The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-08
Re-enIissmsnt OF veterans.


President Lincoln has asked an extern
sion Of ths time for the re enlistment Of
veterans, and We think with great pro-
priety. At first it was but sn expert
ment, and 50 many regulations and
counter regulations were promulgated
that the work vas retarded, snd we be-
Hevs We can safsly sag that one-balf
ofthose vino desired to rs-ealist have not
done SC, simply because they were IN
certain relative 10 detail-, which might
be Of the highest moment in the END; and
we believe, after thorough canvass Ct
the su5jeci, that at least eight tenths CT
those nov in the ecrvico are really desi-
rous Of continuing, upon Tie terms pro-
posed in the month OF December. We
have mingled with soldiers enough 10
feel assured that in this ve bul state =
simple truth, end one which is in the
highest degree important and suggestive.
Neither President Lincoln nor Con-
gress have, IS yet, we would suggest, BIT
upon the correct remedy. Let there be
no limit to TIE re-enlistment Of veterans
by regiments. Allow them to a7sil
themselves Of The advantages resulting
from ie-enlisting in the service 1T shy
time, and it il extremely doubtful If
regiment would be mustered out Of the
service, save 70 return to it at once.
Regiments raised fifteen and eighteen
months since should be permitted TO be-
come Veterans ate. the expiration Of two
years, and given the bouniies 50 recently
paid.
In relation to tao enlistment Of cii-
zens, Fixed periods are necessary, and
when once determined upon. should be
adhered to strictly; there should be no
Tostponement of tho draft when once the
day is announced. The postponements
hitherto so frequent, have delayed re-
cfui'ing, and it was chiefly to this cause
we must attribute the b5ld1ess Of the
cepperhesds last Sumner they looked |
upon them as go many s. symptoms of weak
ness--so many acknowledgements that the |
congcript law coaId not b. enforced, and /
The President dare not try The strength |
OF the Government against their opposi- |
ton. There should be no more exbibi-
tions Of anything which could possibly !
be construed into Gmidiiy.
There is ono other matter in tits con- |
neciion, to which we will refer, and /
which will do more 70 hinder re-eHlist-
msnls from old regiments, than anything /
else; and it's, the fsct that those who re-
join the service, are 10 be accredited 70
the quota Of the State, under the last |
call. They all very naturally urge |
that the whole burden Of tho war should |
not be thrown upon them; that they are
willing to continue 70 the end, but they |
demand that those who have rsmliDed /
at home, hitherto, b. sent to their aid.
No one will question the reasonhbleness
of the dsmand; and it should be under
stood that whatever calls be made for
men, they extend only to those now out
of the service.
These suggestions We mske after hav-
ing carefully investigated tee subject,
and we think they are Of sufficient i'm
portance to receive consideration. We
know thst every thing depends upon tie
number Of men ia 'he field next summer;
and tho subject Of ra-onlisting, claims
the calm consideration Of every patriot.
The rebels, after relying on many things,
have now settled down 10 the conclusion
thatunless our armies dissolve next sum
mer their cause IS lost. They have sd
mitted this through their public journals
and official documents; ADD it is in our
power to dispsl this last hope, and close
the war before the approaching autumn.