Washington telegraph., 1863-03-25
FLOR the Telegraph

Z Y
umns 70 submit few reflections which have
occurred to me in regard TO SOME Of the ques-
tons Of public policy, which have Of late en-
crossed much attention, and 10 some extent
affected the quiet Of the popular mind
The 9Th Sec. Of the .'Dechration of Rights,
annexed x the Constitution 81 our State, reads:
Printing presses shalt be free 70 every person,
aud no law shall be ma,ie q restrain the rights
thereof. The free communication of thodghts
and opinions il one Ut tle invaluable rights OF
man, and every citizen may freely speak, write
and print on any subject, being responsible for
tAe abuse NJ that liberty And hold that
no harm can grow out Of a free discussion OF
oar public policy, provided always that this
discussion H. tempered with due moderation
and prudence
The recent exemption act passed by our
Congress has ELECTED much discussion As TO its
prUpriety ana Justice. and, il seems, if we may
Judge from the signs Of the times, has met with
general and almost spOntaBeOu- rebuke from
the pe0pl. throughout The Confederate States.
| think IL ~ but justice 70 say That our Repre-
seutltiyes in Congress. ia passing this act, were
prompted by mo ives for the best interest 81
the country, aiming H. doubt, To add ~ the
strength anu efficiency Of the army, AMI At the
same time PROV ie Ter suitable police at home
tO ensure safety aIli plenty there But the
result las served to show tile great delicacy,
difficulty, and danger "a iegIsladng rpOr this
point. II ha= been re4ae-tY remarked, and
with mach truth 1 judge, that the contrast
between the poorer classes o. meu IN the south
cru States ai.l those vi shs North, ami, in fact,
between those Nd lhe s'rut States and any
Jtltr couDjry vine negro slavery does not
II. j. very great. aud tne odds are always IN
SAVIOR Mi ihe FORMER. Ia tne North where ne
grI slavery is unkl VIVA nv rnl laws, the mental
labor VI the country = necessarily performed
IN the poorer GLASSES; thef ars entirely de-
pendent upon thv mere pPuient ami wealthy
IC. Inyans vi support; feel their dependence
o. tacsy, anu perform duties which the poor
mal lI tIe sJutl wyult apLrn tIe Idea N DOING
Hence il w.l Ja --uI .nat Alr legislation which
At4y b. construed into at effort T. maze tIstsnc-
i."A- VI this kind W.4 meet with opposition
from t4rIl sooner ilHn in nny other cOuntry
puglauc. which manifested itself upoa the
Effort In enforce tlis a-t, Was .OD spDntane0rs
Wy .l WIi---.rlI NY Admit Nj AMY doubt a. ~
It's meaning. Our EeVle-e4JIuyes IN Con Zress
Nere E1t apprI-eI vi i4l- extent VI the mischief
when was Ikely tJ yr wrong hy thi- measure
uEll after mixing Win tItIr constituents they
Asc..ialHeI IL Development; aul II you need
convincing PROOF Oi thI-. listen tI the words vi
Pr--l4rut Davis, upln thr subject iu liz iast
message T. Congress: Il especially recon-
meui in this coma -ctl0H some revision " the
exemption l4~ MY IR-t session Serious u ~
pIa.u.- nave reached me Of the iuequ 4lity ofits
operation, from eminent aud patriotic citizens
whose 0rinIsns mer.t serious consideration n
Sr. TH- ana t4e readiness win which Jul
Representative responded 10 the recommen-
ultioI, Is q striking proof of q conviction On
tAglr paII at IAelul.It. ot ID operations n
Al4 Ats CANTOR Iu a.inIt,Ing l.. and t4sir read.
ness {, ropes. ~. bet9lseu just aIl generOu.
