Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-08-07
Sl,5O A YEAR In ADVANCE
The Justice of Drafting.

Some day, when reason returns to
many who are now opposed to the draft,
they will wonder how they were 50 blind
ion, such as Congress ordered after thor
ough discussion, is the fairest way to
raise an army-thc only method which
places the workingman and his employer
on the same footing.
1t is fairer than volunteering? y
few wealthy men would bestir themselves
to raise regiments to be headed by them
selves or their sons but the rank and file
would consist of workingmen. 1t would
consist, moreover, Of the most spirited,
the most able, the most patriotic, the best
Of our working class while all the idle,
the vicious, the unpatriotic, the worthless
part would remain at home, leaving their
worthicr brethren to make sacrifices in
their stead. But the draft takes rich
and poor, the generous and the selfish
alike, and it places both in the ranks On
the same footing.
Ignorant journalists have pointed to the
example of England. exclaiming that no
free people, like the English, would ever
suffer conscription. But it is precisely
because of the inequality Of social con-
dition in England that no conscription act
is enacted there. 1t is not because Of the
prevailing freedom but because the
English aristocracy are too naughty to
permit law which would place them and
their sons on an equality with the men
who till their lands or make their shoes
it is not the English people, but the
English mobiles and gentry, who would
oppose 4 conscrption act They and
their sons are the rulers of the land, and
mean to be :; they may officer an army.
but they will not submit to the chance OF
making part Of its rank and file, In
France, on the contrary, ever since the
republic enacted the law, every man enters
tae army as private. They who cite
this as rule invented by dcspot fogct
or fasiy history. In the other con-
stitutional governments Of Europe they
have Il permanent CONSUMPTION In the
shape of national guard Or landwehr.
But it is said the three hundred dollar
exemption clause is wrong-that it fayots
the rich at the expense Of the poor
! How does it ? \ rich man can very well
afford to pay ten times three hundred
dollars for substitute, if he does not want
to serve. That limitation, therefore does
not favor Inn. 1t docs, however, pro-
tcct another class-the middle class
namely-the most numerous IN this and
all free countries and one that deserves
the shelter afforded by this clause. In
this class is to be recAonel in this coun-
try almost the whole great army of III
distrious and skilled la5orcrs aud farmers,
Now, to leave no limit to the price OF
substitutes would have been hardship
upon this class, almost any member Of
which can raise, il it is necessary, the
sum of three hundred dollars, white a
large sum would be unattniuahIe without
ruinous sacrifice. No workingham who
earns from fifteen to twenty-five dollars
per week but can, ii bis habits are good,
borrow among those who know him, the
sum of three hundred dollars, il the cir
cumstances of his famil y make 1t lmpos-
sblc Tor him to serve. 1t ought to be un-
uci otOob 'hdb P'VNPSt"y " ''''' = 0''
class, which is the main support OF free
state, deserves, if any class does, Is most
careful consideration.
But it is urgea by some there should
be no excmption-that all who are drawn
should be forced to serve. In any draft
there will occur cases of great hardship,
where not only the individual drawn is
affected, but many othere employed by
him, earning their bread by the help OF
his knowledge and experience. For such
cases all conscriptlon acts, except that
enforced by the leaders Of the southern
rebellion, have provided an exemption
clause
To show the difference between an i'm
partial and Just law and one oppressive
to the poor and favorable to the rich, let
Us compare our own conscription law with
that of the South. The Union Act
for enrolling and Calling Out the Nation
al Forces, as it is entitled, declares all
ablcbodicd male citizens between the ages
of 5 aud 45 years subject to military
duty. The rebel " ConScription Act" as
it is properly named, with its amendments
now to be for the third time enforced in
six Of the southern states, declares all
all phte male citizens between the ages
of s and 80 to be actually part Of the
rebel army; and to be treate Il desertels
ii they DO not voluntarily enroll them
selves and take up arms.-EeeaiHy Post