Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-07-24
THE DRAFT

Excited people are bad reasoncrs, and bad Just
IN proportion TO the degree Of excitement, till
reason itself is displaced by ,jR<aity. The best
way is TO keep cool and LOOK NJ w sides, even Of
the conscrption question. We have heard that
some people think the conscription act is nulli-
ty, because people have been enrolled and draft
ed who are not liable, either on account of age or
other disability. This is not the fault Of the law,
for that provides that those ouy shall be enrolled
who liable but it is the fault Of the enrolling
officer, If he was not careful 10 inquire and report
the facts, or Of the person who gave him false in
formation. The truth is that in doubtful cases,
the person was enrolled, but with statement of
facts appended 10 his name, so that the enrolling
board can determine the question And this is ac-
cording to orders. These doubtful questions are
to be determined by the board Of enrolment, u
the person shall be drafted and thatis according
to law. The fact that persons not liable have been
enrolled and drafted does not vtiate the draft ;
but it is the duty Of the Board to discharge such
persons. This will be done
Again we hear bitter complaints Of the enrol
ment Of persons not LIABLE coming from drafted
persons or their friends. This is altogether un-
reasonable because although the larger the enroll
ment the greater quota would be assigned, still
the chances Of being drafted were not at all in
creased. Drafted men have therefore no reason
to complain on that score.
But TO pass to another and grayer question
Among the devices to quiet the mob in New York
was a decision by Judge that the conscrption act
is unconstitutional and void. This is doubtless
gratifying to all who wish TO embarrass the gov
eminent and aid the rebels but il does not help
the mob or other people who do not wish to serve
in the army. On the other hand, they are thrown
out Of the frying pan into the FIRE We do not
intend to discuss the constitutional question: but
only 10 state the effect OF this decision upon men
who are liable to military duty. This judge de
cided that the President may call for volunteers,
or call 0ut the militia, or both. Well the Gov
eminent has called for volunteers, aud is calling
for them now but the men do not come fast
enough. Now what if it shall drop the draft and
call ont the milifia2 What will be the effect as
to the persons liable to do military dutyY II is
simply this every man between IS and 45 years
Of age is liable to be ordered into the service ;
whole families neghborhoods, towns and coun-
ties may be stripped of all able-boded men, and
all the exemptions mercitully provided in the con-
scription act would be lost. New York, Pennsyl-
vania, and New Jersey have recently called out
the milita-not by draft, which distributes the
men widely, but by regiments, which sweeps eve
ry DO the mob want thaty Does any body
want it? Does any body wish to see every able
bodied man in Montpelier, or Washington Coun-
ty, exempting nobody, to be ordered into the ar
my We repeat that this would he jumping ont
of the frying-pan into the fire Even if the mill
tia were to be drafted, the draft would be worse
than the couscriptou, because the liberal cxemp-
tions Of the latter would an bee cut of The fact
is that Congress considered this question on both
sides, aud the conscriPti0n ACT was designed r
relief to the people.