. -aHri uA rAu.r part alI Igsirs tJ make nl
discrimination ty legislation between different
classe, % our c4DZeAs. "a tie beginning O
Gals struggle W-eA a.l Ga- enthusiasm. "a ni
In. VH.GHta-r s1IilaFg Ly thousands llck1 Z
our standard. painting u fleet in 4 .ally c. NJ
Z na, the 4-ur tsr. VI ,dr rights. ~ Cle pause
N, enquire What Ac 80 paIl by Li- government
\ iHl us -rrRYs-s ~ IL country, 4HI fJr lis
man, private sacrifices ia tie neglect OF lis
family, 4uI All, occupation Ak homg. This
VI i4a4 never entered hl- mimi. Mt one in "A
V auuIreI clu.. have tJ.i SHAT tie law allowed
.m BlI IA tAe process o. time, wae This
enthusiasm. lIi- ly.t Nd country. and hatred
v w upprg-siyH. weF- dAnpeI by . spirit or spec
ul1..su .uI eArO.tiDu lu tie part of many he
. HGi. n4u tuut satisfied RIth ENJOYING the
\ .nntNrt. aI4 tuMyynlrnCes yf home. while
v others StTe brisl. Z dangers aud eucyuuterin-
Vi hArI-DI.- aud pryHlgI- IL "A common cause
NJ s0l-At tD cnANurt the wIr iatp "A means Oi
-oiIi.- money IJF selfish ends. anl OF thus
I rftaprl.n. IIeHn-e!sss upon me bluOI anI suf-
4. l.r..- MI thllr lal.pw-creaiure-. ii was not \
matter "" great surprise tnAr legislative en-
Y ac,uirIt uae this sIOU.d DC a source or sesue
murm4ria. aud discomfort. Again. some Of
the States. through their legislatures. before
a.l since .a. commencement " this war passed
acts com ceiling the owners Of negroes. upon
penalty either t1 remain in person IN their
I. r.ag lEyl- lr employ l.r other white person
80 4YsJ. The exemption act 81 Congress abOye
referred ID was framed witl aa eye 10 these
several State enactnents. alI in order On avoid
4 conflict. declared one cau-cript. either as
! ,-tat or owIer or oyerseer Of negroes. whose
VI nIr,ercs hy tile Jaws NJ his Stale wa. rendered
w \ necessary at nome. % subject of exemption.
7 The stale q. Arkansas, amongst Others, had
nt-sel such an act Dat Gen Holmes. in LII.
orders te caTUllinE officers. INSTRUCTED them IN
DISREGARD this act Of our State, aud proclaimed
I that only owners, agrnss Or Overseers of treat.
NEGROES should bg exempt from military duty.
7 NV II ~ useless fol- ED say whether this act
oil the state was uuwi,e or iuexpe iient OF not
whether il exempted too many men from the
service which Az right should nDf Ivy exempted
Y The qucsIIui. ~, WAS 4 an act Of the Slafs anl
] j.
rftysatR Id wa. passed by the legislature fl
reH IONS best EnIen ID themsalT =. aud wa,
\ fully provided Tor aud endorsed by the act OF
/ Congress. III there could have been any doubt
v w, wv it- meaning. there would have been room
10 differ to its cSu-ttutionality: i: there va,
any doubt n % it, consttutionaiity, there wa
" proper tribunal provided Tor by the con-ti
I turion a. winch X should have been submitted
I But that any ose Individual should constitute
\ himself a tribunal ~ annll, q: ..olify, an &C
\ uf THE Stats, II usnrpatiOn in INV opinion t0i
! gross 10 De permitted 70 pass unnotlcei. Ia
( had much rlgnt 70 disresa any other CLAUSE
\ Of the exemption bill 49, this Just as wei
7 have issued orders to enrcI II and force int,
camps of instruction all between sixteen and
sixty, regardless NJ any exemptions. Ills orders
~ enrolling officers compelled citizens Ut this
elias. to one OF two thihgs-either 70 enroll and
be dragged into camps Of instruction, or q
refuse to enroll anu ~ treatel deserters
thereby, in either case, perpetrating ssrion:
| injustice upon the citizen, and tramplng IN lei
NJ foot both State and Confederate laws. Ii il
true. a man might have enrolled and applied
10 the civil authorities for writ of Aabeas cor
rus upon the ground Of being unjustly detained
but in this day Of military domination, wha'
Il assurance have we that a man in power VIII
disrecar,ls the act Of the State and Of Congress
woull have any respect for to- decision Of i
II