The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-03-11
The CsnscriptiOn Act.

did not swear more terribly than have
the people been swearing about this
aConscription act. And yet we do not
see why the great mass of them should
swear at it2 Notwithstanding the
warnings of Washington, of Jackson,
of Clay, of Webster-men who are ca
nonized now aspatriots and Statesmen
they contributed to the elevation of
sectionally organized party to power.
They were foretold that the elevation
of such party to power would beget
calamitous civil War, and all history
teaches that civil Wars are more easily
begotten than extinguished.
Itis needless to disguise it, that if
the salvation of the Federal Govern
ment rests solely upon the success of
our armies in the field, cur cause is
imperrilcd to the utmost extremity
that it almost overhangs the abyss of
total destruction. Forney's Press, of
Feb. 20, assures the public that:
Jefferson Davis is massing together
an army greater than ever before fol-
lowed his banners. Men of all ages
and conditions are taken from their
homes and farms and hurried into
camp. In every part of the South,
wherever a man can be found capable
of bearing muskct, he is clothed in
the traitors uniform, and compelled to
keep time to traitors music. At
Charleston and Fredericksburg, and
Eicksburg and Chattanooga, these
poor creatures are being massed, drills
led, disciplined, and prepared for active
warm the spring. THERE'S an earnest,
iamentable, thrilling, terrible meaning
in these preparations. The spring
will bring this mighty army against
the North"
This is statement of a journal that
occupies, in Administration parlance,
s position of leadership in the cause of
the Union, and, therefore, we are at
liberty to believe it true. 1t, then,
no longer appears that the Confederate
srmies are of the style and manner of
men that Falstaf mustered into SER
vice. That the Confederates will fight, |
we have unmistakablc testimony, and
now that more men follow the banners
of Jeff. Davis than ever before, the
question is pertinent: Have we the
requisite force to overcome and van
uuish his force?
Mr.. Stevens, the chairman of the
Committee on Ways and Means in the
National House of Representatives,
recently made the statement that we
then had only 500, 900 troops left, and
that Of this number the time of 300,-
900 will expire in May. On the 10th
of February last, Senator Wilson, the
Chairman of the Committee on Militia
ry Affairs, stated in his place, that the
regiments of our armies, originally
containing 1000 men had been redu-
ecd to an average of 400 men each.
From this it is manifest that our force
is inadequate to cope with that of the
Confcderates. Now, that this War
shall be prosecuted until such time as
the Confederates shall acknowledge
and obey the authority of the Federal
Government, our armies must at once
be filled up, and kept filled up to an
extent that may be required. This is
aplain, honest presentation of the case
as it stands.
How are these recruits to be obtain
ed? Evidently not by volunteering.
Hence Conscription is inevitable. 1t
can not be obviated, unless the War is
brought to close. Just so long as
we shall insist upon the prosecution of
the War, just SO long must We have
men and money for that purpose.
That feature of the law which ena-
bles man to buy exemption from mil
itary service with $500 deserves to be
stigmatized as infamous. A deeper
shade Of infamy, however, should at
tach to the man who shall seek to avail
himself Of it who all along has been
and is now clamorite for the War
who denounces peace movement as
the spawn of treason. The man who
can command $500 with which to buy
an exemption certainly has as much
stake in the perpetuation of our ''hea-
venly form of Government" as Gov
ernor Tod terms it, as him who is bles-
sed with poverty, and, if he is and has
been a vigorous prosecution of the
war" man, he should have at least mag
nanimity enough to abide the Conscrip-
siou and share the hardships and pri-
vations pertaining to the life Of the
soldier. : The universal practice Of
such magnanimity by the vigorous