The Portland daily press., 1865-03-20
The Draft and Examntinn.

Mr.. EDITOR :-Fhe princlpal sa.a.-s, .s~+ 10
the matter with US just this time is the draft
1t comes as the gentle zephyr, and fans the.
cheeks of all patriots between the tender age
of twenty-one and the more mature age of
forty-ive.
Draughts were formerly made of corn and
rye, and taken out of tumbler, with just
enough of sugar in the bottom to take up the
settings well; but now the draft is made of
slips of paper, and is taken out of tin box,
and we don't acknowledge the corn" SO
much as we did-hardly. Things have chang
ed good deal within few years. We used
to hoist in the draft; now the draft hoists us
In. ba5tl.ea rsH
We find little word in the dictionary
which we used to care but little about, but
things are not as they were once, and we now
look to that word for our salvation. 1t can
save us from the draft when all else fails. Its
name is Exempt" and it means weighed in
the balance and found acanting." 1t is similar
to the definition of draft, which is weighed
in the balance and found aoanted." Only a
difference of few letters, yet it makes a
great difference to the person aoeighed.
We cannot all be exempt-scarcely,C and
the question arises, what makes a man exempt
ableP Having given the matter considerable
thought, we propose to sift out q few causes
for exemption, as we understand the new law,
which have never been published In the pa
pers: .. ,,a
l. Dead men iii buried) are exempt; I'M
der the old law they had to go or pay.
2. Unborn male children are exempt, If un-
der twenty-one years Of age.
8. Allpersons now in the army are exempt,
provided they will re- enlist for the war, or
during their lives.
4. ALI in the Confederate States, ditto the
future state, are exempt, unless they come ov-
er and take the oath, in which case they must
either enlist or be hung as spies.
5. All persons not drafted, are exempt till
they are.
6. Your wife is exempt, unless she wears
the trowsers, in which case she must go, as in
storming fort she will be wanted to fill up
the breaches.
Z. Going to Canada exempts man, or at
least ought to. Skedaddling there to escape
the draft, is like man wishing to be burned
at the stake, SO as to better accustom himself
to bear strong heat in the next world.
advise you not to go there. II you do you
have got TO get drunk on the Queens biIth-
day, which cannot hold a candle to our Fourth
of July, and spell America with an "R."-
Don't do it. Turn substitute broker, copper
Observation-Disclosures don't go to Canada
Beauty won't exempt man; have seen
that tried.
Being enrolled in several places does not
have the desired effect, as the more you are
enrolled, the more you aren't exempt.
Physical debility will not exempt I knew
a man who tried it, and physicked himself
almost to death, but his debility was just as
good as ever, and he told me he was like the
the man that didn't have good hand at eu-
chre she passed. HUw
Editors are not exempt, but being good
writers are generally allowed some privilege,
ana are given some priodte office (S1S a
month and carry gun, for instance.)
Living in New Jersey don't help tbs matter
any, as the Supreme Court has decided that
she is one of the United States.
Being negro won't clear you, SO don't try
70 elevate yourself on their shoulders. You
are 'neir equal in one respect both are liza
BILE to the draft.
i've thought the matter over in all its bear
lngS, ana can only see one sure way to escane
tne Draft and make money by the operation
ana tnat is to enlist. should have taken adj.
vantage OF this opening, but for one thing
I'm modest and sensitive 1 hate to meet with
a rebuff, and I believe it would kill me ifT
should offer my services to help crush the re.
oellion, and have the Surgeon say he conld
not take me. could not stand such an an.
'"ei. They might take me, but I dare not
,i.N 'ne chance of being refused, but don't
ie' my example deter others. am. in ignor-
1nce now whether 1 should pass CIR not. and
! am happy in that Ignorance, and "when 10.
n0rance is bliss tits folly to be wise.s
Tours ignorantIy.