Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1863-03-19
Drafted Men in Battle.

We take The following as to The
conduct of drafted men at the recent
battle of Blackwattr from the Phila'
delphia Ledger. 1t shows that the
conscripts of Republic are different
fiom the copseripts Of Despotism.
Under a r public, where the people
own the government, and no! the gov.
erpment the people, 10 var should
be begun or prosecuted but Tor the
good Of the people, aud Of that they
are supposed to be the best judges.
They have to bear all its burdens,
whether Of blood or treasure. II
they do not wan. the war, it should
be neither begun nor prosecuted. Ii
they want lie war, they will volun-
teer in sufficient numbers to meet
all its demands. Ii they do pot want
if. and are forced into it, to the peril
of health and life, they will be apt
10 do as the drafted men are repre-.
sen,ed 10 have done at Blackwater.
The Southern conscripts that are
forced into the Confederate army are
those who desert to our side the first
opportunity, and who are so uareli-
able in battle.
Congress has before it conscript
bill-a bill to compel citizens to Ell.
Ter the army against their will. The
people are opposed to such meas.
ure. 1t violates the great idea of q
republican government, and is the
child of desponsm. When this war
bloke out, and until within six months
past, the people voluntarily supplied
the army with forces to make armies
such as the world never before Saw
The people we're then for the war
Why conscript new? Why force cit.
izens into the ranksf Why do not
volunteers come forward as hereto.
fore. by thousands and hundreds oI
thousands? Simply because the peo'
pie have taken the sober second
thought. They have gotten over
their fash OF resentment, aud have
coolly reflected upon the whole sub
Jet. They find that war is hot the
best for their own liberties and mate
rial interests. aud that some other
mode than fighting should he resort,
ed 10 to settle our difficulties. They
find that the expenses Of the war are
two millions OF dollars every. day il
is continued, and that they and their
| postetity will be ground 10 the earth
by hesVy taxation to meet even The
interest on the public d, bt: They
feel that, kbila CONTRACTORS and offi,
cials are growing fat on war pluncef
the country is going to ruin. They
| feel that homes are being made desc
late and widows and orphans molti
piled. They experience the deep hu
initiation that every sensitive Amer
ican must feel at the violation Of al
the safeguards the Constitution has
thrown around the citizen against ar
bitrary power, and see in the flu urs
if the war is continued, their liber
ties gone, and despolism ruling
over them. They feel that they are
suffering all .his- experiencing al
Iisking all-proper.y and lib
erty+-for the benefit Of The blacks
Ito give freedom 20 the, sisses, and
in the language Of the Proclamation
to 'srlaintain them in their freedom,
And, in addition to that, they have
becbme satisfied that the cause j:
endless, hopeless, fuinous, and, there
fore, they do not feel like engaging
further in it. .l y
Now, when the people are Of thai
mind, why should those who are tenn
porarily 10 the Administration of the
Government attempt to folce the pso
pie into service they are opposed to-
If they are forced into it, viii no
the example of The drafted men, a.
Blackaater be generally followed
.You may draf, US, bat can no
make us fight" that is the differ
ence between the, conscripts Of re
public and those of despotism.-
We hope there may Ue no more occa
sinns or excuses ior such condact