, 1863-03-04
TIE NEW CoSscREpTL LaIy.

lie only serious Objection offered t6the
new consc1iptidn law is to the $500 COM
mutation clause in the 18th section. But
we think there is great misanprchensioa
in the minds OF the German people, who
most object, in respect to the real mcanin.
Ct the section. They seem to misconstrue
it-at least they interpret it differently
from What We do.
The section reads as follows:
SEC. 13. IND be il further enacted, That auy
person drafted and notified to appear as aforc-
said, may OH or before the day fixed for his ap-
1earancc furnish IN acceptable substitute TO
lake his place in the draft, or NAV mar to surh
persons as the Secretary Of War may author
1ze to receive it, such sum rs The Secretary Of
Narmay determine, not to erce<vl three hundred
dollars for the procurement nf such substitute.
and tAcEeupon the said person furnishing 4
substitute or paying the money shall bc Dis
charged from any further liability under that
dfa1t- Il \
THE portion nc omit refers to desertion
and the penalty thcrcof]
Lei us carefully examine the meaning
and bearing ofthis section.
1st. The drafted man may on or before
the day fixed for his appearance, furnish
an acceptable substitute to take his place
in the draft. Thus far the language is SO
c>lain that there can be but one construc-
lion Of il.
cd. Tie drafted man may pay to such
persons as the Secretary Of War may
not must-authorizc to receive it, such
sum NOT exceeding $500, as the Secretary
may determine, for the procurement Of
such substitute.
Sd. And thercupon the drafted man fur
nishingthc substitute or paying the money,
shall he discharged from further lisbility
under that draft.
It will Lc perceived that it is not made
obligatory On the Secretary Of Warto "au.
1horizc" any person to receive the money.
lie may do SO, or he may not Neither is
The conseript obliged to offer it. lie may
or may not, and the former may OF
may not accept it; but if he should,
then the drafted man is discharged from,
1iability under that draft. The Secretary
is not Obliged to fix tie sum at any partic-
ular amount. 1t may be $500, or 500 OF
$40.
Again: 1t will be perceived that the
1anguagc ofthc law is, that tue $500 is Z. 70,
tic TToeaTcmlnt Of such substitute" Tho
rommutation money is not paid into tn,
Treasury of the United States at all; buI
goes directly to "sucL substitute as viii
agree to serve in the rlacc Of the drafted
nlau. Theplain meaning OF the law is thai
every man who is drafted must serve three
years or during the war unless some othel
acceptable man volunteers to take hi
place The only exception to the rule i
found in tlefive exemption clauses in be
llalfof laboring men having poor or help
less relatives to support.
Suppose draft is made on Illinois, an'
the quota for Chicago is 1000 men; "
contend that 1000 men hare got to be fur
nished, either by principals or substitute:
The Government don't care whether it b
4, B and c, or their substitutes, 3, 7 an'
z, hut it must have the exact numbe
called for, anyhow. If the Secretary c
War authorizes person to receive $50
from drafted man, it is for the purpose {
paying it to some man who steps forwar
and volunteers as u substitute 1fthe Go,
ernmcn, can not find the substitute it
not bound to receive the money; and th
drafted nan must 70 or find substitute
obviously if the substitute shark fails I
furnish bis principal with substitute, II
principal must 70. The Government sui
stitutc officer takes precisely the same D.
si,ion and responsibility as the substitu
hroker cxccpt, that hc keens down IL
7,1fcc to $500 for the benefit Of those wi
e,annot afford to nav the cxhorh;ta,
rates fixed By the ssharks
The ob5cc. Congress had in view in fixi1
The maximum sum at 5000, was ten fol
first to prevent rs far Us possible, " subs