Washington telegraph., 1863-01-28


and fair thinking men to suppose that the ex
emp lion act was class legislation? The state
ment of the case shows its absurdity. All were
equally exempted for their services.
But the mischief is done, and whilst we an
plaud the original wisdom of the act. and en-
dorse the authors in their intended policy, We
cannot 1ail to see that it will be productive of
harm- III cannot be enforced all over the land
IL would be unjust to enforce it partially. and
some change is imperatively required What
that should be is hard to devise. To remove
the owners from any considerable number of
plantations would open the door to most per,
nicious influences from the emissaries of the
enemy, demoralize the slaves, destroy their
industry, and diminish largely the quantity of
the products of the country. 1t would weaken
our ability to maintain our armies in the field.
and the families of the volunteers at home
these consequences are self-evident.
Nevertheless, we think the experiment might
be tried by Congress. It'would allay the
| soreness of feeling which now induces men to
look so -sidedly. Experience is better
teacher than reason. When the conscript
found that by depriving his neighbor's plant
| alton of the wholesome restraints of the mas
ter CT overseer his own case was not bettered
"A particle nor his own hardships diminished
when in the distant camp, he might hear that
the crops were short, and many plantations
wholly unproductive and his family pressed
for supply of food that the negroes were
turbulent and rowing, subject to all bad influ-
euces; that they were stealing, robbing, run
Mug away, combining with bad white men
for worse purposes. he might then conclude
that the overseer, agent, or master, was quite
useful at home a. the shoemaker or tanner.
and he glad to have him remanded. If. on
the other hand, these evils did not occur, all
would be well. and the Confederacy would en-
inv the full confidence Of the people, and It's
armies be strengthened bSthe addition to its
forces We do not believe q tax upon The ex
cmpt planters would ailay the excitement
His presence in the field is necessary to prove
lac is not of the favored class. and either that
or no conscription seems now TO be the alter
native.
We commend this matter to our Congress
- in session. We hope they Will ind II
safe for the country to desist from conscrip-
ton and resort to the practice of recruiting for
the war The army would be smaller, but
lore solid and better disciplined We cannot
but believe. that numbers would rally to the
call for volunteers, that go now unwillingly
and by force C Jnscripts. But II that can
not be- let experience decide whether exemp-
tons are necessary Tor save ponce; anu meah-
while let all GO to the field alike.
Meanwhile let us abide the law. and submit
to u il its requirements There IS IA proper
power for the correction of evil. Let Us
await that
o, it will be glorious wlen the wars are
over. and we sit around our fresides; 10 tell
our children Of the times that are past, and be
able to say that We stood always shoulder to
shoulder with our government; that we never
resisted its DEGREES, however hard they bore
upon u.s. or however unfair We thought them;
that regardless of self. We were always in the
path Of our duty 1t will clothe us with digni-
ty and draw a veneration from succeeding
generations which will reach far beyond our
little lives, and crown the heads of our poster
ity for ages.