Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-01-16
THE CONSUMPTION ACT.


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Although the popular prejudice i op.
posed to eompulsatory military service,
yet, W can but admit its necessity a.
times when the voluntary patriotism Of the
people IL inadequate to meet the liner
gency-bus the law making power Of the
country should exercise the wisest discre'
ton in framing such laws, and unless this
is done the greatest danger is to be appre.
hended, for 90 strongly is the idea Of per.
sonal freedom engraited in the mind Of
every member Of our Republic, however
humble bis station may be, that every At.
tempt to abridge that freedom must be
made with the utmost caution, and equal
and exact justice must be accorded to
every portion Of the country aud to every
citizen.
The ruling power in Congress 10 the
formation Of the Couscription Act seen
to have forgotten with whom they have to
deaI-forget.ing to exercise those beet
qualities Of Craftsmanship, fai tness and
impat,iaity. That the provisions Of that
act operate with undue severity in the
West can but be apparent to every reaec-
ting mind. The West at the time of the
passage Of that Act had already furnish
ed more than its proportion Of men,
Many Of the Eastern States we're behind
in furnishing their quota of men. Some.
thing bad to be done to release the East
from this embarrassing position, and bat.
ing the controlling power in Congress her
Senators and Representatives secured the
passage Of the CONSUMPTION Act TO help
her out Of the difficulty, and her deGcien.
cy Of men was, BY the $500 clause made
up in greenbacks. No. over $4,000 men
were added to the army under the call for
100000 fnen; and the majority Of these
came from the West. and the East receiv.
ed credit, one man for every $500 in
Rreenbacks. Not one ont Of FIVE Of those
drafted 10 the East went into the army
Another draft tthe present one Of $780,.
0oO) was ordered, and in order to again
relieve the East it was decided to dire.
gard all Deficiencies on the part Of the
Eastern States, and also the extra men
the Vest had furnished orer and abore
lis quota-a"d drar from all parts Of the
country as though there had been no pre
rious calls
Agatha large majority CT the people
of the West are poor, aud conseq uent,y
are unable TO pay the $500; and we be.
lieve We do not mistste the matter when
We say. that not more than two GU. Of
five OF those liable to draft could pay the
$500 ifdrafed. ! be case is different in the
East, for there, as the last draft has shown,
four out Of Eve we're able to pay the 5000.
1t was the poor men Of the East who en-.
listed at the beginning Of the war, and of
those remaining at home there are but few
unable to escape the draft. Thus If the
war continues will the West become almost
depopulated. The honest yeomanry of
the country will be driven Into the ranks,
our work shops remain idle, and our fields
uncultvat.d, while New England with her
shoddy manufactures and host II army
contractors is increasing in wealth aud
prosperity.
A distinguished writer in the Cont,ncn
tai Monthly says Of the CONSUMPTION Act
that 1.-The 5000 clause is empha,ically the
poor mans' provision" that without it
the price Of substitutes would run up to
almost fabulous rates and place it beyond
the power Of poor man to secure one"
Now Of what are termed poor men in the
West, not one in Eve could raise this $500
without bringing ruin to their business
and prospects, and in many cases reduce
themselves to absolute want. A is . poor
man, be has family dependen. upon him
for support. He has house and small
piece Of land. sad by constant exertion be
can keep his family comfortable. He il
drafted, and being asabls to raise the
$500 is compelled to 60 into the army,
leaving bis family without any means of
support. B is man ia confor.abls cir.
cumstances-he has \ good comfortable
home for bic family and several thousand
dollars in money, ana be can leave home
knowing that want will not visit bis wife
and little ones in bis absence. The Con.
script;on act says to these men. A, you
must leave your wife and little ones to the
cold charity Of your neig and under.
90 th. privations and dangers Of soldiers
life. because you are 60 unfortunate as
not to have the $500 in greenbacks. B.
you srs moretortuna,e, you can remain at
home and enjoy your competence with your
family, because you are 80 fortunate as to
have the $500, l release you from all
obligation to serve your country ia her
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