Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-12-31
Jefferson Davis Denounced as a Dictator.

ErGm the Richmond Examiner. Dec. 10.
The astounding propositions which have
signalized the first days of this present SEES
sion, for placing the entire population of the
Confederate States i'll the field, leaving no
producers of food to feed the enormous army
so raised, and as taxpayers to find the money
to furnish it, have created considerable
sensation. A feeling Of dependency has
been produced by them among reflective OBJ
servers; not by the prospect of the universal
cessation CT national life and organization,
which the realization of those wild projects
would certainly cause-for no one can fail to
see that there is no danger of realizing pa
tent impossiblity; but by the singular want
of discernment which they indicate. It is
difficult to beliece that many megs6erS Of tie Con-
greSS really intend tie establishment of DICTATOR
ship IN tbs country, still less to make lfl. DauiS
dictator. Yet it requires but little reflection
to perceive that such a law lately suggested
in his message, a suggestion which members
of Congress have taken in trust from it, is
nothing more nor less than that
An entire nation cannot remain in the field
more than twenty-four hours, under the pen
atty Of death by starvation. 4 law requiring
the whole population to take up arms and 90
into camp is nullity. Few will dispute the
remark; and the President blandly proposed
that the power and discretion should be given
him to detail" such persons as he pleased TO
continue the pursuits of civil life. The rela-
tive numbers of those in the army and those
out of it might not be changed by
law of universal enrolment, if accompa-
MED by this provision. The sole differ
ence between the present and prospective
condition of the military force and nation
would be the change of details" for " ex-
empts." One of these words designates per-
sons who continue the work that must be
done in war and peace, under the authority of
a law the other those who go about their
business because of the favor of the Presi.
dent and his ofice-holders, great and small
This is proposition to goe them dsspotic control
oger egery indi0iduM IN this country, and to de-
Stroy erery check mpon tier acW The parasites
Of po1oer are pleased agih it. There EXISTS a
small taction IN this country ocho hare tong clam
oyed for this measure, because they expect power,
profit, and revenge from it. But it is impossi-
bic to believe that those who have echoed
this cry in some Of the resolutions offered in
Congress, intended to do so. A resolution of
Inquiry, fortunately, is not law, and, when
the force of the measures suggested in the
first has been examined, as it must be before
it is fixed in the last, there will be little dan
ger that Congress will stultify itself or sacri-
fee the cause by such insane steps as are
now feared by many.
The motive of those who have given
quasi-sanction to these projects is easily I'M
derstood. TIE Confederate Arnsy sorely needs
But some means of effecting
that purpose must be found which is not at
once a folly and crime. The present army
is created by CONSUMPTION. # the actual con-
sc1ptio'a lar does not furnish a sufficient number
Of men, the natural and rational means Of rene
dying tie defect IS to enlarge the sphere of its
action By Increasing the age Of conscripts and
c'tere 1t can be done NTH sqtcty the
ere1apte3 Glass;