Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-03-14
the REIGN or TERROR!

the United States--and which, on the Cd
instant. received the approval of President
Lincoln, and became law.
This act is the beginning Of the Ameri-
can Robcspierrean period and, believing
this, we have draped in mourning the
columns of our paper which embraces the
act herein published. The Congress
which passed this act and that Of the Ma
tional Bank Charter, has consolidated a
despotsm US pure and unmixed as that Of
Russia. BY the Conscription Act the
President has the absolute control Of the
militia of the States, and by the Bank
Bill he has the power to crush the State
banks aud vest the whole moned inter-
ests of the country in the Executive De-
partments thereby rendering him a ma
tional but irresponsible autocrat-both Of
which acts are without constitutional au-
thority, and are based upon that miserable
and revolutionary practice peculiarly Lin
colntan and sal generiS-which substitutes
the discretion of Congress for constitution
al limitations. These acts may be sub
nittcd to by the people, and if so, the
mildest language which we can use con-
cerning the result, is that it will convert
them into serfS, to which condition they
will awaken when too late.
The enforcement Of this Conscription
Act is the great event which threatens to
di,tingulsh--by seas of blood and civil
connections - the whole length and breadth
of the States of the North. 1t is an
eventful period, and it remains to be seen
whether Democrats and peace men of
those States-on whose devoted heads
this guillotiue was erected TO operate
will not some day turn this engine of
death upon those blind leaders, who, in
the name of liberty, are committing so
many crimes against the Constitution and
constitutional rights of the States and the
people thereof.
We do not like 10 cause any unuecessa-
ry alarm in the minds of our people, nor
are we disposed to be of the number o!
those who, "having eyes, see not, and hav-
ing ears, hear not the things which so
nearly concern their temporal sayation,"
but we are willing, "whatever angui sh OF
spirit it may cost, TO know the whole
truth; to know the worst, and to provide
for it,"
The lamp Of experience teaches US TO
Judge of the future by the past, and so
judging, what have we in the conduct o.!
tue present Administration for The last
eighteen months to justify the least hope
of return to constitutional limitations
and the re establishment, in the North, o
that constitutional liberty which that Ad-
ministration and its Congress have wrested
from the people, and 10 which the latter
bindly submitted :
The conservative phalanx Of both hous-
es of Congress, who opposed this conscript
bill, warned the adm nirtration of the
difficulties which would probably come
among the people, if such an act were
attempted to be enforced without safe
pledges tina the administrative policy
would be changed to one of a conservative
character and its radical measures receded
from; and now, since every thing has been
done to avert the storm, ii trouble come
let it be charged to those who, having
eyes, would not see the dark clouds, and
having ears, would not hear their distant
laundering.
We have time to notice but one of the
abomiuable features Of the Conscript Act
The ostensibe object Of the bill is to raise
troops to carry on the war, and yet, by a
singular provision, as many men are ex
empted from. conscription as may be able
to pay-and actually shall pay--say three
hundred dollars, to the War Department
This provision, of course, will be taken
advantage of by every man who shall be
able to raise that sum, while the poor man
will be compelled to stand conscription--
hazard his life, his health, and the welfare
of his family for two year, for the pitt.
ful sum of thirteen dollars per month
1t is thus, his life, his health, and the
welfare of bis family in one end of the
balance, and 10 the other the rich man.
paitry three h~ndred doHar8.
In conclusion, we put the query, if it be
soldiers which the Government wants t.
put down the rebellion, then why take
money in the place Of any one; if it be
money it wants, then why take soldiers in
commutation
We think that no mans money ougLt