Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-01-19
WHOLESALE coNsCRIP1ioK.

from the tenor OF our articles heretofore,
orr readers will understand that we are
necessarily opposed to the enactment OF
the law reported by the military com
mittee OF the Senate, providing Tor the
levy Ell nasse Of our male population.
The law provides than every able-Lod,
led man Shall be put in the army, and
that there shall be no exemptions, ex-
cept such as the Secretary of War ard
the President see proper to make. The
passage of this law would constitute the
most extraordinary transfer OF power,
from the legislature to the Executive,
ever known under Republican system
of government. Itwould create condi-
ton of things without a parallel in any
species of government, except that OF
an unmixed despotissn. 1t will place
every man in tie Confederacy under
absolute military authority, and sabsti-
tute military rnle for civil law at once.
We cannot for single moment toll
crate the idea of the necessity for any
such law. Its effect will certainly be
pernicious at home, and unwholesome
abroad. It will produce great dissatls=
faction among onr own people, and Tx
upon outside nations the conclusion that
we ale reduced to desperate extremltles.
| Confidence in cur ability to work out
our Independence, will be seriously
impaired, if not totally destroyed, when
it IS seen that we are driven to the a
doption of such an unprecedented meas
ure IS the absorption OF the enrlre male
population into the army. The world
will ask, as our own people will also ask,
how is the army and the nation to be
sustained, how fed and clothed, if the
men are all to be withdrawn from the
pursuits of agriculture, and the mechanic
arts
If we were reduced to such a strait
that it was absolutely necessary to make
one last desperate stand against the foe,
to infict all the damage we could upon
him, and then fail and leave the nation
to expire, there would be philosophy
and heroism in the resolution, for it is
better to s'tie all freeme1, than to live
all slaves" bit we are not yet driven to
any such desperate resort. Our armies
still face tie foe, and h Id him in check.
Our gallant boys are full OF spirit, and if
properly cared tor, well fed and clothed,
are able to hold the portals Of the Re
public against all corners. Our pres
ent troubles have grown out OF bad
management with the men in. the field,
and not for any want Of mon. Our sci
dicrs have been badly fed, and worse
clothed. There has been too much
: struggling Of both officers and men per-
fnit5cd. There are too many soldiers
scattered through the country guarding
/ the doors Of Provost Marshals' offices,
ard too lpuchi competency in the com
manders. Make our present army effi
cient, and there will be nothing to fear
But, if the whole population is drag.
ged into the Amy, whore are the sup
plies for the army, aid bread and meat
! Tor women and children to come from
/ We have found it ciHipqlt to provision
and clothe tic army and the people
heretofore, and how much more dltiic.dt,
indeed. how impossible will it be, when
tile laborers al all withdrawn from their
avocations-whcn the producers are all
turned into consumers
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