Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-04
AN .AsrouN DlNG PROPOSITION,
Jeff. Davis Denounced as "a Dictator.


From the Richmond Examiner Of December i5
The astounding propositions " hch have signal
lied the fest days of this PRESENT session. FIR
placing the entire population of the Confederate
States in the field, leaving 10 producers of food
to feed the enormous army raised. and no tax
payers - fni the money to furnish It, have crea
ted considerable sensation. A feeling of de-
spondency has been produced by them among re-
Elective observers; not by tue prospect of the
universal cessat on OF national life and organiza.
ton which the realization of those Wild projects
would certainly cause-for no one can fail TO see
that there is no danger of re dizing 4 pitent i'm.
possibity--but bv the singular want of discern
ment which they indicate Ii is difficult to be-
lieye that mnny members OF Congress really Ia
! tend the establishments OF Dictatorship in this
country. still less To make Mr. Davis dictator
Yet il requires but little reflection to perceive that
| such law lately suggested in his mess sc,
suggestion which members of Congress have
taken in trust from il, is nothing moIe nor less
than that
An entire nation cannot remain IN the field
more than twenty-four hours under the penalty
of death by starvation. A law requiring the
whole population to take up arms and go into
camp is a nullity. Few will dispute the remark;
aud the President blandly proposed that the
power and discretion should be given him to
detail such persons as he pleased 10 continue
the pursuits oil civil He Il ne relative numbers
of those in the army and those out of il, might
not be changed by 4 law of universal enrolment.
If accompanied by this provision. The sole
difference between the present end prospective
condition Of the military force and nation, would
be the change of ssdetails'' for .sexempts F"
One of these words desgnates the persons
who continue the work that must be done
in war and peace. under the authority of law;
the others, those who go about theirbusiness be-
cause of the favor OF the President and his office
holders great an small. This is proposition
to give them despolic control over every indi-
vilual in tails coubfry aud TO destroy every check
upon their win. The parasites of power
pleased with it, There exists small faction in
this country who have long camored for this
measure because they expect power. profit aud
revenge from il. Bat II is impossible to believe
that those who have echoed this cry III some Of
the resolutions offered in Congress intended to do
so. resolution OF inquiry, fortunately, is not
a law. and when the force OF the measures sug
gested in the first has been examined. rs il must
be before is is xed in the Inst there will be little
danger that Congress will stultiiy itself or sacri
fee the cause by such insane steps as are now
feared by many, ~
The motive Of those who have given quasi
sanction ~ these prsiect<.-s castle understood
The Confederate army solely needs reDlenishing.
But some means or etiecling that purpose must
be found which i not at once a fol lyand crime
The present army Is csetted by. eanseription.
III the actual conscriptien law dues not furnish a
srfiIcie,t number Of men, tie natural aud "a
tional means of remeiying the defeetis to enlarge
the sphere Of its action by increasing the age OF
conscripts, and diminishing, where il can be done
with safety, the exempted class.