Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-29

other openly, the recent great disasters to
the rebels, and yet the one claims that the
South was never 80 strong as since these
misfortunes, aud the other claims thar our
armies now in Mississippi, Georgia, North
and South Carolina and Louisiana, have
not even broken the shell of the copfede-
racy. z
Tar meauest of all the devices of parti-
san malignity is ia this crisis of the Re-
public. to seek to create prejudice against
the government on the pretense that it
wrongs the poor man. Such charge on
~ needs TO be made To arouse the worst
passions of nen--tO let loose the enemies
of society, and to impel the honest men
who believe themselves wronged, to follow
the lead of reckless flatterers. The charge
cannot De true, nor eau there. he any fair
excuse for 1t.
The government-is making war for the
defense of the bsllot-box, for the institu-
tutious which dignity labor, and open to all
alike the paths to honor and prefermeut.
The southern rebellion strikes at the labor.
ing classes of the loyal States, more than
at any other; and ii it should triumph the
poor man would suffer FIRST aud most Keen
ly. Under despotic governments, the rich
may thrive; it is the poor who feel the
burdens, and who are thrust down lower
and lower. Let the families who have ned
from the aristocrscies of Britain and the
despotisms of Europe, note we'll their bless
ings here. II is the government of the
United States which guarantees their free
dom aud which secures the ample rewards
forlabor here enjoyed.
This Government springs from tue votes
of the people! and the majority always
will consistof those who are mot rich
Fortunately the excellence OF onr instt,a-
lions renders the maj GRITTY neither rich nor
poor that great middle class which lives
by lite labor aud sc! has all ths comforts
and many of the iuxuries of life. AID in
this country, the lad who starts With iu-
dustry and energy from lowest poverty,
often outstrips ia wealth as we'll in every
other element of prosperity the son of af-
fiuence. There are no fixed classes of rich
and poor. The improVideIcs of the one
class aud the industry Of the other cause
constant intermingliug. The rich man
ought to consult generously for the well
fare OF the poor; the poor man can afford
to be, considerable of the toihles OF the rich,
for he or his son may At SONS time be
ranked with them, The Government can
not do better than take ito inspiration from
the great Industrial classes, and protect
and honor the labor which creates wealth
aud ameliorates poverty.
The national militia law in lite provis-
ious tor this draft, recognizes tho interests
OF the poor. In the rebel consumption act
the master of twenty aves was exempted
from military service; no such provision,
nor anything so obnoxious, exists in our
laws. The drafted man at the South is
compelled to furnish substitute, and the
iprice has run as high. as twenty-five hun-
dred dollars. Such sulu would be be.
yond the>reach OF any but the very rich;
and Whatever the hardships, no man who
works for his living could secure exemp.
ton. The Congress of the Union has pro.
Vlded that the couscript may either 90
into service, or provide substitute or
pay three hundred dollars, in the words
OF the law "'or the procurstiou of a
substitute. " No man is compelled
to pay the none. two other alter
natives are lett to him; he may go or pro-
vide a substitute. Thousands who, could
not geta substitute costing So, 500, can pay
$500. Pew Industrious mechanics, who
are provident. will find it difficult to raise
the latter SUN, if their position prevents
them from joining the army. There are
some who can not pay it; neither coul d
they procure substitute under any con-
ceivable Law. And yet they owe something
toithe Government which defends them
which affords to them iplmunities and
blessings nowhere else attainable on earth
This Government is their Government, and
is now particularly battling for their right
to voice in public aftairs-fOr their equal
ity and liberty. Il is not possible that they
Wouldif they could refuse to bear some
share in the noble struggle.
The only exemption of men &, for ser.
NICE allowed by the CONSUMPTION law, are
those for the relief of the very poor. II
makes the substitution as cheap as practi-
cable, so that it may be within the
reach ofthe great body of citizens. Then
Tor the cases OF special hardships which
may exist through poverty, it provides az
lar as can be done by a general Law. Tbese
are ailthe exemptions allowed by the .S,-
SEc, ?. Ind be is further enacted Th.,
the following persons be, and thew srs
hereby excepted and exempt frnm n. ~