The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-06-18
The $500 Com muta ton Clause.
OF TENyEs SRs,

There is a movement in Congress to repeal
this clause in the Enrolment Law, with u
fair prospect of its success This clause, it
has been found is more efficient to supply
the government with money than men for
the armies, which is the object of the law
War is an memorable measure, an engine of
brute force, and all its machinery must. to
prove effective, partake of its nature. This
exemption clause, though doubtless the off
spring of humane motives, and like many
other mistaken devices of the rebellion, has
defeated, in great art, the object for which
it was intended. The first and greatest
object to be attended to in war is to make
sure of the physical force. That is above
all else essential. This has been in a great
measure accomplished by volunteering but
no government should feel its utter depen-
dence, by solely trusting to this mean. of
preservation, and hence the right is
claimed to exercise the power to compel its
citizens to preserve their nationality. This
right Of preservation, experience has
proven, has to great degree been sapped
by mistaken leniency which permits the
citizen to refuse that duty which every one
owes tv his country, by providing means to
escape it by paying the trhing sum Of $500.
This exemption clause acts, in addition to
an easy mode of escaping military duty, as a
cause Of dissatisfaction to those who are
drafted; especially the poorer classes. The
rich man who does not choose to volunteer,
if drafted, feeling like compulsory measures
were resorted to to force him into the army,
pays the Communication fee, and thus bids
defiance to this dernier resort of the govern
ment to protect itself from mortal foes, who
are warning against its very existence.
Thus, when some are disposed to with.
hold their personal aid from the national
cause, and are provided by law with the
means to do so, it creates dissatisfaction
with the whole roll of drafted persons, and
an impulse is given to raising Communication
money, and no means are left untred to
effect that object. The consequence is that
government finds itself plus few thousands
of dollars, and minus almost the entire army
it was proposed to raise by the draft. Those
heroes in the field are in consequence left
exposed TO destruction by despotic power
that swells its armies by ruthless conscrip-
ton that sweeps all into its ranks that can
handle gun,
Every nan acknowledges the obligation
he is under Of taking the field in support Of
his government. Make that obligation bind.
ing by abolishing the means of easy escape
which is now provided by the $aO0 clause,
and men will readily and cheerfully perform
the duty which now they are found willing
to move heaven and earth to escape.
The sooner the $500 clause-which should
never have existed-of the Enrolment Act
is repealed, the stronger will be our armies
and the sooner the rebellion will be crushed.
Let it be distinctly understood by the rebels
themselves, and their still more unbelieving
allies, the skulking copperheads, what has
been always declared by all true men of the
nation, that the last man and the last dollar
shall be expended, if required, in squelching
this internal conspiracy of the satellites Of
despotism to overthrow popular government,
and point will then have been gained which
has never yet been reached. These assassins
Of Liberty will then see the inevitable doom
that awaits them, without lingering roy Of
hope to light the future.
But it will be said tha. great stampede
among the wealthy copperhead class will
take place if this clause in the Enrolment
Act is repealed. Let them 60. and their
property be confscated to the use Of the
government. They have been but an aid to
the enemy, all through these three years of
war, and on their heads mainly rest the
rivers Of blood that has been shed to the
Moloch of Secession and Treason.