Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-09-24
THE RESULTS OF THE DRAFT.

pleted and the record made up We can judge from
its returns what measure of success has attended
this method of recruiting our depleted armies.
As no State has shown alacrity at several diff
ferent periods during the war, in responding to
the appeals made by the Government to the spon-
taneous patriotism Of the people, it cannot be
otherwise than fair to take the case of Rhode
Island as good illustration of the comparative
efficiency of volunteering and CONSUMPTION as q
means to the end had in view by the Government.
II appears, then, that the quota Of men required
from the Stale of Rhode Island under the late
draft was $3.50, and that the whole number draft
ed (including the so per cent in addition to the
ascertained quota) was 1920 Of the whole num-
Der only l05 men were held for service as drafted
men-this being the paltry contingent yielded by
the draft as the direct and immediate result of its
operations From the whole State 983 men were
obtained, as 678 among the drawn conscripts pro-
cured substitutes; that is, men who without being
drawn volunteered to 60 to the army for con-
sideration So it appears that the comparative
value of drafting and volunteering in Rhode Island
is represented by the ratio Of los to 87S. Or, in
other words, volunteering is more than eight times
as effective as drafting; and this significant fact
shows how little foundation there is for the state
ment that the sources of volunteering had been
dried up by the successive calls which have been
, made during the war, and that hence consumption
was the sole remaining expedient for the purpose
Of replenishing the ranks of the Federal army.
But, while admitting that the draft has been, in
its practical working, only another form Of volun-
teering, there are those who praise its efficiency
by alleging that these volunteers were not obtain
ed ssnM after the draft, and that they are, there
FORE rightly credited to its enforcement In Illus
trati,n of this statement pointed to the fact
that now that the draft has been held, the city of
New York has just advertised for 5000 volun-
teer substitutes to fill the places Of those drawn,
but who do not wish to 60 to the wars. This
number, we are told, would never have been called
for, and still less obtained, if it had not been for
the actual enforcement of the draft. How little
place there is for this way Of stating the case may
be seen in the example of New Jersey, State
than which there is none other in the North more
opposed to the particular policy Of the Admins
tration in conducting the war. If previous drafts
on the loyal populations Of the several States had
exhausted the springs of volunteering, we should
expect to see this result as much demonstrated in
New Jersey as in any loyal State, for none has ex
decided her 10 proportionate contributions to the
army. Aud if dissatisfaction with certain politi-
cal measures Of the AID mir stration could chill the
patriotic ardor of the people, we should expect to
see this consequence as largely exempli6ed in New
- :. 49, o+bar Nortbar, Stota Nou
what are the facts Of the case
1t is known that the quota of this State was
S,7sS, and that opportunity was given to its au-
thorities to obtain that number within a specified
time without draft, it being understood that any
proportion Of the number which might be raised
within the specified period would be credited pro
tanto to the State, if draft should subsequently
be deemed necessary to fill up the quota.
I Some days ago, in reporting progress under the
call made by Governor Parker for volunteers, the
Trenton Gazette stated that cover five thousand
men had already been mustered into the service,
and that there were probably over two thousand
others-members of companies not yet filled up
who will be mustered in in the course of few
DAYS" Bergen and Hudson counties have filed
their quotas, and Mercer lacks only six or eight of
It's full number Several other counties are nearly
full, and the city of Newark has supplied its quota,
as have several townships. Some of the counties
have just commenced the work Of volunteering, and
the prospect now is, adds that journal, "that we
shall furnish our full quota by voluntary enlist
ment
Now, let this result Of volunteering in New Jer-
sey be compared with the result of the draft in
Rhode Island In Rhode Island the draft, as
draft, yielded just los men out Of 4,321 And,
with the aid of volunteering after he droft-that
is, by virtue of the substitutes obtaiped-it yielded
Just 983 men 1t is in the light of such facts that
we can measure the comparative value OF the two
systems for recruiting the army. Volunteering
without draft, but with draft impending as the
consequence Of failure to furnish the contingent
fixed, is found to furnish the whole quota demand
ed. Drafting, with volunteering after the draft, is
found to furnish only one-third of the number of
men assigned by the QUOTA Nor is it difficult to
account for the different operation Of the two sys
TENS. The former enlists every man, woman and
child in the service Of the Government making
them anxious to fill up the ranks of the army in
order to avoid draft. The latter makes it the