Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-30
THE THEORY OF MILITARY coNscaIpros

| 1t is known to our readers that the modern sys-
tenn Of military CONSUMPTION, as means of raising
armies, dates from the French Revolution, and
was invented by the authors Of that great social
convulson for the purpose of promoting their an
archie and ambitious projects. Itproceeded on the
assumption that every man owed military service
to the French Government from the fact Of his
birth in France, and from this premise the revolu-
tionary doctriaaires jumped to the illogical CON-
cusion that it was right and proper to sweep every
abe-bodied Frenchman, of suitable age, into the
ranks of the French army, by the summary and
arbitrary process Of consumption. They first re-
solved that military service was debt, and then
provided means by which the Government might
claim, from as many as should be drafted, the
payment of that debt. s ~
We need not say that, regarded in the light of
political morality and private right, the premise Of
the French doctr.naires is not automatic and their
inference is illogical. Men are not made for Gov
ernments, but Governments for men, and there is
no ethical or political reason that we can perceive
why the duty of military service should be made
to differ in its conditions from any other kind Of
service rendered to the Government. The reader
will Of course understand that these observations
relate to the fundamental grounds Of the theory on
which all CONSUMPTION laws are based, and that in
this view they are addressed to the inquiry
that may be raised respecting the legislative
power Of Government, and are not directed to the
ascertainment Of the citizens duty under oonscrip
ton laws after they may have been enacted. I'm
wise impolitic laws, until repealed or judiciay
declared void, are as much entitled to be obeyed
by the subject aud enforced by the Executive as
laws of the most obvious propriety and rightful-
ness.
Upon the general relations Of the question of
military CONSUMPTION we presume none will dispute
the justice of the following observations of the
New York Commercial Advertiser:
at is supposed by many that CONSUMPTION without
any Communication will more justly equalize the burdens of
the This view hold to be Men are not
equally adapted to the ltary service equally desir
GUS to enter it.
40 some men military life opens to them thst path
of glory and position which satisfies their ambitions;
otherwise constituted do not for any honors which the
career of soldier offer them.
sit is desirable have soldiers and il men do not en-
ter the ranks of the army voluntarily at the present of
remuneration and bountes increase the remune-
ration and the bountes until they reach point at which
men will enter the racks.
"The occupation of the soldier, like every other
p'oyment must be rewarded in accordance with the
of the service rendered and the danger incurred by
the person rendering it, Part of this remuneration
ssts glory the rest must be made up by money. We
have number of gunpowder manufactures in the country
aud for military purposes important to have work
in this occupation to have to shoulder the
musket Although the business Of making gunpowder is
connected with great deal of danger do net obtain
the employees by conscription. We bid high enough to
find who will volunteer to enter the works and expose
themselves for certain consideration to the dangers
incident to this occupation
" The rule holds true in regard to hospital
service Physicians volunteer for the position; they
not for and during the past winter the of
mortality among physicians in of hospitals bas
surpassed that occasoned by the chances Of
Therefore, every ust principle OF the division OF
employment aud upon the ground Of equal justice,
the ystem Of volunteering means of filing the ranks
of the amy, infinitely superior TO any consumption BY
the former method get who adapted by pbyr
cal organization and tastes for the life Of soldier Iu
adopting the latter course, Gil the army with who
every way unified for the life which they have been
forced TO adopt"