Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-10-24
IneflcieneY Of the Draft.

In another place we print an article
giving the reason for the failure of
the Eastern States in the recent
draft to furnish their quota of men
under the various calls of the Presi-
dent tits well known by this time that
the draft was an entire failure, as to |
raising either men or money. Out of the
100000 names drafted, the Government
obtained only about $4,000 conscripts
and substitutes, and money represent
alton, under the $500 clause, of about
10000 more. The remaining l95, 900
slipped through the bill under the Vari-
GUS exemption clauses, &c, the research
es of Prof Lieber, who was employed by
the War Department, and furnished at
least 100 pretexts for exemption. In
deed, such standard of health did he
erect, that, were the whole male popula-
ton of the Northern States between the
ages of 20 and IS drafted, it is thought
not over 100000, would when measured
by his rule, would be found fit for militia
~ duty.
The failure of the draft to raise men
is charged against the $500 exemption
clause. How unjustly, is manifest from
the statistics we have above given. The
fault lies with the War Department for
adopting standard of health to which
not one man in ten in the whole COM
munity can reach. If the object of the
Government was men, why should it
employ distinguished professor to hunt
up excuses for exemptions? Why not
let the Examining Surgeons settle the
question as to the fitness of conscripts
for military service? But few of the
New Englanders, who have thus slipped
through the mesLes of the net, would
have objected to paying their $500, and
the Government would then have real
lied something out of the draft wit
which to pay bounties to volunteers. Bu'
under Stanton's management, it got
neither men nor money. Now that the
whole thing has proved farce in the
Eastern States, as every intelligent man
supposed It would, the law is to be
amended so that it will catch those in
the Vest The people in the Western
States won't fancy this kind of an ar
rsngement If the Eastern States cant
furnish men, there is no scarcity Of
money, and they should be made to bear
their share of the heat and burden Of
the day. All through the last summer
while the Eastern States have not had
their proportion Of men in the field to the
extent of the number called for by the
last draft, the Western States have had
more than their proportion of men faith
fully discharging duty as soldiers
This, it strikes US, is squirting a willing
horse too severely
But what we desire to call atten
ton to more particularly is, that the
$500 Exemption Clause is not response
BILE for the failure to secure men. Nor
Is the law itself justly chargeable with
the failure. The Kar Department
alone is responsible for the deficiency
1t put construction upon the phrase
aft for military duty" totally unwar
rantable- Men were exempted when
they were, physically, the superiors OF
thousands of noble hearted volunteers
who have served through the hardships
and tolls of many campaigns;
who have endured the piercing cold o
winter, the malaria of summer and the
storm of battle and are now ready fo
any service their country may ask a
their hands. If the sons of wealth fel
that they could not possibly discharg
the duties of soldier upon the field, a
little as they could ask would be the pay
ment of $500 each. In that case tn
Government would have made somethin
more than water haul. Had eacl
of the 49, 900, (allowing $1,000 for bon
fde cases of exemption), who were Sc
at liberty by Prof Liebers " one HUI
dred pretexts, been compelled to pa
his $500, the Government would ha7
realized the sum of 37,50O,OOO, wit
which to pay bou mites and hire subs
tutes- Thirty-seUen and a-half million
of dollars would have placed a gre,
many soldiers in the field. 1t migl
have removed the necessity for a secor
draft.
As the case now stands, the Easte,
States are behind hand nearly I25. On
men. This deficiency will have to
made up in the West In 9th
words our $4,000 gallant voluntee
have been Offset by lbs, 900 drafted m
who were exempted from service by
handsome little arrangement, originate
in the War Department and entirely O.
side of the Conscript law. Mr.. Slant
is an ingenious cabinet officer. If, he
ever, his ingenuity was more frequen
displayed in devising and executi
plans for the overthrow of rebels,
would admire it the more. 1t seems
us just now to be employed solely in
terfering with the plans of success