The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-05

JEFF. DsvIs DenouEced aa Dictator
from the Richut I'D Examiner Of December Isl
The astounding propositions which
have signalixed the first days OF this Ers-
sent session, for placing the entire popG-
ls'ion OF the Confederate States in tie
Gid, leaving no producers of food 10 fec d
enormous army SO raised, and no tax
payers to ind the money to furnish l.,
have created . considerably sensation.
/ a feeling Of dependency has been pre-
/ duced by them among reflective ObssrV-
ers; not by the prospect of the universal
cessation of national life and organiza
ton which the realization of those wild
projects would certainly cause-for no
one can fail 10 see that there is no danger
Of realizing patent impossibility-
by the singular want Of diseernment
which they indicate. 1t is difficult to
believe that many members Of Congress
really intend the establishment of die
tatorship in this country, still less to
make Mr.. Davis dictator. Yet it requires
but little reflection TO perceive that such
3 law lately suggested in bis message, q
| suggestion which members Of Congress
have taken in trust from it, is nothing
more nor less than that.
An entire nation cannot remain In the
field more than twenty -four hours under
the penalty Of death by starvation. A
law requiring the whole population TO
take up arms and so into camp is anul-.
lily. Few will dispute the remark and
the President blandly proposed that the
power and discretion should be given
him to detail such persons as he
pleased to continue the pursuits Of civil
life. The relative numbers of those in
the army and those out Of il, might lot
b. changed by law of universal ENROLL
ment, if accompanied by this provision.
The sole difference between the present
and prospective condition of the military
force and nation, would be the change of
"details" for "exempts" One of these
words designates the persons who con-
tinue the work that must be done in war
and peace, under the authority Of law;
the others, those who go about their busi-
ness because of the favor of the President
and his Office holders, great and small.
This is q proposition 10 give them des
pc ic control over every individual in this
country, and 10 destroy every check upon
their Will The parasites of power are
pleased with it There exists small
faction in this country who have long
clamored for this measure, because they
expect power, pr, fit and revenge from it.
Bat il is impossible 70 believe that those
who have echoed this cry in some Of the
resolutions offered in Congress intended
to do So A resolution of inquiry, for
tunately, is not Law, and when the force
of the measures suggested in the first
has been examined, as it must be before
it Is Fixed 10 the last, there will be LITTLE
danger that Congress vii stu tify or sac
rAfice the cause by such insane steps as
are now feared BY many.
The motive of those who h&Te given q
quasi sanction to these projects, is easily
understood. The Confederate army sole
is needs replenisbing. But some means
of tfecting that purpose must be found
which is not At once q folly and . crime
The present army is created by cOnscrip-
tion. If the actual CONSUMPTION law does
not furnish a sufficient number of men,
the natural and rational means of RENE
dying the defeat is to enlarge the sphere
of its action by increasing the age Of con-
scripts, and diminishing. where it can
be done with safety, the exempted class.