The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-04-02
(From the Newark Daley Journal.)
The Voice OF New Jersey On the
COnScriptiom Act.

The conscription act. has passed both
Houses Of Congress. and will of course re-
ceive the signature OF the Presidsn:.-
There is NO donbt of IL unconstitutionali-
ty; but as the object Of the war has, il
the eyes ofall meh. ceased to be the pres
ervatlon of the Constitution Of the United
States the proposed consumption is e. tire
ly consistent with the purposes and oh-
Jects of the Administration az indicated By
all its measures and acts for months past.
Ii the North is now fighting for anything
valuable, it must be found in the pri. cipis
Of Capitalization which is now the avowed
object of the war. The restoration of the
old Union is virtually declared am absurdi-
ty and an impossibility by those who con-
troll the Government at Washington; and
after the loss Of nearly half million of
men, and the wastefnl expenditure Of So,
600, 900. 900, the North is again to b. call
cd upon to furnish nearly all of l,s young
men to sustain the usurpiug powers at
Washington in enforcing central z,d des-
potism-in breaking down cur cherished
form of Government. and in w,ping out
State rights and individual liberties.
Are our State authorities. or the people
Of New jersey, willing to submit TO the
proposed revolution in our system OF gov
ernment! No one can deny thai the pro-
gramme of the Administration means revo-
lutioD, aud for one. We believe that such
programme should be steadily resisted by
every righsful means which God has given
a free people. If there are laws to pro,sc,
The citizen against despotism; if our Nor
.hern Legislatures and Executives are
worthy of their positions. ii the people
.st-cne h.: tithe of the vir:tae and mausiness
of their fathers. they will steadily refuse
{ be offered up as victims to the internal
destructive policy of the Aboliiioo'sts-
We are glad to see that the press Of
New Jersey is walking up 20 the impor-
tmce of the crisis, aad calling upon the
State authorities to protect the people spd
the rights of the State The True Ameri
can, of Trenton, well says;
"Try the proposed conscription law BY
the test of the constitutional provisions and
the decisions of the Courts referred to, aud
it will be found to be a far different thing
from what IS contemplated by thsn- Un-
it the Governors of.he States are set
at naught from the very first step in the
process to the last.
'.Bnt as if to make the law as edious and
unjust as it can be, = most invidious dis
tinction is made between men of means
and others. The Secretary of War is au-
thorized to allow exemptions upon the pay
mept of sum not exceeding $500 into
the Treasury, BY which means the poor
man, whether willing or not is forced iHto
the service, and the rich man, or he who
has rich friends, is exempted.
"If this law is allowed to go into effect.
the State mililias will be entirely snnihi.
lated. tn. State rendered powerless TO en-
force their laws, when resisted within their
respective borders; and will become more
dependent upon the Federal Government
than the Colonies we're upon the Govern
ment of Great Britain previous TO the revo-
luton. We ask the Executive TO consider
it likeyL in the name CT the peopls of
New Jersey. to dete rhine whether he viii
submit as 'Conlmander-in-C Chief Of All the
military and naval forces vi the S'a,e, To
be the subordinate of some peliy Pro- O9t
Marshal, commissioned 10y the President
ot the Uni ed States, or whether satsteo
with his own personal exemption rom Scr
vice, he will see the Generals, Coi"n,is
and other officers Of the State militia. oF-
ganlzel under the Constitution oi h Sa,e
of New } Jersey. aud in conformit, win the
Constitution and laws of tie Uni Ell States,
bereft Of their commands, and drafted as
plivates into the United States, without an
effort to preven; the dishonor. Tins Is a
matter OF giase Importance, ant should be
so treated by the Govern and Legislator
of the State 1t is easier 10 prevent an
evil than to remedy IT.
Where the Draft is To be First.