North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-10-05
THE SITUATION.

I Among the three hundred and fifty four
names Of sconscripts, from this County. will
be found that of HAaYEy SIcKIER. There
are times when to see ones f'nans in print"
10 rather gratifying than otherwise. But,un-
der the circumstances in which we now find
ours, we would gladly forego any pleasure it
may be supposed to afford US. The title
"Conscript," attached thereto, nerer sounded
pleasant 10 our ears. It Is peculiarly Often
sive nolc. We should ot,pefhaps, ignore the
fact that, to see us thus situated, gives great
pleasure to very many of our political enc
mics, who have always favored conscription
laws, but who have managed. through frauds
knavery, political favori tism or good luck to
escape their rigofs. e $500 s. ."a as7
We have been, as most Of our readers are
ava re, utterly, totally. absolutely opposed 10
the policy of all conscription laws, We are
rs much against them, now, as ever. We
have thought, and still think, that in the
making any enforcement of them, the ser
rants Of the people become the despotic ru-
lers of the people. We have thought and
still think, that laws which place the lives
and fortunes Of men at the will of one man
even President-are totally at variance
with free government and entirely consistent
with despotism. We have thought, and still
think, that in war for legitimate and proper
objects, conscriptions would never be necessa
While thnsa have baap opd ctiII .ro
our opinions-we have always observed t he
laws of our country and intend to do 90 still
We shall attempt no dishonorable evasion of
their severitities:. We hope however, that
the day is not far distant, when such of them
rs are oppressive, discriminating, unjust and
cruel-.-as we believe this conscrIption law to
be, shall be wiped from the statute Books Of
the Nation forever.
Our readers will excuse us for again ad
verling to 'sclf, subject upon which - it
has been said sail are fluent, but none
agreeable"
Fifteen years ago we left our Fathers roof
a poor, penniless, uneducated boy. Five of
these years were spent at school and in eff
forts TO maintain US there. The remaining
ten, has been with US a constant struggle to
secure all honest livelihood-to aid and edu-
cate, as far as in our power, younger orphan
br'thers and sisters-one Of whom was a
cripple from blrth-and to secure for ourSelf
our wife and children home and shelter.
This home we have now sc cured, though not
without incurring some debts, which we still
owe. Tho duties of support and protection
which we eve to our wife and children forbid
that we should turn them out into the storms
for the sake of securing our exemptio by
the purchase Of a substtute-whch we
would have TO do, at the prices now asked
for them. In short, We are too poor to h ire
a substitute and retain home for our family.
We have no delicacy ID making this statement
(Though often taunted with our poverty, we
never denied it, because it was true and be-
cause we never thought il disgrace.) We
are too proud to run away. We shall
therefore, if deemed fit for military duty,
Chough we think we are not, be ''unab'e to
resist the pressure y and be obliged to
60 into the service-1h,s 10 our situation.