Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-11-03
The Call for Three Hundred Thou.
sand Men.

AAhu NAGhs
Prom the Richmond Examiner, Oct. q.
Lincoln has made various proclamations
since the commencement OF the war, some
OF which have seemed to the world scarce
ly less unreasonable than those of the
Chinese Emperor. The latest performance
of this sort is the call for three hundred
thousand men. Those enormous figures
formerly possessed considerable potency.
They startled the Imagination and beWfl-
dered the judgment. Like over indul-
gence or excess in other things, they have
now lost their power. Like a reckless
spendthrift, or an ipjudicious Snowman,
Lincoln has exhausted his resources, and
sRtiNted the palate of the audience. They
have now become familiar with these enOr-
nous bravadOs and their insignificant re-
suits. a call for three or four hundred
thousand men fails to elicit note of ad-
miration from the jaded sensibilities of tue
world. Even Lincoln, dead ms he appears
to be to all sense OF the ridiculous, except
in the form of IL bar.rOOm story, shrinks
from the absurdi,y Of calling for a mil
lion. He has used up his stock of novel;
ties, and the manager is obliged TO repeat
his stale exhibitions.
"There must be an attempt at the face
tious 10 the appeal for volunteers, in de-
fault OF which the draft will be made to
work again. lie knows well that no vol
unteers are to he expected in the future
In fact, il may be doubted whether the
Yankee nation, between the disgust of those
in the army and the scrvility OF those out
of it, are not reduced to the condition of
the volunteer 10 the Mexican war, who so
bitterly regretted his rashness that he
swore never to do q voluntary act again,
The volunteers will not be forthcoming,
and recourse must be had 10 the draft
Enough has been seen of the workings of
that institution to show that it is cumbrous
and ineffective. 1t will require n consider
able time to procure men by It's means, and
put them in serviceable condition. 1t is
evident that these men are destined to fill
up the gaps which will be made by the ex-
piration of the term of service OF a large
number of the original levies. Nearly the
whole Yauke army will go out Of service
during the Summer. This draft will but
partially fill the void in numbers, and not
at all in efficiency.
All accounts concur in stating that their
new levfes make very bad troops. There
is but one plan which will secure the con-
troll of an efficient army, aud that is to
retain all the veteran troops. Il is prob
lematical if the laws necessary for this
purpose can be made or enforced. Dis-
content and dissatisfaction will greatly
impair the spirit of the men If faith Is
broken with them, aud they are retained
longer under their colors.
The last call may properly be considered
symptom of weakness. If the money
exemption be still allowed, it will prove
abortive as means of raising men, aud
will be found a superAuous auxiliary to
the machinery for manufacturing promises
TO pay. II that provision is discarded, a
number Of reluctant men will, after long
delay and much difficulty. be obtained 10
take the place OF soldiers accustomed to
defeat, but still by time and discipline wei,
ded together into an effective military ma
chine. The best aud most numerous army
that the Yankees will ever have has been
already put in the Geld. 1t has inflicted