Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-03-09
SPEECH OF HON. A. MYERS.

Pennsylvania delivered very able speech
in the United States House of Represents
tives, ON the Sd of February last, on the
Constitutionality and necessity of the draft.
After having dealt a merited and excoriat-
ing rebuke to Chauncy C. Burr, Clement L..
Vallandigham and John u. Andrews, for
merly OF Virginia, who asserted that the
draft law was unpopular, and that it was the
| highwayman' S call for your money or your
| life, the Hon. gentlemen went on to prove
most clearly and conclusively the constitu-
tionality of the draft as well as its necessity.
In the course of his remarks after having
quoted from 9th Wheaton, 1876, and Mar
shall's life of Washington, Sd vol p. 24I,
he asks the question "What is draft ?''
and before answering it says
Every citizenin this land owes it to his
country to support it in time of trial that
every man is bound to take up arms in de-
fense of the life of the nation. Every citi-
zen is bound to do that. | know that Gov
ernment, III It's humanitarian ideas, in the
liberal notions, IN its exercise of sovereignty
| as it pleases, may exempt whom it will and
how it will. But, sir, the great proposition
OuI anu DIS bilS UTuln. UndU
every man is bound TO march to the battle
field to defend his country in the day of its
danger. In other words, the Government
at this time has draft upon all of her peo-
pie. She has her hand upon every mans
shoulder, saying, Come; my life is in dan
ger, am drawing you TO my support; come,
help me out of these troubles That is
the position which the Government occupies
towards every citizen. Every one is bound
TO go. There is connecting link, "a sort
OF drawing strings between the Government
and its citizens and the draft is to ascer-
tain which Of those strings shall be cut.
We have been told that the draft is to as
certain who shall go to fight the battles of
our country. Sir, that is a mistaken defini-
ton. The draft is to ascertain who NAV
stay at home, for all are bound to go and
the man who cannot see that has studied the
Constitution and the meaning of the true
acquisitions Of our Government to very little
purpose, or he has gone to a very bad school
teacher for patriotic education"
The honorable gentleman took decided
ground that it is the duty of all to take up
arms IN defense of the country, and advoca-
ted an increase of pay to the private soldier,
as well as the privilege of voting. In re-
ference to the Administration, Mr. Myers
said
But, sir, the Administration could not
be left alone without fling at it the other |
day IN respect to Its treatment Of what was +
called the favorite General Of the Army of |
the Potomac. [ did not intend, had it not |
been thrown out in this way, to say one word |
against that once favorite General, either |
here or elsewhere. But when an attempt |
is made to stab this Administration, to mis-
represent this Administration, one which
the people have taken up, determined that
he who for four years has held the helm of
state so steadily shall run the good ship in
to port, | cannot be silent Politicians may
think and say and do as they please, but
God and people are for Abraham Lincoln.
J Jeff Davis and the others may be for whom
they like. Laughter
We cannot quote at any length from this
able and common-sense speech. The fol-
owing paragraphs will be found not only
put will serve to place the
patriotism and soundness of the speakers
7iews iis marked contrast with those who
opposed the draft
Sir, there may be great struggle in the (
pring, and we owe it to our country that ,
We should speedily fill up our Army The
way to make the struggle brief is to present ,
bold, united, strong front to the enemy, {
md that is the object of this BILL We need
nen to be drafted into the Army The sol
hers In the Army want draft and | say
ct the soldiers, will be done. Let us have
darft and an increase of the Army, so that ;
We may encourage the daring and heroism
+ our brave soldiers to crush out the last
ebel Toe that may come against them. Jet {
Is do that, and then let us, oh, let us CON
Iscate every species of property of rebels
ow and forever
''What will you do with this property
7hen conficated p Ihave way of dispos- {
ng of it. | would take a part of it and t
brow it into our Treasury, about the sol t
ency of which some people have so much S
oncern. The rest [ would parcel out into {
ectlons and give them to the men who d
ave fought our battles. | do not know f
hat IL is necessary TO go into the details of
ne division, but / think [ would give to I
very single man eighty acres, to every mar
ed man one hundred and sixty, to every v
larried man with child one hundred and f
ghty acres, and if God bless them with twins,
lree hundred acres and tell all the soldiers i
lat like merit shall have like reward r
Great laughter. e
A Massachusetts, youngster has got glass
ye that is worth more to him in these days
ian good farm He enlists, passes the =
lrgeon, pockets the bounty, goes into camp, 3
discharged for defective vision, and tries
lie same game at the next place. He had
,ceived seven bounties at last accounts, and =
as about to re-enlist as veteran, when he Il Il
as arrested, and possibly he will next go =
lth his eye out. ;,
Tho NT,11y borro TI.,,,oe ,1ox,C = nor h,1D-