Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-02-20
Going Back to First Principles.
From the New York Evening POST.

A Mr.. Eldridge, from Wisconsin, has intro
duced a resolution into Congress to the effect
that a. CONSUMPTION or enforced military ser.
vice is contrary to the principle of selfgov-
eminent on which our institutions rest" But
why does the learned Theban confine his prop.
osition TO military service alone? If il be
true that enforced military service is incOn-
sistent with the principle of self-government,
it is no less true that every other kind of SER
vice which a man is required to perform by
the general laws of society is inconsistent
with selfgOvernment. In other words, socie-
ty must resolve itself into voluntary asso-
citation, in which each member shall be per-
mitted to do as he pleases, without constraint
or interference from others.
1t is commonly supposed that every man
who enjoys the protection of society is bound
to contribute to its support and welfare; and
that if he will not do so willingly, or of his
own accord, he must be made to do so. A
sound and equitable administration of justice
is an indispensable condition of orderly So
cial existence, and to promote that end every
citizen is occasionally called upon to act as a
juror. Mr.. Eldridge, we suppose, would con-
slider that service inconsistent with the prin-
ciple of self-government. Good roads are
necessary in the country, as member from
Wisconsin ought to know, and paved streets
in the city, to facilitate communication ev-
cry citizen is required to work upon the roads,
furnish a substitute, or pay an equivalent
commutatiOn; but this, too, the political phi
lOsOpher from the West will pronounce an in
fraction of the principle of selfgovernment.
Public officers who execute the laws, includ-
ing Congressman, who make them, must be
paid for the service; every citizen is equally
bound to contribute to that payment; his
property or his person is assessed for it, and
if he refuses to pay he is made to; but if we
understand the new light of the House of
Representatives, this duty ought to be left to
the voluntary discretion of each individua
So far as Mr.. Eldridge's own pay is concerned
we hope that when he presents his little ac-
count TO the Clerk of the House he may be
referred to the volunteer Fund for the pay
ment of members of Congress" Indeed, we
are surprised that Mr.. Eldridge does not in
consistency offer bill doing away with all
taxes, and proposing to pay the President,
his Cabinet, the Supreme Court and Con-
gress by bOunties and other volunteer emolu-
ments.
But if the citizen is required to serve in
his turn on juries, 70 work on the public roads
to contribute to the treasury, why should he
not be required to take his part in defending
the integrity of liberty of the nation by arms
Is enforced service, in one case, any more
contrary to the principal of selfgovernment
than in the other? Why, indeed, should the
most imperative and important of all public
duties-that of defending the natiOn-be left
to volunteers, ard others be allowed to escape
it TO us it seems that the very principle OF
equal rights and selfgovernment demands the
CONSUMPTION or draft. What is it but a SIM
pie and just mode of designating the few who
can best perform duty which is incumbent
upon all, but in which all cannot, in the ma
ture of things, engage? Every citizen, in
times of of national danger, is bound to go to
the war; bat it is impossible to equip every
man; some must stay at home to carry on the
business of society; and the government de-
termines who is to go, by lot, which is the
most equitable method.