Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-12-25
W. n. Journs,.1
Drafting the Common People, &c


Drafting the Common People. &c
50 We see great deal in newspapers and j
notices about the draft, by which it is insinu
ated, if not openly declared, that it is dis
grace to be drafted, and that those who ar
drafted and are so unfortunate as not to b
able to buy themselves off, or procure subst
tutes, will have to serve for the miserable pa
of privatss, minus the bounty; and, moreo
yer, they need not expect to be treated quite
we'll as volunteers. Now, regard all sucl
insinuations as niserably mean, as well a
abase insult to the common people, beside
being the worst kind Of policy for whethe
the army is made up of drafted men or vol
unteers, the country is entirely dependent OF
it for success or even safety. If were com
mander of regiment of drafted men forcet
into the service against their will, l shoul'
use every effort TO gain their respect AM
good will, and if failed should throw OF
the shoulder-straps and resign my commits
sion and good pay, as should consider my
chance of success poor, and my life in NOR
jeopardy from my own men than from tn
rebels. .4 ao4 -as., ..a
Suppose the whole army composed o
drafted soldiers. The Government woult
have to raise the pay ofprvates until it nearly
equalled that of lieutenants, ard that speedily
or we should see the whole army disbandet
or marching towards Washington to transac
official business at the point of the bayonet
There is nothing so dangerous under any
Government as to abuse and enrage the com
mon people. They will bear prvation, ever
to distress, when necessary. and hardships
which are fatal to life ITSELF but they will no
endure abuse and insult. Then let the Gov.
ernment and all interested beware how they
undertake to manage the common people -
England understands this matter and, acc0r
sing to Henry Ward Beecher, we owe it to
the common people Of England that the Eng
lish Government has not carried its sympa
thies with the South still farther. The com
mon sense of the common people forbade it
Every government under Heaven rests upon
and is supported by the common people, and
especially is this true in our own Govern.
ment They are the foundation of the Church
and State. Take them out, and the bottom
would fall out of both. The bottem is bette,
than the top, for without the bottom there
would be no top. No doubt multitudes oI
the "uper ten,' while putting favorite cigar
imagine that they not only support the Gov
ernment but also the common people. They
are excusable, for they do not comprehend
the position of the common people, for their
vision is entirely filled by their own impor
lance. The reverse is tho truth. The
poor support the rich; not the rich the poor
Whoever claims that the rich support the
poor, might as we'll claim that the city sup
ports the country, by which it is itself sup
ported.
The common people bear the whole bur-
den. They support the government, and all
our necessary institutions of church and
state, do our fighting and pay our taxes, be-
sides having to furnish the luxuries INDUCED
in by those who do not claim the most dis
tant relationship to the common people. The
common people understand their responsi
bility. They know it is for their interest
and that it is their duty to destroy the last
vestige of slavery and put down the rebellion.
They also comprehend that while the govern
ment is lavish of money in paying officers,
whether in or out of the service, and has
spent millions in patronizing cut throat swim
dlers and spectators, that it seems to expect
that the common people will leave the com
forts of home and go forth to the exposures
Of the camp, to face rebel cannon, and, il
may be, to rot or starve in rebel prisons as a
voluntary offer of patriotism for their coun.
try. While they are willing to make this
sacrifice and expose themselves to such dan
ger, they also expect the country and
the government to appreciate their SER
vices and to show it practically, not by
supporting their families as paupers, but by
paying the private soldiers such wages as
will place their families entirely Independent
of private charity. Let the government dc
this simple act of justice and the result vii
show that it was not the fault of the people
that the army lags for want of soldiers. .,
am fearful that if Congress increases the
pay of soldiers it will not make it sufficient
to be of any practical benefit to the army OF
country. Let the country and government
do simple justice, and let all be careful al
this time, when we are so entirely dependen
on the common people, of giving any provo
cation for disaffection among them, and al
will be well. W.