Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-12-31
Drnn.

or all the humbugs ever set afloat--
OF all the insults to the noble sons o.
America-of all the acts of wrong and
oppression inflicted upon a willing and
patriotic people--of all the failures OF
this Administration all the measures
which tend to disgust the people OF the
United States, there never was one con-
ceived which surpassos the draft in in
efficiency, expense and wortblessness.
For years it has been the theme of poets
the germ Of orations, that this coun.
try was founded upon the love of its sup
porters and that in hours Of darkest dam
ger and most deadly strife there would
always be men enough to volunteer and
keep the sacred and beautiful emblem of
America proudly in the breeze. And
such is the case. There never was a cal |
for the Draft. 1t has proved as we said
and urged from its incipiency, a cruel
failure and an aggregate of expense
which the nation cannot now afford. Ii
makes slaves of freemen. 1t makes cow
ards and dcserters of those who would
otherwise be honest and patriotic men.
1t deprives citizens Of right they have
always boasted-of hean necessary for
the suppression Of this rebellion and
makes the upholders and defenders of a
free Government the tools of tyrant
power which never should have been
welded, and which history will hiss into
the perdition it deserves.
1t has filled the land with lazy, igno.
rant, conceited and irresponsible officers
whose living and expenses have to come
from the poor people they take SO many
airs over--it has increased the enormous
expenses Of a Government already terri
bly, in debit has given place to enrol.
ling and drafting officers sufficient to
make an army in them selves---it has fill
led the pockets OF thousands Of dishon-
est officials with. exemption money char.
ged to some kind Of disability--it has
wrung from many and many poor man
his last dollar, or sent him into the army
with the terrible disgrace OF "conscript"
attached to his name--it has kept the
decimated regiments in tn field from being
filled by volunteoring-it has forced the
poor man whose family ties were as
strong as those of the rich into the ser.
vice while his family were left to starvt
or dishonor him and themselves forever
it hos not and never will realize tentl
part Of the men needed or which can b,
raised by volunteering AS drattcc
man we never will fire gun, or draw
sword in defense Of the country we love
AS volunteer we may. There is
pride in being a volunteer--a shame il
being a slave of the Draft and the tyran
ny which inaugurated and enforces it.
Congress wants to subdue the rebellion
and satisfy the defenders of the Govern
mont, let this damnable outrage upon
the rights of freemen be revoked If il
wants to drag this war along--to enrich
pets in office, and fill the land with gree
dy officers who should be in the field and
not, like leeches, be sucking the life blood
of the nation as with shoulder straps and
fancy uniforms they lounge around sa-
looms and play toady to a power they
both fear and despse, let it repeal the
Draft Act-crll for volunteers and dis
miss the countless horde of well paid
blood suckers who fatten while the poor
men Of the country go both naked and
hungry.
a drafted man stands about as mucl
show in the army as long haired cat il
the lower regions, and he will be of a'
much service, when he is tame enough tc