Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-21
"sUBs TUITION"
10 the Editor Of the Wing

10 the Editor Of the Wig:
Pemt me, through the columns Of your joErr a., to
call the attention Of the public to the startling injury
which has bean brought upon by the practice
of substitution which has hitherto been allowed in
army. Ia the opinion of The writer it has been
seriously detrimental to than every defeat that
have suffered during the In fact, cir, au wiling
TO pioneer tie proposition that every other cause
bined has not doae TO dsfe4t us than the allON
apce of this fatal principle. Considered ia ethical
pont of view, in all the wars in which mankind ord.
nariy engage principle, 1t is probably correct, and
ought 10 be allowed but sir, in civil war, in a
for lie for liberty for honor for property for every
thing that We hold sscred it is absolutely wrong and
ougat never 10 have been allowed A large number Ct
the very persona WHO have azen the benefit oil subst-
u,ion ueshsp majority, do not attempt to oeny Tie
self evident truth OF this proposition Passing over the
ethical discussion of the Of the principle
et us see how il has worked practically. What are
the facts Of the case? From the very best
data that | can get, and | believe j. 10 be per
fecily reliable one hundred and fifty five thousand
substitutes have been regularly enrolled into the Con-
federate army, aud Of this number Lhero lii
ctusl service al 1t hrty-one thousand thus leaving
40 actual defcit Of hundred ana ge0tyouT thou
SIND strong and abe-bOd.ed mel! ] will not stop to
call attention to me remarkable vlllHny OF substitute
agents and the enormous amount o. bogus papers that
have passed Inspection only desire TO ude TO the
that hundred ana MY I'VE tnOuSand men nave
been LET out of the army Internationally, and thaithey
have been replaced by only about oneftth OF their
mum err This is the evil that has resuited-whas is the
remedy? The next Congress will have this great diff
culty 10 solve and they can oaly meet it by snactng
law that will pu: every man into the army who has a
tubsttlta except only where the substitute is, and has
been from the time of his enlistment actually perform
ing service The, cir, is the common sense view Of
the thing and believe it to be correct. l. Is claim
that this will b, act of bad faith the part OF the
GovCrnmsIt. 1t may look 10 technically, but every
cand person must admit, after moments reelection,
that the ASSERTION is really untrue. VINO has been swim
died? Ia it not the Goyernmenty Has lot every man
VINO has put substitute in the army who has deserted
acturlly sWinded (unintent onGy, Il may be- but
erheess truey) the Government of the services of
sble-boded III AZ and is no TO be allowed to take ad-
vantage of his own wrongg The Government he's
performed its part OF the contract by releasing him from
military duty is il not incumbent upon the party put
ii in the substitute to see that the substitute performs
the same duty that he would have performed had BIC
named himself and il he fails Do so, is not the
tract yiItusy annulsd and the Government released
The enactment of gu b bill by Congress- would be an
act of simple justice not only to the soldiers IN the
field but TO the country at large and because it IS
morally right in every point Of that you may dis
cuss it 10 will inevitably meet with the APPRECIATION OF
public sentiment Among other things II will accom-
p sh the desirable result OF diminish. TO great
tent the number Of specuatoTs and extortoneTs VITO
are at ming up5n the blood and agony OF the country
By all means let such bill be passed There are also
several gloomy evils of the exemption bill, Deserving at
least pa sing notice in this communication WHY are
ply scans and justices of ID, peace exempt Are there
not more than enough of these persons in the country
over fortyfe to attend to the bu in of their cccupa
tions? Let Congress butabolah substitution altogether,
and enact II that will put every man In the army
whose subs ue has deserted le i: abolish altogether
all exemptions Of physicians aud justices Of The peace
under forty-iye andreduce the number Of msicOntrsc
tors at least one-hA and take my word for it, Conied-
crate bonds sill rise fifty per in the dollar aad the
unspeakabe blessings of peace will soon begin 10 dawn
upon cur dedant but unhappy country
Drn