Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-03-26
Then and Now.

9. Resolved, That the Conscript bill
recently introduced into the Senate of the
United States by Senator Wilson of IMdssa
chusetts, and passed into law by Congress,
is subversive OF the sovereignty and rights
Of the States, aud designed to make them
mere dependencies upon the Federal Gov
ernment unconstitutional in its provisions
and dangerous to the liberties OF the peo-
pie, the authorities of each of the States
should sternly resist the operation Of a
scheme so fatal to the just relations which
should always exist between the Federal
and State Govornment.-lSt. Clairsville
Democratic Festival.
1 would most respectfully invite the at
tention Of the seuen distinguished legal
gentlemen tWm. Kennon, jr., y. J. Swaney,
Ross Alexander, Jno. A. Work, Jno. III.
Heaton, Sherrard Clemens, and Judge
0key, who were ION hand" at the meet
ing where the above resolution was adopt
ed, to the legislation of some former Con.
crosses, on this subject.
By Act of Congress of 1872, approved
by Geo. Washington, May Stb, 1892, it
was enacted that each and every free able
bodied white male citizen of the respective
States, resident therein who is or shall be
Of the age Of eighteen years, and under the
age of forty. five years shall be enrolled in
the militia within twelve
months after the passage Of this act.
y Every citizen so enrolled shall pro-
vide himself with good .musket, or fire.
lock, bayonet, belt, two spare fints, KNAPP
sack, pouch, not less than twenty four cart
ridges &C., &c.
Sec. 2, exempts certain persons from the
provisions of the act.
Sec. provides for the arrangement of
the militia into companies, regiments,
brigades and divisions.
Sec. prescribes the organization Of the
different arms of the service, Each dragoon
was required to furnish himself with hoise
and horse equipments.
Sec prescribes rules of discipline.
Secs S, 6, 8, 9, 10, and IL prescribe 9th.
er details or organization.
A very harmless law, the butternut of
to-day will say, because Geo. Washington,
and not Mr. Lincoln signed it; because
Secretary Henry Knox, and not Secretary
Stanton recommended it; but let us ex.
anime these old laws little farther.
We come down to 1895. Gen. Washing.
ton still President, and Knox Secretary Of
War. "a the 18th Of Esb. !, l7Q5. the Presi
dent approved an act of Congress which
gave the President power to call forth the
militia of the States in such number as he
might deem necessary to repel INVASION =
Sec, 2 is so much u case in point that give
it entire:
''Sec @ That whenever the laws of the
United States shall be opposed, or the exc
cutien thereof obstructed in any State, BY
combinations too powerful to be suppressed
by the ordinary course of judicial proceed
ings, or by the powers vested in the mar
shalls by this act, it shall be lawful for the
President Of the United States to call forth
the militia OF such State, or of any othe
State or States, as may be mecesslry to sup
press such combinations, and 10 cause III
idDs to be duly eDecuted; and the use o
militia so to be called forth, may be con
timed, If necessary, until the expiration o
thirty days after the commencement Of tn,
| then next session of Congress"
The law further prescribes fines and pen
aliics against those militia men who sha
fail to obey the orders of the President, an
empowers the Marshall to levy said fines
with costs, by distress and sale of the good
and chattels of the delinquent, and wher
no goods or chattels are found on which I
levy, then the Marshall shall commit sue
delinquent to Jail, &c.
1 The law of 1903, approved by Thos Je
ferson, March I'd, 1903, was similar to th
law of 1892.
Now, to come down to modern times
what have the "butternuts" OF 1868 TO sa
about the rigid, merciless, CONSUMPTION
their particular friend and patron sain
Jefferson Davis? The writer of this h
spent the greater part Of the time for Il
last twenty-five months in different parts
the so-called Southern Coniederacy; he h
travelled hundreds Of miles through Je
Davis domain, and seen the effects of b
o conscription taking, in nine cases out
q ten every white man, and all but tive
Z three ofthe slaves from every plantation i
to the rebel army. He has talked to pri
oners times without number, from nearl
or quite, all the seeded States, and am
ljority Of them have been forced into d
ranks. t,.e,. f...I nm II.
But, jeff Davis army is to fight "a
Lincolus government" thereby doing t
same work these "butternuts' are doin
. and they have no word of condemnation
bis misdeeds while any means institut
for perpetuating the Union meets with tn
4, Il fercest denunciation. f-
Let the traitor mouth his treason, @
forefathers triumphed over foes witho,
: aud foes within--over the armed enemy
the field, and the cowardly sneak at hon
and SO can we, These men are only layi
n. up for themselves and Tor their children
eternity Of infamy i.,,.c,,a sl.t
A.. TATTOO
\ iiTsr Union Committee y of Pennsylya,