The Portland daily press., 1863-05-26
Suspicious II not DisIoyal Suggestions.

The Advertiser OF Monday contained
leader on the Conscript law, the suggestions
OF which to our understanding were decidedly
mischievous. Referring to that provision which
allows the payment of $500 to exempt from
the single operation of a draft, the editor
says:
The construction sought TO be affixed to this pro-
vision of the law, rendering it optional with the
Secretary TO take the $500, substitute or not,
would be only contrary TO the uniform interpre-
taon that has been given TO this same provision for
half century by the French Government, from
whose code--military-it taken, but contrary, as
il Is said the Interpretation of senator Wilson, of
Massachusetts, who framed the act, and contrary TO
States and contrary to Mr. Commissioner Whiting,
the modern Ajax, the defender of all the other arb-
trary powers that have hitherto been exercised by the
Administration and most especially contrary 10 the
clear language and demands of the statute itself
This language implies if it does not affirm,
that law which would not allow an exemption
or substitution would be nadmissible-woud
be contrary to the interpretations Of the
French Government for the last half century.
In other words, the extract from the AdveI-
tiser warrants the inference that the writer
himself would have some means provided by
which drafted man may provide substi-
tute, or furnish the means for procuring
one He would not have the Secretary of
War allowed the power to reject all exemp-
tion fees, for that would be contrary to the in
depreciation OF the French law. This language
excl udes the idea that he would have the con-
scription inexorable, so that no power should
exist to buy exemption.
Well, the law of congress, admitted TO be
one of the most perfect ever created, provides
that any person drafted may, within given
time, gain exemption from the draft by pro-
curing an acceptable substitute or by paying
such an amount of money as shall be prescrb
ed for the particular State or Territory, not
exceeding $500. The sum specified is sup
posed to be sufficient to procure, under ordi-
nary circumstances, such substitute as will
pass examination.
But this law, so wisXphd efficient in its pro-
vision. the editor of the Advertiser pronounces
most unrighteous one, unless the public credit
inv oked to equaize it. Ii enables the rich TO
cape the perils of the for he pay his $500 as
often as draft comes round while the poor man has
escape lie must leave wife. children, friends,
home. every thing, and go to war which, perhaps,
IA has soul he coademRs-all TO free the negro hom
legitimate servitude, and make him the equal of the
white man.
The man who at this late day insists that
the war is g all 10 free HE negro" can have
but little conception of the duties of patriot,
and when he talks of negro slavery as "a iegiti-
mate serritude" he betraysa spirit of despot-
ism that in the sight of God and good men, must
sink him as far below the level of the negro, in
all the elements of generous and noble soul, as
the negro in his degradation is beneath an ed
ucated gentleman. Such a man need never
fear degradation from the elevation of the me-
groes to equality with him, unless it be the deg
radiation OF the negro himself
In determining the color of a man it is not
quite sure that the skin alone is to be regarded.
The man with black face may have a heart
In comparison with which the hearts OF these
who would enslaye him are as chalk to char
coal; and we have the authority of holy writ
for saying that God looks not to the outward
appearance but to the heart.
But not satisfied with insulting northern
sentiment by talking of the legitimacy OF
American slavery; not satisfied to malign our
loyal people by saying the war to crush the
rebellion is only "a war to free the negro" this
writer allows his disloyalty to crop out by in
sisting upon such use of the public credit as
shall leave the government without man to
uphold its honor. Here Is his language:
The public credit thank God. is common property.
And the poor white mans vote l. the offs good
as the rich white mans vote. And it is the duty of
their pleasure, TO correct the irreguariy of the
script act, and enable by vote ofthe town. the poor
man to exercise the same choice and freedom as the
rlch man, in going to the III staying at home.
To accomplish this, let each town and city vote.
many ia the State have already done, TO pay $500 to
every who shall be drafted 10 the war, and leave
with 500 more which the State law requires TO be
given him if he goes-or TO pay the $500 thus provi-
ded. TO the Federal Government and thus secure the
right Qfsfaying at home
1t is not true that many towns in the State
have adopted this unpatriotic action. We
have heard of but one that has disgraced its
record in this manner. Ii the proposition
was for each town to vote bounty of $500 to
each drafted man, on condition of his going
into service or to enable him TO procure a
substitute, it would not be so clearly a Cop
perhead device to leave the government un-
supported; but when the proposition is made
avowedy to keep the drafted men at home,
we insist that it is dsloyal suggestion, and
is no better than downright treason. He who
would hire men to stay at home, or encourage
them TO do 50, is no friend to his country. We
rejoice that our community is cursed by the
presence of so few OF this sort, and that the
bulk of our people are loyal, and will show no
disposition TO shirk the responsibility of de-
Tending the flag which protects them and their
property If we had a law that would confis-
cate the property of the authors of such re-
bellious suggestions, and appropriate it for
the benefit of the soldiers and their families,
1t would be a righteous, though it might be an
unconstitutional law. We ask for no such
enactment though it would be infinitely more
sensible aud patriotic than the daily inculca-
tons OF those who are constantly laboring to
SOW discomfort with the government in the
minds of our people, and to cripple the gov
ernmen. which protects them-a government
which they,J udas-Lke, are aboring to destroy.
wEpThe Aroostook Pioneer SAYS Mr.. Syl-