North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-11-30
C0EscriptiOn.

When the war commenced, the people
rushed forward for the defence and restera>
ton OF the Union with an enthusiasm, un
precedented in history, and rolanteer SOL
diers offered their services in numbers Tar
| beyond the requirements of the Government.
| Nor did the elfervescence soon subside. 1t
was not checked till he war cry of the "Ne-
gro' was substituted for that Of the Union; );
and then the zeal Tor volunteering began to
| flag. The Administration, to obtain men TO
! FIJI the depleted ranks in the field, found
itself compelled to adopt the double system
Of bribery and coercion; of temptation, in
the shape of enormous bountes, and Of force
ia the form o an unconstltutional conscrp-
tion. From the appended paragraph it ap-
pears that both schemes have failed to ac-
complish the desired object.
How the privilege Of procuring substitutes
could diminish the nuIBber Of the draft, we
cannot understand as the substitute takes
the place Of the principal, and we arc equally
in the dark as to the failure Of the bounties
to allure mercenaries. white or black. The
deficiency we believe is ascrlbed to the draft
and not to ttc paid enlistments. But a new
draft is to be ordered, not only, as we un-
derstand It, to fill up the deficiencies in the
old call, but to Obtain three hundred thUus
and men under requisItion. Such is the
prospect before the people of The coantry-
draft, debt, and starvation-if the present
dyuasty contlnue.to hold power.
Conscription was called by Bonaparte, as
we learn lpom Thibaudeau, "tho, dread and
desolalon Of families" Even III the coun-
try where it originated, and under the Wig
orsus enforcement Of it by Napoleon, it was
not a success. IT was conception Of Jor-
don in 1898, and under the first call in 1860
course found the system in operation when
he attained power, and he applied himself
strenuousIy to proInoteitS efficiency. Beng
for a long time confined to young men be-
tween the ages Of twenty and twenty five
and the leyies being small III comparison o.
those demanded by the vast military spirit
of Mr.. L:ncoln, it was less cEpres ssiye on
families and less injurious to the productive
interests than our miscellaneous and gigantic
system. But there it was not effective in
keeping large armies afoot d
In the latter part Of 1913, $4,000 con-
scripts in addition to the troops in service
we're placed at the disposal Of the emperor.
and at the same time $50, 900 were taken
from the national guards for the defence Of
towns and lortifcatiouS and yet in a few
months after, he had hardly 10000
regular troops SO oppose the allies. Such
was French experience. We are learning
something about the system, and it is to be
hoped we may profit by our lessons.
Let the legitimate object Of the war be re-
Slmed, and the draft will not be needed; vol
unieers Will again dock to the stars and
stripes,
A Washington letter to New York says,
among other ihiYgs -
at is understood hc:e that he report of
the Secretary Of war to Congress will en-
brace the substance Of very important CON-
muncation upon the subject Of the c3nscrip-
tiou act, which has been addressed to Mr..
Stanton by Provost Marshal Fry. 1t is staY
ted that this document claims that the pres
ent conscrption law is not only IA. .ure in
producing the right kind Of men, bat is
mou.trous expense, not ouly to the gayecn-
ment, but to individuals, cities, counties, and
townships. General Fry urges that the law
should be amended, not allowing substitutes,
and compelling the personal services Of every
man. no matter what his situation, as
soon as lie IS drafted, 1t IS found that the
last call for five hundred thousand men has
probably not added to our armies more than
one hundred thousand. 1t will be reMem-
barred that the Military Com nittee of DO tia
the Senate and House strongly urged the
striking cut Of the substitute clause in the
last Congress. 1t was also the aruest wish
of the War Will recommend to Congress the
abolition of the right to procure substitutes,
and the fifty day notice, 50 that here after the
men drawn Sill be promptly put into the
ranks. Three hundred thousand more men
will be needed for the prosecution Of the
campaign, if it is deemed advisable to keep
up our armies to their prcsent standard. 1t
is found that as our army is pushed INTO the
Southern territory greater nu mber of men
are needed to cover the enormous extcut of
our lines. Hence it is almost certain that
psremptory draft for three hundred thous.
and men will be made as early as the first Of
January."-Er.
Do YOU CALL THIS FREEDoM "A gentle
man fresh from Washington City and We'll