The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-01-06

tHctT contract anu 10 make II the BASIS 81
a discharge Of the soldier frsm service
during the term for which he was enlist
ed. 1t made itself to all intents and purl
poses a party to the contract, and whea
the substitute was accepted and the princi-
pal discharged, in conformity with the pre-
visions Of the act. the Government toe se-
came : party. If We have here not the
evidence Of ) sOlsmnly pledged faith, both
on the part Of Congress and the Govern
ment, then it is impossible to prove what
pledged faith is.
But again, Ii the transaction between
the principal and the substitute be a cen.
tract. - it is admitted to be. by what rale
Of Justice or morality. does the House of
Representatives interfere to annul il?
IL the Government be not party to the
contract. but has endorsed ii, as il has done
by receiving the substitute and discharg.
ing tho principal. what right has il. pend
ing the term Of service covered by the con-
tract. 10 dissolve iis When was such an
invasion Of private, vested rights, viewing
the matter, for arguments sake. simply as
a private contract between the principal and
his substitute, ever heard Of before in this
land Of the SOUTH Just see the extreme
length to which this NEST outrageous en-.
actment is pushed. Not only is the con.
tract broken up-not only is the principal.
who has. under the express sanction Of a
law Of Congress employed substitute at a
heavy pecuniary cost, and received his
discharge in due form from the proper Of
hcer Of the government, TO be carried
back to the service. but even the substitute
himssB is TO be held i'm the service also,
although he is past the CONSUMPTION age
although he may be 60 years old-and why ?
In the answer which the new bill makes to
this question We find one of the most men,
strous Of its features. Because the substi-
tuts has contracted or assumed, as sueh,
The obligations and liability Of the princi-
pal! Here are the very words Of the bill |:
/" Provided, That nothing in the foregoing
clause shall be 50 construed as 70 relieve
The substitute from any obligations or liza
bility contracted or assumed by him a.
such substitute" Could more revolving
piece Of Legislation be we'll conceived than
thisl What does il amsunt tor Why.
the Gssernment is empowered BY Congress
to take advantage Of its own wrsng-6rst
to break up a contract between itself and
the principal, then to break up contract
between the principal and his substitute,
and then % to construe the terms Of The
latter contract, thus vitiated by itself, as
to esupel the substitute to continue in the
service when he 10 by reason Of sge exempt
ed from il. The resembling Of contract
has bees universally held IS the ex,isguish-
nent Of all its obligations. The parties
then stand towards one another precisely
as they did before the contract was made.
Bat here we see contract nullified BY ar
bitrary pswer. snd that power. at the same
time protesting not 70 be party to il.
(but is. 10 faet.) ruling the substitute To
oil. the obligations and liabilities incurred
by him in tee cancelled instrument.
We could consume columns in discus
sing the iniquities Of this amazing bill.
After getting thus far We end ourselves
scarcely past the Threshold Of what vein
tended to say. But We have not room 10
add much mere. We do trust that for the
hesor Of the country, and for the good
name Of ear government. the Senate will
pat the seal Of its reprobatioa upon . bill
50 we'll calculated to compromise both.
There are plenty Of soldiers for the army
il the go,srnmsat. Is IL is its duty to do,
will drive back TO the ranks all the sfrag.
gLers and abseptess nov overunsing the
cities and rural districts Of the South.
Until this is dsne there will be no plea fer
ressrting 20 oihsr reseurcG. The bill
just passed viii spread disstisfaction in
every direction. Ii will most assuredly
Greats IN very large portion Of the peo-
pie the GREATEST discomfort, for when 90
vernmelt violates its faith. it lays inmedi-
stely the foundation fer the msst painfsl
distrust in all ito obligations. II IL eaa
-