The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-09-02

furnish sum which shall be fixed by the
Secretary of War, not to exceed $780,
The poor men of the country, when draft
ed, have got to enter the service; but the
man of property, whSn he is drafted, pays
his money, and he escapes going into the
service. Now, l would prefer having that
every person drafted shall be compelled
to perform the service, or let him make
his own arrangements about getting sub
stitute. The Senator says that if this is
the case, the price of substitutes will be
very high. Private enterprise will regu-
late itself on that subject. If this amend
ment be adopted; person who is so sit
uated that he cannot go, or does not want
to enter the service for some reason or
other, if he has the means, may employ a
substitute in his place; but I would not
say to the people of this country, when l
was passing general bill to bring into
the public service all the able bodied men
of the nation: Cali of you who can pay
$500 shall escape the service, and those
who cannot must be drafted, and compell-
ed to enter the service"
| know there will be little clamor
made about allowing man to exempt
himself by giving money; but take it,
we are above clamor, and should be pre-
pared to meet it. In all military law, the
law of substitution is part of it, and
must be so. Every body admits that
The Senator ftem Illinoise himself ad-
mits it, If we allow the principle Of sub
stitution, we must take that system. which
while it furnishes us with the best SOL
dier, will be the least burdensome to the
drafted person; and I think that system
which fixes the price Of the substitute at
the standard price which man who comes
forward and offers himself as substi-
tute will be entitled to receive from the
Government of the United States.
There is another reason. When per-
son is drafted, and that person presents
substitute, he pays at once to the substi
tute gross sum of money, and very often
the substitute squanders that money be-
fore he assumes the burden of military
duty; while if lett to a general law and
general regulation, the Secretary Of War
might very well say, when he employs a
substitute, that portion Of the money
should not be paid until the end of the
war, and a portion of it only at the be-
ginning, just as, under the present system,
bounties are paid. In every possible
point of view, therefore, as this is an i'm
portant question, | say it is better that
there should be a fixed price for sub
stitute; aud let the law stand as it is /
do not want to see so much huctuation in
the terms of this very important law. l
believe the conscription will save this
country. Ever since its passage, l have
had more confidence in the success of our
arms and in the final triumphant termina-
ton of the war. | therefore think it is
law that ought not TO be tampered with,
except for strong reasons. The provis-
ions of the law will soon be understood
by the people, and | believe they will
respond to it with patriotic ardor. We
ought not to change the provisions of the
law, except for strong reasons.
Mr.. Trumbull-Thc law has not gone
into force yet.
MIR. Sherman-But still it has been
published all over the country, and is
pretty well understood. l think there
fore, it ought not to be changed, except
for strong reasons.
Mr.. Richardson, (Dem. .)-I can not
but say that | am much delighted with
the proceedings Of to-day. We passed
in hot haste, think last Saturday night,
a Conscription Bill, and we have already
have had two propositions to amend it by
gentlemen who voted for it. think, if
We sit two OF three days more, We shall
have propositions to amend other portions
Of that bill, and l think, by the next ses-
sion of Congress, we shall have propo-
sition to repeal it altogether.
Mr.. Wilkinson (Min.) IL hope Ibis
amendment of the Senator from Illinois
will be adopted. 1t seems to me, if the
bill stands as it now does, it will operate
in favor of that class of our population
who are able to pay the price fixed for
substitutes, and will operate very hard
against those who are not able to pay. |
would rather that the money clause in the
original bill should be stricken out, as
this amendment provides, and leave the
party to furnish his substitute as is therein
provided. There are many reasons for
this. 1t seems to me that advantage will
be taken of this provision by that class
of people, and they are quite numerous,
who are endeavoring to make every thing
that the Government is doing unpopular
with the people.
Mr. Wilson, (of Mass. )-They do not
succeed very we'll, though.
Mr. Wilkinson-I believe they do not.
believe there is too much patriotism in
the people to allow them to succeed very
we'll in their attempt. At the same time
SO far as my voice and my vote go,
| would rather remove all objection and
all ground for cayil against this or any
other law that We may pass to put down
this rebellion.
thought the other day, when it was
proposed to subject members of Congress
to this draft, that it was wrong, because l
considered that the Constitution set them
apart for a specific duty; but Congress was
SO bent on making this law universal,
making it popular law, that although
there are but two or three Senators who
would fall within this law, they were de-
termined they should be liable to this
Conscription Act. Now | want to strike
QUIT this money clause, and if | am drafted
| want to go. do not want to buy my
49, o,,t ,,f tho ormv with SIN nr S0O0