The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-24
The CONSUMPTION Law.

The riots which have disgraced some
of the larger Eastern cities, and which are
not vet thoroughly quelled in New York,
have been produced by the CONSUMPTION
law. or rather, as we believe, by utter mis-
anprehension of its provisions There is
something in the word "conscript'' of
dreadful import to our people. The pre-
iudice which exists against the term, and
against the system of raising troops, is not
well founded. No fairer process can be
devised for raising an army. Wherever
the draft has been made, it has been con
Quoted with perfect fairness; and the con-
scripts have been distributed among all
classes of community. We notice that, in
one of the Boston districts, the aris-
tocracy was represented by the names of
LAWRENCE, WINTHROP and others.
The objections urged against the law
that it permits exemption on the payment
of a sum of money, is as baseless as that
which goes against its fairness in the man
ner of selection. The argument is that,
under the money exemption, the rich can
escape service, while the poor conscript is
Obliged to enter the ranks and it is said
this would be obviated, and all would be
placed on the same footing, were this mo-
ney exemption not allowed, and were all
obliged to serve in person Or by substitute
of their own procurement.
We cannot see how this latter plan
would help the poor conscript. If every
conscript were obliged to 60 to the field,
or procure a substitute, the market value
of substitutes would soon exceed by double
or treble the government figure; and, un-
der such competition, none but the most
wealthy could procure them. The great
mass of the conscripts would have no al
tentative but personal service, while the
poorer classes would be removed still far
Their than at present from all hope or pos
sibility of escape from duty in the ranks.
The system adopted does not change, in
any respect, and especially for the worse,
the condition of the poorer classes; while
it will enable thousands of men of mod
crate means, and even of small incomes,
to avoid service, if their interests or de-
sires, suggest it. 1t is not favor to the
rich, for a hundred dollars more or less, is
of no account to such; but it is boon to
the great mass of the people, and the pro-
vision is one that should be popular with
them.
The exemptions, outside of that noticed,
are of the most liberal character; and we
call special attention to the care with
which the law seeks to exempt all whom
it would be a peculiar hardship to draft
Such exemptions, in addition to those re-
jected as physically or mentally unfit for
the service, are as follows:
Sec. 2. And be 1t further enacted That the
following persons be, and they are hereby, eX-
empted and exempt from the provisions of this
act, and shall not be liable to military duty un-
physically or mentally unfit for the service;
also, first, the Vice President of the United
States the jadges of the various courts of the
United States, the heads of the various execu-
tive departments of the Government, and the
Governors of the several States. Second, the
only son liable to military duty ola widow de-
pendent upon his labor for support Third,
the only son of aged or infirm parents de-
pendent upon his labor for support.
Fourth, where there are two or more sons of
aged or infirm parents subject to draft, the
father, or if he be dead, the mother, may elect
which son shall be exempt. Fifth, the only
brother of children not twelve years old, hav-
ing neither father nor mother, dependent upon
his labor for support. Sixth, where there
are father and Sons in the same family and
household, and two of them are in the military
service Of the United States as non-commis-
stoned officers, musicians or privates, the
residue of such family and household, not ex-
ceeding two, shall be exempt. And no per-
sons but such as are herein exempted shall be
exempt. Provided, AoUecer, That no person
who has been convicted of any felony shall be
enrolled or permitted to serve in said forces.