Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-12-31

ne hct vi tnc lUtn VI Aprll, 1907,
provides "that persons not liable for du.
ty may be received az substitutes for those
who are, under such regulations AZ NAV
be prescribed by the Secretary Of War"
The policy of granting this privilege has
not been sustained by experience. Not
only has the numerical strength of the
army been seriously impaired by the fre.
quent desertions for which substitutes
have become notorious, but dissatisfac
tion has been excited among those who
have been unable or unwilling to avail
themselves of the opportunity thus aflor.
ded Of avoiding the military service of
their country.
] fully concur in the opinion express.
ed by the Secretsrx that there is no
ground for the objection that a new pro-
vision, to include those who furnished
substitutes under the former call, would
bc breach of contract. TO accept a sub.
stitute was to confer privilege, not to
enter into contract, and whenever the
substitute is rendered liable to conscrip.
ton, it would seem 20 follow that the
principal, whose place he had taken,
should respond for him, as the govern.
meut had received no consideration for
his exemption. Where, however, the
new provision of law would fail to en-
brace substitute now in the ranks, there
appears. if the principal should again be
conscribed, to be an equitable ground for
compensation to the conscript, who then
would have added to the service soldier
not otherwise liable to enrolment.
On the subject Of exemptions it is be.
lieved that abuses cannot be checked un,
less the system is placed on basis en-
tirely different from that now provided by
law. The object of your legislation has
been, not to confer privileges on classes,
but to exonerate from military duty such
number of persons skilled in the various
trades, professions, and mechanical pur-
suits, as could render more valuable SER
vice to their country by laboring in their
present occupation than by going into the
ranks of the army. The policy is I'M
questionable; but the result would, it is
thought, be better obtained by enrolling
all such persons, and allowing details to
be made Of the number necessary to meet
the wants of the country. Considerable
numbers are believed to be now exempt
ed from the military service who are not
needful to the public in their civil voca-
tions.
Certain duties are now performed
throughout the country by details from
the army which could be as we'll executed
by persons above the present conscript
age An extension OF the limit so as to
embrace persons over forty-fve years and
physically fit for service in guarding
posts, railroads and bridges. in appre.
hendng deserters, and, where practicable
assuming the place of younger men de-
tailed for duty with the nitre, ordnance,
commissary and quartermasters' bureaus
of the War Department, would, it is
hoped, add largely to the effective force
in the field, without an undue burden on
the population.
If to the above measures be added a
law to enlarge the policy OF the act of the
2lst of April, 1862, SO as to enable the
department to replace not onl y enlisted
cooks, but wagoners and other employees
in the army, by negroes, it is hoped that
the ranks of the army will be SO strength
ened for the ensuing campaign as to put
at defiance the utmost efforts of the en-
emy.
In order to maintain, unimpaired, the
existing organization of the army until
the close of the war. your legislation con-
templated frequent supply of recruits,
and it was expected that before the expi-
&c tba thraa Gov oh a.
men were enrolled, under act of April 16,
1862, the ma ority of men in each COM
pany would consist of those who Joined
it at different dates, subsequent to the
original muster of the company into SER
vice, and that the discharge of those who
had completed their term would at no
time be sufficient to leave the company
with less number than is required to en-
able it to retain its organization. The
difficulty of obtaining recruits from cer-
tain localities, and the large number of
exemptions from military service granted
by different laws, have prevented suffi-
cisnt accessions in many of the compa-
MES to preserve their organizations after
the discharge of the original mem bers.-
The advantage of retaining tried and we'll
approved officers, and of mingling recruits
with experienced soldiers, is so obvious
and the policy oi such course is so clear
ly indicated that it is not deemed neces-
sary to point out tho evil consequences
which would result from the destruction
of the old organizations. or to dwell upon
the benefit to be secured from filling up
the veteran companies so long before the
discharge of the early members as may
be possible. In the cases where it may
be found impracticable to maintain reg-
ments in sufficient strength to justify the
retention of the present organization,
economy and efficiency would be promo
ted by consolidation and reorganization.
This would involve the necessity of dis.
banding part Of the officers and making
regulations for securing the most udcious
selection of those who are retained, while
least wounding the feelings of those who
are discharged
Experience has shown the necessity for
further legislation in relation to the hor-
ses of the cavalry. Many men lose their
horses by casualties of service, which are
not included in the provisions made to
com pensate the owner for the loss, and it
may thus not unfrequently happen that
the most efficient troopers, without fault
of their own, indeed, it may be because of
Al