The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-07-25
The Exemption.

nc FRENCH are the hrSt Military
nation of modern as the Romans long
were of ancient Europe, ,and the former
assert, as the latter maintained. the LA
blllty OF every citizen to render Mill airy
service 10 his country. Every Frcuch-
man at tweny years of age must stand
his chance among the French males of
like age Of being drafted TO serve in the
Army-his liability to serve ceasng
with his thirtieth year.
But there are various grounds of ex-
emptlon from service, while the right to
servc.by substitute was long ago estab-
lished. Hence arose an extensive traf-
tic or brokerage in subs tutcs-specu-
lators buying up all the stock in mar
Eet to sell to whonsocycr should choose
to pay their price for it, Under this
system, 1t was found that the subs titutes
usually received about $l00, while the
brokers exactcd from $500 upward, ac-
cording 10 the ruling of the market
And the Government found that its sub
situtes were apt to be a hard lot-dis-
charged convicts, proAigates, reprobates,
and bad boys generally. The speccula-
tor IN substitutes had no interest in the
matter but to procure the cheapest arti-
Gle thai would be accepted, while the
drafted man was governed by similar
impulse. Thus the substitutes corrupt
cd and deteriora cd the army.
ln view Of these facts, the Govern
mcni took the substitute business wholly
into It's own hands, fixing uniform
price for substitutes in time OF peace
and somewhat higher price in time of
war. Whoeser chooses 10 serve by sub
stitute pays that price over to the Gov
ernmcn', and receives certiica c of
exemption, and the Government employs
the money SO paid to hire the best sub
stltute-it can iind-a veteran soldier if
possible, who is worth two average re-
cruits to the service. And that is ex.
actly what our Government aims at in
the $500 exemption. A fixed, we'll
known price-all paid to the subs .itute,
not cent to spectators the very best
subs flutes that the price will command ;
and the Government managing the whole
business in the interest of the service
such are the results Of a system which
has stood the test of experience in the
most effective military service on earth.
-" But why not make every drafted
person serve in person 90 it is asked -
We answcr-because that is not bes..
If the rule, it would render military
service far more onerous and less cffec-
tive than at present. He who will
s;ipulate to serve for bounty of $500,
is presump;ively better soldier than
he who Will pay $500 to escape serving.
Thus the semi Rebels of lower Mary
land would he worth very little to the
Union service bat the $500 each that
they will pay to escape serving will in
ducc far better men to take their places.
Moreover, there are thousands of pa,ri-
otto men, who would make good soldiers,
who can be of more service TO the
National cause elsewhere than in the
field. To send them TO the war is to
take them from positions where they arc
now rendering important service to the
cause of the Union. The Nation wants
soldiers for is defense: but it needs
men at work in various civil capaci les,
to render the soldiers in the field elfec-
tive. The law as it stands is we'll meant
and well considered Let us stand by
it as it is ~. Y. Tribune.