The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-05-06

/ ting the Uuion-for re- uniting the ties of on
surrendered nationality, and pledge themselves
heartily against all, whether abolitionists or
sccessionists, who attempt to overthrow the
Constitution, and barter away the liberties Of
the people.
The COnscription Act of Congress.
! The recent Conscription act of Congress,
like Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, de- 2
6es all serious retutation. The one, like the
other, not only ignores the limitations impo-
sed .on government by the Constitution, but
sets at naught all we'll established principles
| of Christian Flaw, throughout the world The
| Constitution, and laws passed. in pursuance
thereof authorize the Federal government to-
open recruiting stations at its WILL for volun-
| tary enlistmeHts of men into the regular army
of the United States. 1t further authorizes
the President on an emergency within the
competence Of the Constitution, to call for the
several States, or any one member of them for
a levy of militia. IF the States thus called on
refuse, the Federal Government was, by. the
Constitution intentionally, left without reme-
dy--because, the Union being one of consent,
it implied q common consent of the purposely
divides dlseyereign powers, committed respect
Ively,sby the people,, to the Federal Union,
and to tie several States, to- engage in any
armed enterprise. That was fore thought
safeguard of liberty, guaranteed by the trainers.
of the Constitution, to the people Of the seve-
raj States. = - E- 2
2 The act of the late Co gress prept sed to5d
!" wipe out these State lines" and to merge all &
the people into one consolidated despotism.
Congress has authorized Abe Lincoln to say,
as the Roman monster Caligula wrote to his
mother, olcnla naati et an onlnes Hcere / havsG.
power in all things, and over all persons Voi
Suetonius, from whom we quote, tells us that :
Caligula invited the people of Naples to wit
ness the pastime of naval engagement in the
Bay of Naples, and after the fight was finished, 81
ordered his soldiers to throw the entire bodysoI
of spectators into the sea. Lincoln has, byf
act of Congress, been clothed with warrant to :.
do the same to the idle spectators of tho next
bate of Fredericksburg. Caligula wished that =
the people f Rome had but one neck, so thai =
he could have the pleasure of seeing it chop 7
ped Off Lincoln has had the warrant given 7
him by this Congress, to enjoy the same pleas
ure, in more exquisite form, by chopping
off all our heads. at his own discretion, by the
single one, or by the dozen, asmay best sgree
with The sslitile anecdotev he may have to re-
cite as illustrative.
But can the Conscription take effect against 8
The willof the several States? According to
the Constitution it only be effected
through, and by, the consent and agency of
the States. And according to the recognized
scriptions can be Effected We see, at thiss
day, poor long down-troddcn Poland-cut up
by three great powers wick edly yleagued against
her-Russia, Austria and Prussia; still, though
unarn ed, seizing scytlres and rural Implements, (
and for the time, even thus resisting snccess-
fully the attempt of Russia to conscript her
sons without their or her consent We know
that Engand-cruelly as she oppresses Ire 81,
land, never dared to attempt CONSUMPTION therel
The rule of Austria in Lombardy was de-
clared oppressive after the battle Of Pava, but
Austria. only recruited volunteers ii Lombar-
dy. When, during the W rs of Maria There.
so, tho attempt was made to increase her ar r,
mics by conscriptions in Lombardy, the peo-
pie rose in revolt, and the attempt was aban-
doneds @
This eonscriptien act is, in every way, an
Outrage on justice and. decency, as well, on
American and Christian law. In vain it seeks
to. conciIiate the dominant classes by offering
them a cheap escape, by paying three hundred
dollars in S. p @, greentacks, and forcing
the laboring poor, who have no three hundred
dollars to give, to quit their families and gor
to the sacrifice. 1t will not do. 1t is an out !.
rage that manhood spurhs and it is best for Its
projectors that it remain a dead letter.-Free,
mans Journal.