitute broker expect, that
he keep down the price to $500 for the
benefit Of those who cannot afford to pay the
exhorbitant rates fixed by the "sharks.' -
The object Congress had in view in fixing
the maximum sum at $500, was ten .old:
first, to prevent, as far as possible, "substi-
tute sharks raising up the price 80 high
that none but the wealthy could afford to
1pay it seco ely, to induce as many of the
soldiers whose terms Of service are expiring,
to reenter the army as possible. Between
now and july next not less than 10000
nine months and two year men will have
served their time and be discharged. There
are now at home many thousand discharged
soldiers fit for service, who might be indu.
ced 10 return to the servce during the re-
mainder Of the war for a bounty Of three Or
'our hundred dollars. These old vent erans
are seasoned, toushened ard disciplined.-
They have learned their trade, They
know the business by heart, The Govern,
ment would rather have one Of them than
ltwo green conscnpts, and so would the
Generals, "@.t 8 1'' '&@s sgss&a T.
Sec. Il. Of the Conscript Act provides
that men who are drafted shall receive the
same pay and bounty as is paid to volun
tesrs, which is 500 and s13 per month. o.
course the substitute who takes the place
Of the drafted man will get this bounty: as
jwell as the pay. Now, when the Secretary
1of War receives $3.50 commutation money.
be will be able to pay the old soldier who
|re'enters the service as substitute, the
shug sum Of S4OJ, besides rations, cloth.
ing, and $1,000 month. Looking at the
law in this light, and eonstroing its mean
ling. IS We have sdone-and ii can fairly
hear no other construction, the otjeciion to
the 18th section will vanisl, like mist, and
the law will become popular with 81: loyal
4c'tizens. The Coprerheads would object 10
any law, having for its object The putting
down Of the rebellion. Their hosti!i.es is
mot - the 13ab section, bss 70 every section
|of the .ct. They wact 70 force di.au;on
peace. To ssch vipers our srticl. i no. a
dressed. - Chiago Tribune. ss.., /.
/ STEWAnT. the great dry goods mer. ,e
chant Of New York, is said 10 have
swept the marke.. clean of some dcx.
Icriptions Of goods. III. business ii
i q 80