The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-11-12
The Law Upon the subject or the
Draft.

We have received several communities
tons upon the conflicting questions Of the
draft that have arisen between the Provost
Marshal Generals Department and vari-
GUS local authorities. We have taken pains
TO obtain, from an authoritative source, an
exposition OF the law. as it stands, and pre-
sent It to our readers, with the suggestion
that unnecessary controversies on the suO-
ject should be avoided. fl sAsQ "
Prior 70 March 3, 1863, the army Of the
United States was recruited by voluntary
enlistments, each State furnishing its re-
quired quota az unit, without regard to
its political division, or the number fur
nished by any particular locality; and 40
long as the required number Of troops were
furnished by this system, it was not deem
ed necessary or appropriate for the General
Government to attempt to estimate the
numbers furnished by the different locali-
ties in the several States.
But when it was found that this system
was inadequate tor the wants Of the SER
vice, and ii was desermiaed to call out the
military forces of the Government by con-
scription, 1t became necessary, - q mat
ter Of Justice to all concerned, that the bur-
den thus imposed should be borne equally
by all sections Of the country. To this end
IL was determined that each Congressional
district, and each subdivision Of such dis
trict, should furnish its equitable proper
ton Of troops, according to the number OF
able- bodied male citizens liable to perform
military duty, resident therein.
It has been stated, the conscription was
adopted, because the former method Of rails.
ing troops was found to be inadequate for
the necessities Of the Befvice, It's object be-
ing to raise the YeQuiUite number OF troops
70 successfully carry on the war and restore
I'm order to accomplish this. the entire
military force Of the United States was de-
clAred ID be subject 20 be called into SER
vice. AL able bodied male vitizene Of pro-
per age, with the exceptions enumerated in
upon to perform military duty. Relying
upon the patriotism Of the people Of the
loyal States, Il was believed that system
which had for its object the reinforcement Of
the army, requiring Of each separate local.
ity its equitable share and no more, and in
applying the same rule throughout the en-
tire country in obtaining the required num-
Der, would secure the moral support and
cooperation OF the friends Of the Union,
and disarm any attempt Of factious oppo- |
sitton or local pressure tending TO embar-
rass the Government ia il execution.
TWAS not present, however, - meas |
ure containing the elements Of popularity
in Itself, but as q stern necessity required |
by the condition Of the country, appealing |
to the patriotic judgment Of the people,
Nor was II expected that the strict letter of |
the law in all its details and il every in |
stance could be fully carried out; and with |
q view to . failure 70 execute certain par
tieulars required, provision II made in the
act and the remedy supplied.
Thus it ID provided IN the enrolment
act, section lG, that 40 soon a. the required
number Of able. bodied .meR Nable 70 mil