Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-04-01
CHRONICLE
O.
WEDNESDAY. APRIL. 1st Issa.
Misrepresentation Of the Conscrip
ton Law.

SIeeu-nlakefS OF the part
that calls itself Democratic, that they d,
not sympathize with the rebels. thew cal
be proven traitors at heart, by the charac
ter of their principles, the maIicnity o.
their falsehoods, and their implscable
opposition TO all measures devised for the
vigorous prosecution of hostilities against
the rebels.
Not satisfied with having opposed the
passage of an act by Congress for keeping
I'D the numerical strength and efficiency
of our armies, they now are engaged
through their disioyal presses and orators
in incorporating the law since its pass
age, by characterizing it as unjust and
psstial in its provisions, when the reverse
is really the case.
The Northern rebels who are the bell
wethers of the Democratic party, seem to
be as blinded by their prejudices and in
herent treason, as are their serpent pro-
totypes, the Shiny copperheads, amid the
rank weeds, foul swamps and miasmatic
vapors that prevail in dog-days. The
virus that thus obscures their own vision
is being employed by them to inoculate
their unthinking followers, who having
eyes viii see not, but with a subserviency
that would demean a slave, follow these
blind leaders of the blind" to the ruin
that must inevitably Overtake those who
in this national struggle are false to their
God and country. Upon no more liberal
reasoning can the unblushing mendacity
of the unprincipled men who are laboring
to Illustrate the plans of the Government
be explained. Their Misrepresentation
of the Consumption law is a case directly
in point.
Although the provisions of the Con-
scription Act are al expressed in plain,
cigar language, within the comprehension
of the dullest brain. yet the demagogues
are at work falsely constructing it to the
people, in order to breed a storm of pop
ular discomfort.
One Of this class of false teachers adj
dressed a Democratic Copperhead meet
ing in this place recently, on which occa-
sion he stated that the effect of The new
conscription law would be 10 draft all the
poor men, and permit the wealthy to es-
cape by virtue of their money. because
the army would have to be filled mp, and
she rich would bog themselves off, hence
the draft would hare to be continued un-
Ill a sufficient number of poor men. who
could not pay substitute money, were
called out 10 fill the call for troops.
Had the speaker referred TO been desi-
rous of imparting correct information to
his hearers, he would read at least that
portion of the law which he presumed to
~critieise with the wisdom Of Scion. But
ne did not dare to do this, for in that case
the antidote would have accompanied
the bane.
To show how basely he falsifed the re
cord, and not only he, but the whole
gang of credulous dummies who swallow
ed his dose. and have since her been
daily repeating it on the streets, as bug .
aboo TO keep Il certain class of honest
hearted men from leaving their ranks and
joining the Union party, we will quote
the section OF the law that relates to sub
s~tituies, as follows:
SEC. Is. Ind be il further enae5sL, That
any person drafted and notified to appear
as aforesaid, may on or before the day fix
ed for his appearance furnished an accept
able substitute TO take his place in the
draft. or he may pay TO such persons as
b Secretary of War may authorize TO
receive it, such sum not exceeding three
hundred dollars, as the Secretary may de
termine for the procuration OF substitute,
which sum shall be fixed at a uniform rate
by a general order made at the time of
order in a draft for any State or Territory:
and thereupon such persons so furnishing
a substitute or paying the mOney shall be
discharged from any further libility under
that draft and any person failing TO re-
port after due service of notice as herein
described without furnishing a substitute
or paying the required sum therefore shall
be deemed a deserter, and shall be arrest
ed by the ProYost-Martial and sent to the
nearest military post for trial by a court
martial unless upon proper showing that
he is not liable TO military duty the Board
of Enrolment shall relieve Kim from the ,
draft.
Now if d drafted man cannot procure a
substitute, for a sum not erecediag three {
hundred dollars, the government agrees F.,
to procure one for him at a cost of not
more than $500. If a drafted man can
obtain a substitute for a less sum than :
that amount, it will be all right and le- 4
gal, but the law very justly and humanely
provides hat those of the conscripts, I
who may happen to be men of but moder- {
ate means, shall not be obliged to pay
exhorbitant sums for substitutes, but q
limits the price not to exceed $500. This 7
IS altogether in favor OF the poorer class, e
the wealthy could procure substi- L
tutes if it required a thousand or more y
but at such high rates the poor e
could not, and the trainers of the law see t
ing this, wisely provided that the poor o
nan who might not be able TO procure a It
substitute, at a moderate rate, should not Il
be declared the privilege by excessive h
demands. 10,
This excellent provision of the law was n
opposed by the enti-war Demo N
Gratis of Congress, and is mis-stated by ii
rebel Democrats every where.
One Of their charges against the law is y
hat the Government gives no guaranty 81,
hat the substitute money Will be applied d,
o procuring men to FL up the ranks of x
he army. This statement could only be >,
made by two classes Of men-the ~ignora- =,
or the liar. Section Ii of the law. \,
-bove quoted, is explicit On that point, %
nd says the person drafted may pay to h,
Secretary of Wal a sum not exceed =,
Conn ..e,. IL ATUnN- or -