The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-01-28
The Military Service.

II is high time that Congress we're aying
some attention TO the recruiting of our armies.
1t is high time that the people were taking a
practical view of this matter The vicious sys-
tenn of paying high bounties and hiring substi-
tutes has been practiced long enough. 1t is not
only adding heavy burden of taxation on the
country, but it is adding little 10 the effective
strength of our armies. 1t is not only democrat
izing the people at home by shielding them from
the sacred duties which they owe to their coun-
try and by encouraging a corrupt and wicked
traffic in human flesh, but it is demoralizing the
armies in the field and sappng the strength Of
our entire military system. 1t is high time the
people were learning that military service in a
time like this, is personal duty, a duty that is
yours as much as it is mine-that is mine as
much as it is that Of TIE substitute who takes
my place.
The evils Of the present system of replenishing
the army may be seen in the number Of execu-
tons that are taking place for deserlion. Not
one half the men whom we hire into the army ever
do any service there, while in addition, they Gre
ate discomfort and reduce the moral, effective
force Of those who remain. Bounty jumping
and desertion have been reduced to thoroughly
understood system. When draft is ordered,
instead of looking upon it as solemn call for
personal service in the hour Of national danger,
men think only of "clearing the District" No
matter about the bleeding country Of which
we hear so much; no matter about supporting
the brave men in the front, who have borne the
heat and burden of many hard fought field
Just so the District is ''cleared Of the Draft -
Just so Tneedn't do my share in the field
What scramble there is after the substitute
agents. What shameless rush for. those who
are supposed to enjoy the private ear of the Pro-
yost Marshal. Money is no object. if between
them lot ofcredits can be trumpsd up and the
quotas mysteriously figured down. The object
isnot TO reinforce our armies, but simply TO "get
clear of the Draft"
This hiring Of substitutes who desert nj the
first opportunity, is at best only putting off the
evil day. If the war continues much longer,
this system will fail after awhile and then we
will have to bear. the donbIe evil of the tax and
the draft.
The immense sums now being squandered in
hiring and re-hiring worthless substitutes, would
be much better expended IL given to the INDECENT
families of volunteers and drafted men. Wen
opposed to local bountes. We don't believe in
allowing rich district or city, 10 shirk its
share of military duty by buying up the fight
ing men in neighboring districts, which are not
able TO pay SO much. The Bounty should be
uniform all over the country, and every man
should be credited to the district in which he
lives. While local bouniies are permitted, there
will be constant rivalry between different Sec
tiona Men will go where they get the most and
thus their native districts must suffer. 1t is esti-
mated by Gov. Curtin, of Pa, that that State
has been swindled out oftwelve millions of dollars
by bounty jumpers and substitute agents.
With uniform Bounty and little exerton
on the part Of leading patriotic men throughout
the country, much could be done TO stimulate
volunteering. The government by tbs means
would get men, not mere Names
We believe in the people turning DOT as they
did in the heroic period Of 1861. Then we would
have an army Of patriots, not Of Hessians, and
then the war would speedily come to close.
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