New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-04
CLOSING UP.
space.

Congress succeeded, late on Saturday night,
in perfecting the new CONSUMPTION bill. Under
this act, drafts may be made for one, two or
three years; bounties of 800, $500, and $500,
are to be awarded for one, two and three years
service respectively. Communication ID 10 more;
but every one drafted may serve in person or
by substitute, and fifty days notice must be
given before enforcing the draft. Each State is
at liberty to obtain substitutes in the States in
instruction and have them credited on her
quota. We do not see how the oct could have
been rendered more lenient. if the paramount
object of recruiting our armies ID TO be kept in
view.
When the first Conscripton Act wes passed,
we heartily approved and sustained the Com
mutation therein embodied. So long as the
Government could find substitutes for $500, 1t
was wise and right to accept that sum instead
of personal service, and use it to obtain will
ing instead of an unwilling soldier. But times
have changed, compelling change in the laws
The War Department, which at first held the
S3OO,a full equivalent for personal service, now
reports vitality changed state of facts. Labor.
is scarce and wages high, so that money Is
largely paid in as communication, and the $500
each will no longer procure recruits to the ex-
tent required. The Rebels have called out their
every white male who can carry a musket so
that our Generals now regard them across their
very last ditch. But the waste of the campaign
has been very great; and we need replenlshed
ranks TO finish the work. To obtain them it Is
essential thet a call be now made which will
bring not money but men. Hence the new law.
When tho first act was passed. 81" 5000 "olh'
imitation was made the chief ground OF objecton
to it. The Copperhead organs fairly howled at
the idea Of compelling the poor to serve and
letting off those rich enough to pay $500. The
bloody and brutal JEFF. DAVIS Riots in our city
last Summer were in good part evoked aud kept
alive by clamor against the $500 exemption.
But, from thesmoment wherein the War Depart
ment decided to ask for repeal Of the commu-
tatioR clause, every Copperhead in Congress has
fought against repeal, and it has now been car
ried over tho votes Of them all. And the OPP
position journals and grog-shops are now as
clamorous against the repeal as they were
against the enactment of this provision.
A Special War Tax was enacted by Con-
Congress during Saturdays sitting. Five per
cent on sll incomes for 1868 is to be paid on the
lat of September next; and it is calculated that
this item will put 500, DOC, 900 into the Treasury
to be devoted to paying bounties to soldiers
about TO be drafted. An attempt was made to
include a tax on Liquors in hand; but this de-
feated the bill, and it had to be passed without
too many members having friends who are in
terested in whisky. 1t is limited that member
from this city, who was at first conspicuous
champion Of taxing Whisky, has since seen Tor
felt something that has turned him completely
topsy-turvy, so that he now resists this tax as
zealously as he ever favored it. Queer world
this.
Congress has decided that none of the States
which have been formally declared in insurec-
ton shall vote for President till readmitted into
the Union. The States thus excluded from par
ticipating in the approaching Presidential contest