The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-09-08


! article in question ought to have been
"Aistory contradicting ITSELF" instead OF
"History repeating itself"
But the heaviest artillery Of the Dem.
d Sent is levelled against the Draft, and
the English language is ransackcd for
adjec;ives to Genounce it in bitter terms.
This must have but the tendency to blind
the minds Of the people to the object of
the war, 10 foment civil disccrd, and "play
| into the hands of the rebels. We do
| not deny bat the Draft is severe measure,
and, perhaps, one of the most trying
ordeals the Government has been called
upon to pass through since its organiza-
ton, but 1t is q terrible necessity. We
must subdue the Rebellion, or the Rebel
lion will subdue us. We must either say,
"Nayward sisters, go in peace" or force
them back into the Union. In order to
do this latter, it is obligatory upon us to
have an adequate army, and if that army
cannot be reinforced by volunteering, it
must he done by drafting No doubt it
is owing to just such teachings as the
Dena. 6 Sent. gives that enlistments have
been discouraged, an6 that now orr deci-
mated ranks must be filed by the Draft
as the only alternative. The measure is
hard, but fair, and no pure-minded patri
OF will object. Our soldiers in the field
approve of it, and Liberty and Justice
give it their sanction. This Government
belongs to the people, and the people are
under obligations to MAINTAIN it il every
emergency. IF the national life be en-
dangered, the people must rally to the
rescue. There is no fairness at all in
requiring the soldiers to do the fighting,
while we stand IDLY by and refuse to lend
a helping hand. Neither should one par
ty be asked to furnish all the men. Let
each party go equally into the wheel, and
whoever is drawn, let him respond to the
call like a man. Surely if Jeff. Davis
tottering Confederacy can support uni
vcrsal conscription of the male population
from sixteen to sixty, we can stand the
drafting of one in five of the male popu-
lation between the ages of twenty ard
forty-fve. Besides all this, it has been no
new thing to resort to draft in this nation
when we were il peril, and why not now
when we are assailed by foes within and
without?
The Dem. d; Sent. is professedly one of
those "peace" journals which advise our
armies to lay down their arms and retire
from the contest. 1t persistently cries
"Har can never conquer peace ;''-as if
war had never conquered a peace? We
beg leave to differ with our worthy cotem-
porary. We believe there is no way to
an honorable peace but through the arbi-
trament of the sword. Should we pur
chase peace at the price Of the nations
integrity, and even Of our national exis-
tencc? Must we send in the white flag
and acknowledge we are beaten, and ask
for "peace on any terms ?" We cannot
even begin to "treat" with the rebels with
out virtually acknowledging their nation
ality and independence. Peace, then,
according to this interpre tation, means
the complete success of the rebellion
the independence of the South, possession
of the lower Mississippi, and hostile
nation entrenched upon the same territory
with ourselves. Are We prepared for all
this? No. You insult the American
people by offering them such peace as
this. We have the ultimatum of the
South, which is independence o. exter-
mination," and, if we are driven 20 this
fearful alternative, is is our duty, in the
sight of God and humanity, to give them
the latter.
The Dem. d; Sent. has pretended to be
very much in favor o. ''peace" candi-
date for President, and gave certain sig
nifcant warnings that if the Coming man"
was not according to its liking, it would
throw its powerful influence against him,
which, no doubt, would be precursor of
sure defeat 1t is bitterly opposed to
constitutional war" What will it do
now with 'little Mac" the author of a
certain West Point Grafton brimming full