The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1863-03-27
From the MilWaakie Nescs.
The Policy of CONSUMPTION. ~

EENS ~~~~~J S~ ~~~@SS~~E~~~>'
Iu thc Federal Senate on Monday Mr..
Wilson asserted the legal 9authority of
Congress toput into the field every citi-
zen of the country by draft. We are not
disposed to dispute the proposition. But
we do deny that it is always right for
Congress to do what it may do lawfully.
: Copgresssis supposed TO represent the
will ofsthe people forwhom il enaets laws.
Whatever it does legally in conformity to
the popular wish is right. Whatever it
does agaiust,the popular wish is wrong
Our representatives in Congress are sent
there as the agents, and not as the mas
tiers of the people. =. The people are. the,
principals, from whom all authority is de-
rived, 10 eoerce then. by the adoption
of measures repulsiye to them is to coerce
the sole sovereignty Of the nation. j.,
d In making war;. or in making peace,
the popular wish shouldsbc regarded as
the sacred law. Ii the people wantawar,
there Is little need of CONSUMPTION laws to
enforce war. IF the people don't want
war, the people are responsible to them,
selves for the consequences, and to force,
war upon them is a wrongful exercise of
power. II. the patriotism Of the people
dies out, the case is. not altered There
is no patriotism more fervent than that,
which actuates the heart Of the masses
The patriotism Of Congress is certainly
not Of that exclusive and superior quality
to9justify that body in debating patriot.
ism for the people. ~. ...l.r,r..
In governments where the domination
of an absolute sovereign is maintained by
military force, CONSUMPTION is a successful
means Of raising armies and Of proseeu-
ting war. L was u machinery first adop-
ted in Rome and applied to a people who
had virtually become slaves. The idea
was then adopted in France as a defense
of imperial power, But in all republican,
governments it must prove failure. =,
1t is based upon the assumption that
the government is in favor of war and the
people against'it. Tie rulers call for war;
the people refuse to 90, hence coercion,
CONSUMPTION. What results The peo-
pie in the exercise of sovereign and guar
antced rights, march to the ballot box
and GUST the rulers who would coerce
them This is the natural and legitimate
result in republican governments. The
people rule-not their servants. #
aIf the Federal Administration believes
that the people want a 'further vigorous
prosecution Of the war;" there is cheaper
and more successful way Of raising men
than by CONSUMPTION. Ifwar is right and
war is wanted, the money which it will
cost to operate the CONSUMPTION law, will
command the voluntary services Of twice
the number OF men that can be secured
by draft. This fact has already been de-
monstrated. The money expended upon
the late draft in Wisconsin secured in
camp but bare squad of mutineers.
Had the same sum been offered in
bounties, treble number Of good soldiers
would have readily focked to the standard
Of government. The proposed new law
will work like the old. If more efficient,
it will cost more Soldiers thus secured
will cost the government upon the average
a small private fortune for each-and
what is soldier good for after he has
been marched to camp with chains about
his legs, and a file of soldiers in his
rear?