New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-07-21
CAV. sEyw0UH AND TIE 5000.

ia in the $500 clause, which, 1t is alleged,
makes an invijiouS distinction between the
rich and the poor. A great many people be-
lieve this to be we-founded, but believe It
thoughtlessly. A draft in itself IL a perfectly
lust measure, for nobody believes-at least no.
body has the hardihood to say-ihat we ought
10 Law down our arms. If We carry on the
war we must have soldiers; nearly million
of meu have thus far voluntarily taken upon
Themselves that burden, but the time has come
when burden for the common welfare should
be borne in common aud equitably divided
among the whole people. The younger
stronger those who have the iewest RESPONSE
bilties. are those first taken. This Is simple
Justice Among these every possible exception
WAS made, such as sons with dependent Wild
owed mothers, brothers with dependent aud
orphan brothers aud sisters; and these excep-
tions are in favor Of the poor, not the rich.
To supply fund to enable the Government
10 hire substitutes, it was necessary to fix
sum. Ii might be so small as to defeat that
object. or be mere temptation to avoid a
duty which the Government has a right 10 re-
guire of the citizens-lhe defense OF the coun-
try. Or it might be so large as to preclude
the possibility of any but the Iich purchasing
exemption, however imperative might be the
necessity. To fix 10 sum ae all would ineviia-
bly lead to that result, az, in that case, the
price Of substitutes would be marketable
commodity and rise. as It has in the South, far
beyond the means OF poor man. rational
mean was fixed IN naming $500. 1t gives The
Government sufficient fund 10 hire soldiers #
necessary. the sum ia not ~ large but 1t can
be commanded by most men, or where that IA
impossible, in individual cases, 1t is 80 small
that mutual aid can be gwen among those OF
better circumstance, aud ~, indeed, Is bein9
done everywhere by employers toward their
employees and servants. Assuming then the
draft to be necessary aud just, AS measure
for common defence, the $500 clause meets the
difficulty of finding substitutes for those who,
for any reason, are precluded from rendering
the required service, better than any device
that could be bit upon.
4 There are those, to be sure, who object to
apy draft per- Sc. But these are towards, who
are willing TO live at home at ease, aud ENJOY
the benefits and blessings purchased by the
blood of Others We have no words 70 waste
on them.
The unthinking multitude who last week,
rayaged this city with pillage cOnilagration aud
murder, have, perhaps, been misled by men
VINO know that neither the Draft nor the clause
in question is open to any reasonable obJcc.
ton. They have used the $500 provision 70
/ ilhame the poor against the ricb, not because
/ hey thought 1t Unjust. but that they might ex-
cite an insurrection to further their own pOlt-
zeal and personal ambition. llorati0 Seymour
aud lIoratio SeymOurs organs have resorted to
this pretext in the hope that they might pre-.
vent any re.cnforcements of the armies Of the
/ Union, knowing that Government without
soldiers in time Of war has no alternative but
to make peacc-peace however dlsgraceiul or
however disastrous. they care not, 20 long as
it restored themselves and their Southern
allies to pOwer-pcace, though IT might
/ be by the sacrifice OF the brave men who,
without waiting to be drafted, have youn-
toered to defend their country in the field.
And here is proof. On TIE 18th of May last,
only two months and half ago, the Legisa-
ture passed an act to amend "an net (Which is
IN effect draft for possible contingency
for the enrolment of the Milltin, the organiza-
ton and discipline of the National Guard OF
the State of New York, and for the public
Defense" and the 9Th article Of these amend
mcnts is as follows:
SEC Add end Of section 900 Of This act % ioo"'
Any person drafted who member OF anS Icg"I'
be bearing haH be e1cased from sdid dDt Oh
,p.d. Tml Sun OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS to be by
said County CleG paid To toe Controller OF the STATE 10 De
applied to the purposes mentioned IN this aet.
And to this act IIoRATIO SEYMOUR gave
his approval and affixed his name as Governor
Of the State! With just as much reason
uhieh Hoyatio Seymour mate tar, ia all in
yidious distinction between the Quaker and
the Catholic, as that the act of the United
States fayors the rich ut tee expense OF The
poor 10 the act Of tine State, enrolling the
citizens, with an exemption fec for certain
class Of $500, he gives his approval; to Inc
act of the United States, enrolling the cit.'
zeus. with an exemption fee for certain
class of $500, be sanctions opposition BY his
example, addressing those who make IT pre-
text for instruction as his " noble hearted
friends" Are there any SO blind that they
cannot see; so deaf that they cannot hear