Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-07-27

INTO companies and regiments, and an.
pointing their officers, were unquestiona.
ole, as was also the power of the States to
select those troops which they Yere 10
contribute, by draft or lot
CoNscRIPTI2N.
But early in 1868 new system for tho
raising oi troops was established by act OF
congress. This was system of conscrp-
llon, me word and idea being borrowed
from the French, and was without exam.
pie uo the history of the United S.oles
, Passing BY the State authorities and by the
clauses OF The Constitution above men
TONED, itput the General Govermen, in d.
rect communication with the whole arms.
bearing population Of the country, and as
sumed for The General Government exclus-
i've and absolute control over Tie whole pro.
cecdiOg Of raising troops, The VALIDITY Of
this enactment has been questioned, and
it is one of the debalaJle points which be-
! long to the history of the war For il has
/ been argued with much of force and rea.
son that the power Of Congress to raise ar
mics although general power is not un-
/ limited, and that laws Of consoripion by
! 1t are not necessary and proper" when
the forces required can be raised with per.
feet certainty aud convenience from the
militia OF the States under the provisions
OF The CJntituiion above cited Bat. pass
ing this point, the inquiry arises, why WAS
the former system, Involving State coop
GRAFTON, abandoned, and new and
questionable one substi,uteds No clear
ana adeQute feaaonor the measure
appears in tho debates ofthe Congress
which Pas it, unless the suggestion made
/ boy one Of lis leading supporters in tho
ilouSe OF Representatives that it was in
h0sIiItyto "the accursel doctrine of State
lght', be accepted ns such reassn. We
must. therefore, concluded that il was the
policy OF the authors Of tha laT 10 de1iye
ihe states Of the appointment Of the Off
GERS Ot the troops raised, and abso,b shat
power into the hands Of the Federal Adj
mlnstralion; that the act WAS the meas
ure oil party TO enerease its influence
and power, and to prevent the possibility
OF any participation therein by the Gov
ernmentof the States.
We believe it to be certain that this
measure has csIaieu great exponse UPON
the Treasury Of the United States that
1T mas created unnecessarily large num-
oerof Federal lotiicers, distributed thr ough-
out the couhtry; and that, while it has
S4RgRGm8f8le e8tGisnt to.BBGgrati3h, }tbG is6adg i 6adg
been muehiess satisfactory.
If tia necessity for raising troopa bv COR
scIiptiou be asserted, then it would follow
that the revolutionary policy OF the Ad-
miuistration has alarmed and dis gusted
the people, and chilled that enthusiasm
which in the earlier days Of tho contest
filled ou" patriot army with BaYe and will
Ing volunteers.
BoUNT.E5
What is further to be mentioned in this
connection is the payment of bounties by
the United States, by the State Govern
ments, and by cities, counties, and. other
In their payment there
has been great want of uniformity and
system. The policy of the General Gov
ernment has not been the same at all times,
and in the States there has been Infinite
diverclty' Upon the whole, the system
OF bounties has been costly and unequal;
the amoanL OF Indebtedness created by it is
enormous, Gunequal SUMS have been paid
10 soldiers oil. the same grade of merit.
Under any system of local bcunlies TO
avoid conscription, the wealthy parts OF
the country enjoy sn advantage over 9th
ers, and especially where manufacturing
and other interests fnd it to their froft in
providing the supplies of the war to re-.
tam their Iaborer5 at home, substituting
payments of money in their stead. unless
each State shall be firmly required 10 fur.
nish the substitute to fill up its quota
from its own citizens But The General
Government has permitted the agents of
such interests in State to 90 into other
States and into the Southern country and
obtain enistments for bountes both of
white and black troops, TO be credited up-
on the quota of tho State of the agent. It
1t shall happen hereafter that local pay
mentt of bounties, whether by States or
by municipalities within them, be assum-
ed by the Government Of the United
states, the inequalities Of the system and
It's extravaganza IN many cases will be-
come matter of concern TO the whole
people. And 1t is just matterot complaint
against those who have held authority in
.he Federal Government, that by their
policy and want Of policy on this subject
he burden of the war has been vastly in
creased, and been distributed irregulaEly
md unfairly.
The pecuniary outlay and indebtedness
'aused by payment of local bouties, being
mostly incurred 10y powerful and ihAuen,
iaI communities, it is quite possible that
hoS 'u"' w ltCogulzeu hereafter 10y Con-
'ress as a,egitimate object OF national as.
umption and if this happen, those com
nunities that have retained their labor.
'rs at home, aud thereby secured their
prosperity during the war, will cast part
II the burden of their exemption upon 9th.
r sections.
Obviously what has been wanting has
,een wisdom and foresight in those who
rave controlled the public measures oil
he war, and who have rssohed to ons sx-
,edient after another without fixed pol
cy; who have acted whore they oagh.
lot, and have failed 10 act where action
nd regulation were demanded.
NEGRO TROOPS.
But subject which requires particular
oLico, is the employment of negro trsop,
4 the war. An act Of Congress, passed
ne 18th Cav of Julv 1860 aulho,;.ad ,Lso