Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-03-15
----"'---. For the Advertiser. ~;
The Military System of the Confede.
rate States.

'--".Fo the Advertiser. -,
The Military System of the Confede.
rate States.
Congress endcavorel to create q military sys-
TEN for the Confederate States OF: America, from
1862 torfS64. It passed lars Of conscription to
raise armios,and laws of impressment to feed
and equip them. It's authorized bureaucracics
were numerous, complex, audunwieldly, inclu-
ping persons and exercising authority over. par
ties not legitimately within, the rangsof proper
system of conscripton. The grand sorror COM
mittcd by this body in its legislation for mill
tary organizalionywas in its seeming ignorance
Of what CONSUMPTION was, aud really is, In those
countries wberc il is of force, and in grating
upon the institutions of free people an effsetsaf
despotic governments. The Legislation of Con-
gross in this regard WAS not in accordance with
the spirit and sentiments of the people-not in
unison with their national character, and hence
tho failure of the system by the operation of the
inexoratle law governing the repulSion Of antag-
onistic forces.
I In a word our Legislators wore net philosophi-
cal Statesmen, and did not apparently understand
that despotic institutionS eau flourish anGer
free governments. Conscription (properly under
stood) is the compulsory levy, at the pleasure of
government, of the inhabitants Of p cosutry cas-
paJle Of bearing arms. Tho name is derived from
the military constitution ofsncisnt Rome. Every
Roman citizen was obliged to serve as 8 soldier
from his 17thto his 45th year ;Henco no recruit
ing, in the modern sense.of tlo Mord t,iok place,
but only lerying. In France every citizen isborn
soldier, and is obliged to serve in the army. In
Prussia and in Austria tho principle is the same
and with some few exceptions, tho people are
compelled to servo in tho army BY compulsory
levy. IlRussia the same rule preysils. Eng-
land is perhaps the only European country in
which. the people are not compelledto servcinthe
army,-the sturdy spirit of Englishmen. being op-
posed to such coeroivemeasurss for raising stand
ing armies Volunteering and onlisting are the
only channels through which armies are raised in
England ~ -. 80 =; h
|, In the Confederate States, Congress undertook
not only to eonscribc able bodied mon, but claim
cd Jurisdiction over infrm and disabled persons,
going far beyond tho power exercised by the
most despotic governments of Europe. Tho
Constitution Of the Confederate States giveste
Congress the "power to raise andnpport srmies."
Unquestionably this provision means "arniies"
in the ordinary acceptation Of the term, and
such as exist in every country where standing
armies are institutional. To raise armies, means
then simply to employ in the military service
persons capable Of bearing arms, and Of discharg-
ing active military duty. To say that the Con-
stitution, undcr.thc provision to "raiIo armies"
intended tc vest in Congress tho power of the
compulsory levy of every citizen. capable or in
capable of bearing arms, is to soy tho least of it,
anti.rspublican and simply absurd.
|; Without undertaking to discuss the question,
no,0 and here, we will say, in passing, that it is
extremely doubtful whether, under our form Of
government CONSUMPTION is at al permissible:
Admitting however, for argumer. sake, that Con-
gress has this power, nc deny that itcan be ex-
ercised and enforced against any other class Of
persons than the able bodied, and those capable
of active service in tho field. To affirm other
wise would be to assert nonsense, and to yield to
the central Government the authority and con-
troll over the whole male population Of the re-
spsctive States, sound and unsound, and thereby
prevent tho State governments from oppoaingany
invasion, or movement of an enemy, made upon
their territory. In fact it would be productive Gas
it already has been) of desoaion and destruction
to the State5 whenever the military genius Of the
central executive and Command erin Chief should
be afflicted with mental obliquity. It would de-
prive them of the domestic, defensive free of
| every country,-their militia.
The result of our construction Of the provision
Of the Constitution above .eferrei to, and Of tho
application of thu rule of oonGcription as under
stood in those countries in which it is legitimate
ia that no citizen Of the Confederate States be
conscriJea unle.s he is capable Of bearing armO
aud fit for actiue military serricc IN ;ae ,:.eld
If by the report of lawful Board of Examining
Army Surgeons he is declared unfit for such ser-
ricc,-in other words, as Incapable of becoming
soldier by reason OF any mental or physical disa-
jility, he must be discharged, for the government
has no further control over his peruon.- He can
not be detailed for any light other duty IN any
Of the military buresux, nor By. or under, any
person, or officer, attached to them His liberty
i, thene.orih inviotable, anl lie protected by the
eipH lac of his country. This doctrine was dig
cussed, and solemnly adjudgod, in Brady VS.
Lieut. Clark, Enrolling Officer, upon an applica-
tion for Habeas Corpus, before tho Superior Court
of Georgia, at Maeon. If the people will shield
themselves with tho exposition of tho law, the
States may have militia, and our homes a bull
wark. PETER THE HERMIT.
Press Agents Dispatch.
The annexed news has been prepared by
the Agent of the Associated Press and Off
cially approved:
AUGUSTA, March IL.