Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-11
Rights.
RICHMOND WHIG.
MONDAY MORNING. JAN. IL, 1861.
Congress.

The debates OF Congress p open session for the past
few days have been confined almost entirely to two
questions, both in reference to the Increasing the num-
Der of our soldiers in the field The principal of these
questions is upon the report Of the House Committee
on Military Affairs, which proposes to do away with all
exemptions, eIcep: applying to Safe and COnfede-
rate officers, substituting, in lieu, system Of de-
tails" to made by the Secretary of War, subject to
the approval Of the President The other question is
in reference t. rendering liable to Consumption all aliens
among us especially ntelded 10 act upon NaHylanders
aud citizens OF States under control Of the United
Safes. who have come refugees amcng us. These
measures ere but cen inuatOn Of the Of pro-
ceedngs for swelling the muster rolls of orr armies
inauguaed by tie repeal Of the provision of Congress
TO admit substitutes in the army which was soo1 fol-
owed b. con GRIPPING the principal who bal already
been exempted By pa.ting substitute in service
We would be glad to be able to record, along with
these measures, or in lieu Of them some measure be-
fore Congress for the placing in active serVics the hos
on detailed duty and also some efficient measure for
returning sIaggief5 and deserters TO the RACKS. We
would be glad too, to record some looking TO
purgng of the army of incompetanS negligent and
disobedieni ofeers aud making merit instead of ia
vori,ism the stepping to position and promotion
OF soldiers now Scattered throughout the country
have not the least doubl" wrote Washington to the
Continental Congress, chat until officers consider
their commissions in an honorable and interested point
OF Fis= aud are afraid 20 enda1ger them by negligence
and nattentOn, order regularity, care either Of
the mea or public property, will prevail" Let these be
attended 10, and the interests oil The domestic economy
Of tho country be iOsteTed aud the efficiency OF the
amy and public welfare will bs better conserved than
oy sxeepDg oonscrpiOns whether Of citizens aliens
perfert e1em p,iun BILL oue that will not admit of
abuses can scarcely be hoped for Ye. thSneoessy of
such measure more seem 10 question whether it ema-
uaes directly from Congress- is turned over to the
War Department, with power to dsail." Bat We re-
gard the enactment of the latter as Ons o. the most
odUul an alarming measures to people that Con
gess could adopt l. will OccssOn ths people TO de-
spe the weakness Representatives who confess their
ncompetency for the places they hOll and who geek
90 screen themselves by such enactment in addition to
their secret sesOss from general veil as individual
responsibility TO their constituents. Nor Gould the
lie all system hG6e7er earnest and patriotic the lnen
.ons for the general good with which it we're catered
upoD &c satisfactory in its result than an sIemp-
ton act It's first effect will be to shake the public Goa
idence in the Adm nistra ion, and will soon culmiuae
10 raising the hue and cry odum upon it, Oar strug.
gle mus be worked out as yell fought ou,. Lst the
mus er rolls be sWeed without exemptions let citizens
feeling uncertain in the tenure OF the detaf remit in
their ea'nasttO to make prOvso for the country and
..ere will soon be neither fighting nor working There
VIII be Z terrible CRY of Bread springag up in our
streets and you will see bandI ravsging the country
carrying poles sufmou1ted with human heads. MOI
ohgress, true to themselves and to the sacred trusts
eon6ied to them can save fem these catasroPhes
The mes.ure for e9psCtiptDg aheus can simply have
bu. ere result. 1t viii drive every one of Thorn from
our soil aud add many of Them 70 the ranks OF our
enemies Congress has yielded far asi caa with dgn
t aad tasty-too far perhaps aresdy-to the pronqu
ciImentos Of ambitious army officers and the ephemerA
c!amor of demagoguss. By the substitute bH few
bundled men may be added to the ranks and thousands
become or skulkes in the recesses of
ssauSps and mountains If their aim beto punish the
rapacity CT spectators and e1OrOnes let them devise
some scheme to reach their boarded gains and apply
them the comfort Of those who are the greatest su
ferers by the.wsr.
Bat We will suggest scheme of exemption, which
woud relieve them of all direct responsibility, be salts
factory to the country and conduce to the pubic good
Let them e1emp; by classes heretofore milers, Tan
ners &C.. sc. Bat TO avoid iss abuse by who may
tan two hides shoe horse a week. &c let each indi-
vua be required 10 show that the extent Of his 0ccu
patton seuficient to render bis exemption necessity
to his community This can be ascertsintd by the
amount of Ak he prys to the public revenge,-a fixed
sum being established by Congress to each ex
smpeOn. Let Congress, in addition, impose further
tax upon each exempt for the privilege of exemption
THIS will add to tie government revenue. But as a
Safeguard against fraud, require certificate from the
Board of Magistrates Of each county upon the correct
ness of the returns of each Individual exempt to be
further approved by The Executive of his State.