Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-10
The Powers Conferred on the American
Dictator.

"The President f the United States has, in
effect, been created Dictator, with almost eu.
preme power over liberty, property and Ife-a
power nesrly as extensive and irresponsible as
that which 10 welded by the Emperors Of Rus
sia, France or China" These are not our
words, but the precise language Of widely
clrculsted popular journal, devoted to the un-
conditional support of the Administration and
it's measures. The journal in question classes
the measures adopted at the late session of
Congress, which it says collectively confer die
tstorisl powers upon Mr.. LINCOLN, under three
heads; l. The COnscription Act; 2. The FL
nance Measures; 8. The Indemnity Act.
/. The Conecription Act. This act enrolls
all the males in the United States QncludiDg
Indians and Negroes) between the ages of
twenty and forty.fve years into national mi
litia, and empowers the President to call them
into the service of the United States for three
years or during the war. The following are
the only exemptions-the President and Vice
President, and one adult male 10 each family
where there are aged parents or infant children
dependent on the labor of their adult relative
for support.
The whole body of the militia Of all the
States thus enrolled, lie divided into two classes
the first class consistiDg of men, whether
married or single, between twenty and thirty
Ave years of age, and of unmarried men be-
tween thirty.fve and forty Eve; the second
class including married men between thirty. We
and foIty.6ve. 1t is calculated that, according
to the census, after deductiDg the soldiers now
in the field, there will be enrolled under this
act three millions and half of men liable to
military service OF the call Of the President.
Though nothing is directly said in the Con-
scription act as to the enlistment Of negroes,
other acts of the late Congress are held to
clothe the President with ample power to enroll
and arm all the negroes in any part of the
country. Under these acts General HUNTER has
g brigade Of negroes at Port Royal; General
BANKS has several colored regiments at New
Orleans and Baton Rouge; General GRANT has
large negro force at ViCksburg, and General
RosEcRAns has several thousands at or near
Murffeesboro. Before the end of the year an
Administration journal predicts that the Presi.
dent will have at least one hundred thousand
negroes, armed and equipped, and iu the field.
2 The Financial Measures. The frat of these,
the Currency act, or the Finance bill, empow-
ere the President to issue FIVE hundred and fifty
million more legal tender notes additional to
the three hundred millions previously author
lied. He may also at such rates as he deems
proper, negotiate or sell United States bonds,
running not less than ten nor more than twenty
years, and bearing ak per cent. interest psya.
BILE in specie. "The money market and the
purse of the country" says an Administration
paper, " is thus placed absolutely ct the dispo
sal of the. Government, II the Secretary of
the Treasury can borrow, he has every oppor-
tunity of doing 80. If be can not borrow he has
the right to manufacture money"
"Besides this measure" continues the same
authority, " another act - Mr.. CHAsE's Bank
act-transfers the entire control of the bank
currency Of the country to the General Govern.
msus. This act empowers any individual or
corporation to bank on the bssis of Government
securities, and to issue currency based on the
deposit of such securities to within ten per cent.
Of their market value" It is added that this
measure gives "the President virtual control
Of ell the banks in the country"
3. The Indemnify Act. Having thus placed the
purse and sword Of the nation unconditi onally
In the hands Of the President, It only remained
to invest him with the power to crush the po-
litIcal opponents Of his Administration. This,