Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-08-13

''N No"''N' VI thO NOhBieSo WuiOu pdohCu
it, unless the suggestion mad By one of its
leading supporters in the House of Repre-
sentatives that it was in hostility to 'the
accursed doctrine of State rights be ac-
cepted as such reason. We must, there
fore, conclude that it was tho policy ofthe
authors of the law to deprive the States,
oil the appointment of the officers OF the
troops raised ,and to absorb that power in
TO the hands Of the Federal Adminisra-
ton; that the act was the measure of a par,
ty 10 increase its influence and power, and
to prevent the possibility of any participa-
tion therein by tho Governments of the
States.
We believe it to be certain that this meas.
ure has entailed great expense upon the
Treasury of the United States that it has
created unnecessarily large number of
Federal officers, distributed throughout the
country; and that,while it has been no more
efficient than the system which required
State co-operaton, it has been much less
satisfactory.
If necessity 70. raising troops by con-
scription is asserted, then it would follow
that the revolutionary policy of the Ad-
ministration has alarmed and disgustcd
the people, and chilled that enthusiasm
which in the earlier days Of the contest fill
ed our patriot army with brave aud will
ling volunteers.
BoUNTIEs.
What is further to be mentioned in this
connection is the payment Of bountios by
the United States, by the State govern
ments, and by cities, counties, and other
municipalities. la their payment there has
been great want Of uniformity and system.
The policy oil the General Government has
not been the same at all times, and in the
States there has been infinite diversity
Upon the whole, the system of bountios
has been costly and unequal the amount
of Indebtedness created by ii is enormous,
and unequal sums have been paid to SOL
dicrS Of the same grade of merit Under
any system Of local bouutes to avoid con-
scriPtion, the wealthy parts Of the cJuntry
enjoy an advantage over otheIs, and espe-
cially where manufacturing aud other in
terests find it to their profit in providing the
supplies of the war to retain their laborers
at home, substituting payments Of money
in their stead, unless each State shall be
frml y required to furnish the substitutes
to fill up its quota from its own citzens.-
But the General Government has permit
ted the agents of such inteIests in State
to 60 into other States and into the solth-
ern country and obtain enlistments for
bountios, both of white and black troops,
to be credited upon the quota OF the State
Of the agent. If 1t shall happen hereafter
that local payments of bounties, whether
by States or by municipalities wuhin them,
be assumed by the Government ofthe Unl-
ted States, the inequalities of the system
and its extravaganza in many cases vii!
become matter of concern to the whole
people. And it is just matter OF complaint
against those who have held authority in
the Federal Government that by their pol
icy and want of policy Oh this subject the
burden of the war has been vastly increas-
ed, and been distributed irregularly and
unfairly.
The pecuniary outlay and Indebtedness
caused by the paJ ment of local bounties,
being mostly incurred by powerful and in,
Auential communities, it is quito possible
that they may be recognized hereafter by
Congress as a legitimate object of nation
al assumption /; and il this happen, those
communities that have retained their la.
borers at home, and thereby secured their
prosperity during the war, will cast part
of the burden of their exemption upon 9TH
er sections.
Obviously what has been wanting has
been wisdom and foresight in those who
have controlled the public measures the
war, and who have reSorted to one cxpe-
dient after another without fixed policy;
who have acted where they ought not, and
have failed to act where action and regua-
ton were demanded.
NEGRO TROOPS.
But subject which requires particular
notice is, the employment of negro troops
in the war. An act of Congress, passed
the 18th day Of July, 1862, authorized
the President "to receive into the service
of the United States for the purpose of
constructing intrenchments, or performing
camp service, or any other labor, or any
military or naval service for which they
might be found competent, persons of Af-