Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-07-24
p. H. DRAKE g. CO.,
202 BROADWAY, N. Y.
THE CONSUMPTION ACT.

The late terrible riot in New York, Inaugural
ted by the leaders of the Democratic party, and
carried on by their dupes, was claimed to be
got up in opposition to the Conscription Law,
although their real object was to aid the rebell-
ion as far as possible. To accomplish their pur-
poses, these miserable, contemptible mean dem
agogues resorted to the grossest misrepresenta-
tion of the Conscription Law. Those who new
er read or saw that law are told that it makes
distinctions between the rich and the poor
that it exempts large numbers of the former, and
gives special advantages 10 those of that class
who are drafted. This story is so generally told
by the Copperheads, and so often believed by
the uninformed, that loyal men would do well
to take special pains to meet and correct it, for
more bare faced fraud was never imposed upon
the credulous.
By reference to the law, the following facts
will be made plain:
None arc exempted from the operations of the
act, but the President and Vice President, the
heads of the Departments of the Government,
the Judges of the Courts of the United States,
and the Governors of the several States-less
than one hundred persons in dH Every member
of Congress- Post Master, Custom House and
Revenue officer, Government Clerk, State officer,
Except Governor,) members of Legislatures,
Ministers of the Gospel, and others often exempt,
are made liable to the draft.
While public men and those in the more fi-
vored walks Of life are thus brought under the
operation of this much abused law, let us see
who of the poorer class are exempted by it:
l. The only son liable to military duty OF widow de.
! pendent upon his labor for support
q The only son of aged or nfrm parent parents de-
pendent ON his labor for support
Where there two more sons of aged or inGrm
parents subject to draft, the father be dead the
mother, may elect which son shall be exempt.
A. The only brother of children not twelve years old
having neither father nor mother dependentupo his la
| Dor for support.
g. The father fmotheress children under twelve vear
OF age, dependent upon his labor for support.
g. Where there are father and sons in the same am
y aud household and two OF them In the military
service of the United States officers
musicians or priyates, the residue of such family
household, net exceeding two, shall be exempt.
T. Young between the ages Of eighteen and twen
y for the reason that experience proves that soldiers
uhuer tNehy years OF age cannon sustain te burdens Of
camp life so well as men between the ages of twenty and
| thrty-fye.
Here we find no less than seven distinct class
es exempted, and most of them on account OF
the necessities of those dependent upon their la.
/ DOR iOf support nOuSdnuS OF men IN every
State are relieved from service solely because
Mey are poor, who otherwise would be liable
while not man is exempted on account of his
wealth or his position in society. Thus instead
of the rich, it is the poor only that are favored
by the law.
For complete vindication of the law, we ask
every objector TO read the letter below, written
by Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts, to Fer
nando Wood in reply to some oflhe lattcr's lies
in regard TO il:
"NATIcK, Mass, March 80, 1863.
"Hon Fernando Wood;
"Sir You are everywhere recognized as the
brain, the heart the soul, the philosopher and
guide ofthe Mozart Hall democratic faction q
the city Of New York. Your restless brain in.
spires its utterances; your plastic hand moulds
and fashions its action. Surely, then, il is III
that you should be held responsible for the ut.
terances and the acts of your liege clansmen who
are wont to assemble in Mozart Hall and do YOU
bidding.
"Inspired by your councils, Mozart Hall pro
nounces against the Act for enrolling and call
ing out the national forces topreserve the unity