American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-03-27
FEDERAL CONSUMPTION Law.

The conzeriptiun law enacted BIZ Lin
coins Congress during the last days Of
its session, is not the law that it has gen
orally been taken TO be- Ii is very
different instrument from the CONSUMPTION
law new in force here. Ii is not framed
unon eur plan. but is strict copy of the
French. Sandman. and other European
eonscriptions. The draf. on the popua-
ien is much less general than that by
our law. and will produce fewer recruits
TO he army in proportion to the number
OF the inhabitants. The principle of the
Southern law is that every man shall be
placed in position where he can most
effectively serve the country and aid the
war. Hence il exempss ouly those en-
gagged in certain industrial pursuits. the
continuation of which are Indispensable
10 the subsistence of the army, the sup
port Of the Government in It's legitimate
functions, and those fundamental opera
tons on which both depend These
classes. are limited But the Northern
law of exemption is founded on various
soci,l distinctions, including great num-
bers even if strictly interpreted, and
which admit of almost unlimited stretch
ing.
The true meaning Of this law is to be
found in those clauses which relate to
The return Of men and off GERS now alb
sent from that vast army existing on the
pay rolls. OF more than one million men.
The law does not seem intended to in
crease the numerical force of the United
Satisfactorily larger than that country
or any other csn long maintain-nor
viii it do so. lis objects seem to be
1st, to prevent tie men whose term of
enlistment has expired, from leaving
their ranks in May "a. TO enable Lin
coin TO make such future drafts on the
people as the waste of war may render
necessary. 10 carry on the war without
The assistance Of the new Congress now
about to enter on its term. and in defiance
of majority Of tie people who desire
cessation of hostiliiies. These objects. the
Law will certainly accomplish
It is calculated to provoke great re-
sistance from the people and The States.
We cannot now estimate the power, ex-
tent or results OF the discomfort and OPP
position. But we fear those who sup
pose that this opposition will render the
law imperative. and end in a revolution,
mistake The present condition of the
North Il has been justly remarked
that they assume the people of that
country to be now what they formerly
were. and guage their spirit and deter
mination by the sentiment which pre-
walls among ourselves. They do not
realize the fact that the Government of
The United States has CONCEALED into a
despotism. and that its Inhabitants have
actually sunk down into the characters
tics of actual, trembling and underlying
slaves. Il is the part of reason to an
ticipate the triumph Of Lincoln, and the
entire execution of the law. Nor need
we stand appalled, at its consequences.
The Southern Government need only
enforce ia al the Suites tie CONSUMPTION
lar noV erist;ag to procure such addition
TO its present army. that il will not only
be as great as the country can maintain,
or as any generals are capable of ma
neuvering. but abundantly sufficient to
meet, at all points, every force that the
Northern CONSUMPTION will send to the field