, 1863-07-17
The COnscrfptiOn.

The following excellent article upon the
Conecription We copy from tbs Chicago Post
Ut yesterday morning. It Is fair, mauly,
and bold utterance of pa1pable truths, and'ls
especially remarkable IS coming from Dam.
feratic paper, in these days, when it stands
slm"st alone In its party ranks supporting
single measure adopted for tho defence Of the
Union. We commend 1t to our readers 81
clear, concise statement, both Of the results
Of the CONSUMPTION and the duties Of all loJal
men:
ADVANTAGES oF TIE CONSUMPTION TO THE
NATION. ~.
We do not propose now to dwell upon the
obvious advantages Of the CONSUMPTION act
and Its enforcement. It is important that our
tAinncd regiments should be flied mp as
speedily as possible, and It seems to be agreed
tt,at the system Of volunteering, whether
from patriotic impulse or from; the induce,
ntent Of liberal bounties, has been carried
considerable degree. The onl9 way to @ &C.
conpltsh the end OF making our armies full
and efficient, is to enforce the law which Con-
gress las provided to bring the duty Of de.
tending our country, home, impaEtially, to the
people.
: But this, the direct and avowed object Of
the conscription, is not by any means the only
or even the chief advantage to be gained By
It. The great benefit to the nation Of the sue
ceBefnl enforcement Of this measure will be
the establishment Of the fact that this Gov
ernment is strong enough to defend itself.
1t has been the constant 6neer Of our enc.
well-vishers IN foreign countries, that our in-
stitutions are too free to stand stoEm,-that
they will do well enough In fair weather, with
plain sailing. but that when any storm Of pop
ular opposition broke out, the Government
would lind itself poWerless to resist, aud must
necessarily go down. During more than two
years Of this terrible rebellion, our Govern
lnent has been nobly supported by the gener-
obs se]feacrifce Of her sons, 20 feee-wil offer
Ing obtained. as BOOB as asked for. And We
gladly pointed those who were looking from
8 dis ance upon our struggle to our magni1-
cent armies, obtained without hint at com
pnlsion, as q demonstration Of our ability to
defend our institutions against domestic or
foreign foes. Yet they have told us to wait;
they have suspended Judgment until q sterner
trial should come.
And now We have reached the time when
the "crucial test" IL to be applied. We are
now to determine whether the Government
has power not only to invite, but to compel
ler sons to render her that service which she
n,ny rightly claim.
i is small advantage, then, that >is to be
gained by the enforcement Of this measure,
Wien VIC consider that the strength Of the
Government Is to be established By it in the
eyes Of Europe and the world?
Tue world knows that this Is free govern
ment. It remains for us to demonstrate that
it is also strong one. We believe that this
will be Enthusiastically proven By the cnforce-
l,a 1t Of this measure. We believe that the
lh.b which has attempted to strike down the
strong arm Of the law will be power1ess to
accomplish its object. But above all things
let Us have no yaccilation-no weak, hall. wiy
measures any longer from the Administration.
II is well known that vicious horse will
lever obey rider who shows in any way that
he is afraid. If the voice Of the rider even
tlembles he is lost. Can VIC expect IN infuri-
ated and brutal mob to be awed by anything
lets thun We should use to govern brute
We trust,-we expect-that the adtniuistra-
tlou viii show to all opponents of this mes
ture the firm nnyieldtpg front which charac.
may we'll believe TINT though not a man Of
those drafted into the service Of the United
States should be needed to fight her battles, a
great advantage will be gained in establishing
The fact that this goVernme mt Is strong enough
to command the respect Of all foreign powers.