Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-27
yceIsnr OF depression I'm washing-

scaling of Depression I'm washing
ton.
Articles upon the present condition Of public
Affairs appnar daily in Republican papers which
would be regarded a. disloysi-as intended to
enbarrass the Government-if they should hrst
see light IN the Democratic press. The Cinen
matt Commercial, LTScoLS organ, alludes 10
the fact that there is feeling Of depression ID
Washington In regard TO military operations.
The fact is thus announced that We have not
men enough In the field TO overthrow the reoe'-
lion IL Richmond AMI Atlanta should iall Even
If those events should soon occur more troops
will he needed to suppress the rebellion The
Commercial says the drafting system has proven
a failure. II has produced thus far money and
not men This Is the effect of the commutation
clause. II is the Law that Il deficient not the
system of conscripting for producing soldiers Ii
there was no commutat0n, and II each man
drafted was compelled to serve or furnish |
a substitute then the draft would provide SOL
diers. The Commercial argues that the ''old
American system of volunteering" if ''perse-
vered in" Is the best Yet il says elf we
make an effort now to raise troops as vigor-
Gus and successful in proportion to our num-
hers as the rebels made two years ago, we
will be successful" 10 raising the troops needed
That paper forgets the circumstances of the
two sections are entirely different. The South
can make n draft upon its population that the
North cannot stand We need the labor in the
field and the workshop to produce the sub
sistepce necessary for the soldiers in the field.
The drain already upon the producing classes
will have the effect to diminish the productions
which soldiers and non combstants require.
much larger draft cannot be made upon the In
dustrial classes Of the North without seriously
embarrassing the producing interests We ad-
NIT. however. that the Commercial Is right IN
stating that there are a large number in the
North now exempt from military duty who could
be spared without any injury to the public inter
ests. There is class OF non producers, anu
they constitute a large portion of the population.
who cOnld be placed in the field without any dis
advantage to the public welfare. And this class
generally are violently in favor of the vigor-
Gus prosecution Of the war. but they are care
full not to illustrate their principles and pa
triotism by shouldering the musket Over at
the Journal office there some eight or ten
proprietors and editors, able bodied men, all
fierce for the paper, but that is just as
far as their principles lead them AT the State
House. also, beginning with Governor MoRToN,
there can be found almost enough sound aud
vigorous men to make a company but they
seem to think that their calling is to persuade
Others to become targets for the bullets of the
enemy, never thinking for moment that 1t is
incumbent upon the teacher to Illus
trate practically his teachings Then
90 through the community and there
can be found a very large number of persons,
lawyers, merchants, bankers. spectators, manu-
facturers, &c, all Jealous for the war, but who
never for a moment think it their duty to volun-
teer AS soldiers. This class talk patriotism
very glibly, in fact earnestly. but they are more
intent upon making money than saving the life
and integrity of the nation. The Southern peo-
ole are in enthusiastically in earnest, some
Republican writer stated recently For that rea-
son they are successful in raising troops in far
greater proportion than we can. Ii the Northern
people would initiate their self denial resolution
and earnestness-a similar willingness to sacrifice
life. property everything for the success of their
cause-we should be as successful in raising
troops as the rebels. As long as the leading Re-
publicans of the North, beginning with Mr.. LIN
COLIN. and coming down to Esquire MoRroy, do
not show their faith BY their works-do not fight
while they ncnlcate The duty of fighting, we
shall not have the success in raising troops in
proportion to our numbers as the South has.
The following are the comments of The Com
mercal to which we have referred, and they ex-
bibit rather interesting view of the situation:
There is depression" at washin 5ton, We
are notified The wise men assembled in that
city have Just discovered that more troops must
be raised, and that soon, il are TO keep our
armies in offensive attitudes. II may be news.
at Washington. that troops are needed. Ii is not
to the people at large. They have seen the
facts for some months, ami have wondered at the
hardness of action on the part OF the authorities
The absence of thorough system of recruit
ing, in full operation throughout the country
during the last three months, has been unfortu-
nate. The draft has produced soldiers. Ii
has yielded money, and that money has not been
employed to raise soldiers. As il should be. a
demand il made for the repeal of the $500 COM
mutation clause. This is of doubtful expedency
IL has been bundantly shown. in the course of
this war. that the best system of raising troops Is
the old American system of volunteering That
has never failed where persevered in.
The essential thing to DO is TO offer special in
ducements for the return 10 the army of the vet
Grams whose terms of service have expired, or
are about TO expire. Every one Of them who
re enlists is worth n dozen conscripted men.
The dan3er is that the sudden discovery of the
prospective want OF troops will result in spas
modic efforts that will cause a disturbance in the
country. largely out of proportion to the number
of soldiers realized. The general disposition
among Congressman is to- blame the President
Tor all shortcomings
IL il possible he NAV have relied too much
the armies in the field. but the conduct OF
Congress throughout this session. has been
that of a convocation OF trifiers. They have
been engaged silly resolutions and political
patch work. instead OF going boldly TO work TO
provide adequate revenue. resisting all the
Establishments of the corruption committees
representing every interest on which effective
tax proposed. and conducting themselves
IL they meart the Government should be solvent
when their terms OF office expired
IL this had been the line of policy pursued
there would have been no difficulty IN providing
bounty money for volunteers. The forces in the
field are probably adequate 10 the capture OF
Richmond and Atlanta. But We must not sup
pose the rebellion will suddenly collapse When
fhaae sfrnusholda f.1f h. h.