Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-02-05
The Draft for Half a Million.

The presidents order for draft Of hall
million men on the 10Th of March re-
ceives three or four different interpreta-
tons. 1t partakes Of the fatality that
has attended almost everything connect
ed with recruiting, and needs interpreta'
lion. II is remarkable that somebody al
Washington does not ascertain precisely
what il means, and relieve the anxiety OF
the people upon a matter of The utmost
interest to them.
Taken literally, the presidents order
means what we first stated "a call for
half million men, over and above the
previous calls, with only the deduction OF
the enlistments not hitherto credited on
the previous quotas. We suppose most
of the men who have enlisted under the
last call for 100000 have been "hereto-
fore credited" Another Interpretation,
sent from Washington to one of the New
York papers, is that the half million COW
ers the two previous calls, and is there
fore in effect an offer to let the people off
with five hundred thousand, instead of
six hundred thousand. This view is not
very likely to be the correct one.
The most common understanding is
that this order includes the 100000, and
that the draft is to be for the balance not
filled on that call and for 100000 more.
This is probably the true Interpretation,
and it would have been well if the presi-
dent had added a line to his brief order,
and SO made it plain. Assuming the fact
TO be that the president wishes to add
enough men 10 those already enlisted I'M
der the 100000 call 10 make the whole
number 100000, the draft will be for
some 100000, less the number of volun-
teers obtained during the present month,
as only about half the last call has yet
been filled by re.enlistmeuts Of veterans
and by new volunteers. If the present
efforts TO procure volunteers continue, it
is not likely that $4,000 can be obtained
in four weeks, and the draft must be for
at least 100000, under any circumslan-
ces that we can now look for-that is for
the full number OF the last call, which
we hoped we were filling by volunteers.
The whole number being obtained, We
shall have between eight and nine hun
lred thousand men in arms in the spring, +
rot to be much diminished by the dis
harge of the first three years volunteers
nlil fall. A Washington dispatch says
hat the new call was made necessary by
acent advices from the South, which APP
ear to have convinced the government
lat the strength of the rebellion is by
o means broken, and that the supreme
fort is yet to be made.
Exactly what will be the conditions of
10 draft it is impossible to say, as the
law is up for amendment in
congress. But it is certain that the
louise will agree to the Senate provision
bat the draft shall be repeated in each
district till the assigned quota is full. As
his gives every able bodied man strong
hance to be drafted, it increases the mo-
ives for volunteering at once. The diff
erence between volunteering and being
ratted and paying Communication is
housand dollars, which is a difference
'orth considering by most of US. If we
olnnteor we get the 5000 in bounties {
we are drafted and pay Communication
e are out of pocket $500, as the law
CIV 'tands-and and 4 are always 10
he practical Inference is that the men t
ho have for some time been almost
eady to volunteer will improve the last
hance to take the bountes, rather than t
and draft, where there is so small a c
lance Of escape. Besides, it is not GER. 5
I'm that Congress will not repeal the
clause altogether. That is
hat our military commanders, almost
ithout exception, call for. Secretary ,
base wants the Communication money
IDLY enough-though looked at as tax, "
is way of raising money is the most
lequal that can be devised-but the ar, '
y needs men more. The enemy will j
very strong in the spring, notwth- =
anding all the stories of want and de- Il
oralization, and all the real desertions. 81
I'd it will be economy both of men and II
oney to make our armies large enough u
finish their work this year sure I"
'r'nQfeld Republican. G
o'
REMARKABLE.- -The Princess of .
ales' baby came along some fortnight d
riier than was expected, and was born d
trogmore instead of Marlboro House. &c