The Portland daily press., 1863-07-22
UNION NOMINATION.
FOR lGOvERNoR,
SAMUEL CONY.
The Consumption Law-the $500 Exemp-
ton Clause.


The Consumption Law-the $500 Exemp-
ton Clause.
As much misapprehension exists with re-
gard to that provision of the CONSUMPTION act
which allows a person drafted to become ex-
empt on payment of three hundred dollars,
few words in explanation of its design may,
possibly, be of service.
When the bill was under consideration In
the u. S. Senate it was argued with great
force that many cases might arise where draft
ed man could not serve in person without
very serious injury and loss, arising from the
peculiar situation of his family or business,
or both, when there were others who would be
able and willing to take his place, and perhaps
DESTROYS of doing so. This led to the provi-
sion allowing substitutes. TWAS then insist
ed-and previous experience elsewhere con-
firmed the belief-that, unless a Communication
was fixed, examinations would be formed to
raise the price of substitutes so high that it
would be impossible for any but those possess
ing large means to escape personal service,
whatever might be the necessities or urgency
of the case. Such was known to have been
the fact at Richmond, even under much more
stringent conscription law, the price Of a
substitute having risen as high as ore thous-
and dollars. 1t was thought to be both neces-
sary and just, therefore, for the protection of
men in moderate circumstances to fix such a
communication as, while it should not prevent
obtaining men, might, at the same time, bring
the chance Of exemption within the ability Of
as many as possible, and furnish the govern
mcnt with means to procure volunteers with
the sum paid. This being determined, it re-
manned only TO fix the sum, and, after much
discussion, three hundred dollars was estab-
lished US an amount most likely to effect all
the desired purposes.
1t may appear singular that those opposed
to the war, and who, while protesting to be
Union men, have persistently used their ut
most efforts to embarrass the government and
aid the rebellion. should have been able to mis-
lead any portion Of the community, by repre-
senting this provision as designed TO exempt
the rich and throw the burden of actual serv-
ice on the poor. Both its object and its effect
are precisely the contrary. Had no commnta-
ton been fixed, the obtaining OF substitutes
would undoubtedly have been matter of COM
bina,ion and speculation, and none but the
rich would have been able to procure them;
whereas, under the law as 1t stands, every
man can become exempt by the payment Of
fixed sum, and the price of a substitute is reg
ulated thereby. The number of those drafted
who cannot raise that sum is comparatively
small, while of those so poor that they cannot
do so there are very few, who in a mere pecu-
rypointof view, wouldnot be much betteroff
with the monthly pay, bounties and provision
for their families, than they could be by re-
naming at home. What howl we should
have heard from the same men who are now
so grossly disappearing this wise provision,
II no Communication had been fixed and substi-
tutes had been allowed. 1t might then have
been said, with some show of reason, that the
rich could escape service, while there was no
escape for the poor.
In our Judgment, much unjust clamor has
been raised against this most wise and neces-
sary CONSUMPTION law. Laying aside the iact
that no nation could ever carry on long war
without one, it is obvious, that in no other way
could there be anything like an equality of
burdens. The system of volunteers draws
almost exclusively upon the patriotism OF the
community. Those who love their country
rush TO its defense. The selfish, the idle, and
those who, at least, are lukewarm, stay at
home, abuse the government, criticise the war,
and contribute just as little as possible to its
support. A CONSUMPTION places the burden
equally, or as equally as possible, and it would
have been better had it been adopted long
ago.
Those volunteers who offered their services
early-the first ten regiments-receiyed but
very small bounty; two months extra pay.
The next six regiments raised, the 18th,
18th, 18th, l4th, 18th, and the cavalry, receiv-
ed no bodhties. Voters OF the towns subse-
quently gave a bounty to the later regiments
of about one hundred dollars. These men, or
such Of them as are yet living, have served
calamity through all the battles. Now that
those who chose to remain at home, and many
whose hearts have not seemed to throb in
unison with the canse of their country, are
called on to contrbnte their share TO the COM
mon effort, we can see no occasion for just
complaint on their part, or for the exercise of
any greater sympathy than was felt for those
who nobIy and freely offered themselves in the
beginning. Those who staid at home because
others could go more conveniently, but who
protested themselves willing to go when need
ed, should not hesitate or complain now that
their time has come. OF such there are un-
doubleday many. Others-and these we trust
are few-who grudge their services, or any
service, because their hearts are not in the
cause, deserve neither sympathy nor relieffrom
any quarter.
rE- The scheme of Mr.. Councilman Har-
son Foreman in the Advertiser Office - for
the city TO furnish money to pay the commu-
tations Of drafted men and let the Govern
ment go without soldiers, found no favor in
the Common Council, only the three members
from Ward voting for it. The scheme was