Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-30
THE DRAFT.

New Jersey that draft has yet been ordered in
that State that thirty days will be allowed for the
purpose Of raising the required number Of men by
volunteering, and that whatever number may be
raised in this way during that period will be cred
tied by way Of reduction from the number to be
drafted, should the quota of the State fail to be
filed by volunteers. AS the justice Of the draft
must depend, in the eyes Of the people, upon the
equality and impartiaty Of its execution, we sup
pose the privilege will be allowed to all other
States.
We are surprised that Gov Andrew has not
been prompt to claim, in behalf Of Massachusetts,,
the opportunity offered to the people Of New
Jersey, for We oil remember that he assured the
Secretary Of War there would be no lack of volun-
teers from the Bay State if the President would
only let the /" Massachusetts, boys" fire on the
"enemy's magazine and eight with God and
human nature on their side" The streets and
roads, he said, would then throng with willing
recruits. AS the President has fulfilled his part
Of this bargain, we should suppose that Governor
Andrew would at least claim for his constituents
chance to vindicate the sagacity Of his predic-
items and the justice Of his confidence in tho
superior martial enthusiasm inspired by an anti
slavery patriotism Convincing proof on this
point would do much, the Governor must be aware,
to strengthen the President in the war policy upon
which he has entered.
This demonstration is rendered the more neces-
sary by what was accomplished under the original
war policy Of the Government, against which Gov.
Andrew and his political coadjuters protested with
SO much vigor, and under which he said that
call for three four regiments to defend the
National Capital was felt by the people Of Massachu-
sets to be "heavy draught on their patriotism"
At the summons Of this depressing" policy
nearly million Of men sprang to arms-all vol
unteers-in the defence of an imperilled Govern
ment.
The first report Of Mr. Cameron, as Secretary
Of War, referred in terms Of reasonable pride and
just exu]tation to the superiority Of our volunteer
system over the conscrptions Of the Old World.
/" History, he said, will record that men who, in
ordinary times, were devoted solely to the arts of
peace, we're yet ready, on the instant, to rush to
arms in defence of their rights when assailed.
the striking anomaly Of being embarrassed by
the generous outpourings of volunteers to sus-
tain its action. Instead of laboring under the
difficulty of Monarchical Governments, the want
Of men to fill its armies, hicA IN other countries
has compelled a res IT to forced conscriptions,
one of its main difficulties is to keep down the
proportions of the army" Il cannot forbesr,"
he says again, ito speak favorably Of the volun-
r teer system as substitute for q cumbrous and
dangerous standing army. Government
whose every citizen stands ready to march to its
defence can never be overthrown-eor none is SO
strong as that whose foundations rest immovably
in the hearts Of the people"
The second report from the War Department,
under this Administration, contained similar glow
ing panegyrics on the volunteer system, and that
true and enlightened friend Of the national cause
in Europe, Count Gasparn, cited this voluntary up
rising Of citizen soldiery in defence of their Gov
eminent as an event which had made profound
impression in Europe, and he expressed the hope
that in the prosecution Of the war there might be
no resort to the CONSUMPTION. 1t is evident that
the War Department, under its present head,
fully shares in all these feelings, and accepts
the CONSUMPTION only as the dernier re.ort in
States which fail to furnish th ir assigned quota.
But in giving to the State of New Jersey opp.r-
tunity to prove that the springs of volunteer re-
cruiting have not been all dried up by one cause
another during the last two years. it seems special
ly desirable that the Secretary Of War should accord
the same privilege to States in which he has q
right to presume that the martial spirit Of the peo
pie has been greatly iuAamed by the present COM
pl xion of the war.
1t is also desirable that SOME explanation should
be given Of the delay which. it is said, will attend
the enforcement Of the draft in the West-in the
States Of Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and others.
Already those who seek to disaff, ct the popular
mind against the draft are swift to say that there
will be no draft in Ohio, for instance until after
the election, as it is feared that the odium of the
CONSUMPTION will enure to the political advantage
Of Mr.. Vallandigham. We do not permit ourselves
to suppose that any such partisan considerations
can control the Illustration of the War Depart
ment in the execution of law which applies to all
the States alike. If any exception as to the time
Of the draft is made 10 favor Of Ohio, or any other
State it will doubtless be for good reasons publicly
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