, 1863-12-14

they be denied the privilege? and why
should the white conscript be deprived OF
the right to offer good, robust, healthy,
willing black substitute, We insist upon
it, as an act Of sheer justice to the people
that this amendment be made to the law.
But there is another feature of the case
that must not be overlooked Why should
not all able-bodied black men be liable to
CONSUMPTION rs well IS all able-bodied
white men! We are opposed to granting
special privileges to one class Of men over
another. We don't consider negroes any
better than whites, even if they be slaves.
We arc energetically opposed to cosfe1ing
upon stalwart blacks the privilege of ex-
smptiom from the draft On the pretext that
they are the property Of some white men.
Uncle Sam has higher claim on the ser
vices of his subjects than any private in
diyiduals can have. His lien is ahead Of
all others, both on property and persons.
Justnow he stands in need of more fighting
men to enable him to squclch the rebellion
and save this country from destruction.
We arc all the subjects of this Uncle Of
ours, black men as well as white men,
bond men as well as free men, apprentices
as well as masters, sons as well as fathers.
No individual has right to thrust himself
forward and say 10 the Government, "you
ehan not conscript csrtain able-bodied
men fit for soldiers, because I claim to own
thcm-" The reply Of the Law ought
10 he, "Stand back sir, you as well as those
shield to- labor by you, are equally subjects
"of the National Government, and you are
"equal1y liable TO perform military ser
"yice. On whom the lot falls, he
"must serve, if physically capable, unless
"he offers IN acceptable substitute; black
"and white men must stand on the same
" footing, in respect to military duty. 3d.
"cial relations between men con
"stitutc no ground for exemptions-ihat
ais = personal affair, regulated by local
"1aw or usage. The Constitution recog-
"nizes and describes all its subjects
as 're1sons'-not as property, aud con-
"sequent1y it can rightfnlly make no dis
ac1irninatio1 between them in relation to
"conscription. Exempting one class On
"aceount Of color or social relation, and
thereby rolling The additional burden On
"the other classes and compilations, would
"be UNJUST anti-Democratic, and viola
"tion Of the spirit, if not tue p1ain lcttrr of
the constitution It must not be done.
Negroes band and fee-must take their
chances Of the draft the same as white
"men."
Congress viii be dercict Of duty lift fills
to amend the Conscription act, so as to draft
slave blacks as well as free blacks; and
both classes as well as whites; and there
should be no delay in making this change
in the law.
One thing is certain-the non-slavehold-
sof Kentucky and Of all the other Border
States will vigorously defend such an
amendment, and if seriously opposed by
the sl&vemongers, they viii speedily tram
pie the cursed system under foot, and sum-
naarily abolish il rather tkan permit the
oligarchy to enjoy SO unjust and odious =
special privilege They will teach these
lords Of tho lash that the poor mans bleod
shall not be spilled In order that rich men
may hare their work performed without
paying wages; and if the white mans son
is not exempted, neither shall the mar
owners negro be-