Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-02-14
Pennsylvania and the Draft.

The BeifOrd Gazette, says:-The ac
quieocence Of the people OF Pennsy sylvania
in the demand, of the Federal Govern
ment for upport in carrying on the war,
has been fully attested, III various ways,
but iu no lnstaece so signally as in that
oil the popular submission to the execu-
tion OF the draft Whilst majority of
the voters of the State, as was proved at
ths late election, are opposed to the policy
Of the Administration at Washington, and
whist the great mass of the people dis
approved of the war as it has been con
ducted, tNs draft made upon the State
militia, by the President, has been quiet
ly submitted to, without any attempt at
Resistance, nay, without even murmur
of Dissatisfaction. When the hour of this
bitter trial Came, we Gethought US that
our Commonwealth is the keystone of that
Arch whose crumbkug span was to be re-
cemented with blood Our eyes were
dmmed with tears, as We took the psrting
hand of friends and relatives torn from ,be
dear circle. of home by the chances OF
the eonscription, but even blindily sorrow
could not shut from our sight the p,ospsr.
ity and glory which surrounded, iiAe a
halo, the union OF our fathers We weie
willing to make one more sacrifice to
test the policy, adopted against our will:
bv which we were assured the Constltu-
ton was to be yiudicated and the Union
restored. Hence, we Pennsylvanians
suffered ourselves to be conscripted and
compelled into the army, in meek compli.
ance with the mandate Of the Federal
Executive. But let lot Congress and the
Administration build false hopes upon
this patriotic submission. Let it not be
expected that Pennsylvania will again un
comp ainingly respond TO similar cal
for eouscripts. Since the proclamation is
sued by the President OH the first rlt The
object of the war has been entirely chang
ed. Our armies are no longer fighting
for the re-establishment of the authority
! of the Constitution and the restoration o
the broken and sund cred Union, but 70
the liberation of negro slaves held by
rebel masters and for the purpose oil re
! ducing sovereign States TO the condition
colopies or territorial dependencies. Th'
people of this State have given their las
man to this bloody, though Utopial
cursade, and until the President am
Congress revoke their Abolition program
a demand from them for more troops iron
this State, will be worse than useless
Besides, we have seen how other State
have been permitted to get clear OF tn
draft. We have learned how Connecti
cut, out of some five thousand men draft
ed, has but about one hundred and fift
conscripts iu the service; how Massa
chusetts has enhanced the splendor OF he
Puritan virtue by the desertion OF he
drafted heroes; and how the great EN-
pire State, New York, evaded the drai
altogether, And, now, Pennsylvan
asks for exemption from the bloody bur
den which New England Abolltionisl
would place upon her shoulder Penr
sylyania demands and will have Justice
Standing ready to contribute her all t
the restoration of the Union under tn
onsttution-willing to pour out ne
blood and her treasure for the good OF Il
republic - she will give not another MAJ
nor another dollar, to carry oQt the puI
noses of Abolition fanatics,