The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-03-22

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consent. During an encampment a
man might be compelled to ferry large
bodies of men for week without com
pensation from any source.
In the sixth section there occurs pro-
vision which is absurd on its face. 1t
reads as follows
ANY one claiming exemption from
enrolment may make aud sign an aft I.
davit giving his reason therefor, and
give 1t to the assessor to be filed, and II
false, he may be convicted of perjury"
Now, Mr.. Chairman, this is very
important section. 1t strikes at between
three hundred thousand and three hun.
dred and fifty thousand citizens of this
Commonwealth, any one of whom if he
claims exemption on any ground, and
If that reason happens to be wrong, he
can, by the provisions of this act, be
convicted of perjury and sent to the
penitentiary. Perjury, in the ordinary
acceptation of the term, must be proven
by several witnesses, and man must
have sworn falsely in ajudicial proceed
ing and In q matter material to the sub
lject investigated Here you make it
perjury # a man happens to make a
mistake If he errs in giving his rea-
sons for exemption-however innocent
ly-he is liable to the pains and penal.
ties of perjury under that section.
Again, l see by reference to the very
able report of the Adjutant General Of
this State-which certainly contains a
great deal of valuable iDformation-the
question of enrolment comes up, and l
desire TO illustrate briefly how grossly
defective the enrolment is, and how
impossible it is to carry out its provis.
lens on that subject in this bill.
In Bradford county, whichhas q
population of fifty-one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four, the total
number enrolled is only four thousand
three hundred and eighty-three, and the
claims out of that number for exemp
ton, one thousand three hundred and
sixteen. About ne.fourth the number
enrolled in that county claim to be
exempt from military duty. In Craw-
ford county, with population of sixty
three thousand seven hundred and
eighty six, the total number enrolled is
only six thousand three hundred and
eighteen, and the number exempt is two
| thousand four hundred and one-about
onethird the number enrolled. In In
diana county, with population of
thirty.six thousand one hundred and
sixty one, the total number enrolled is
four thousand five hundred and seventy
two, and the number exempt is two
thousand two hundred and sixty.seven
| one half the number enrolled.
Yet the most singular thing about it is
that while Indiana county has popula.
ton of thirty six thousand, Bradford
county, with q population of twenty
thousand more, has fewer persons SUBJ
ject to military duty than Indiana
county.
Mr.. BUCK. Will the gentleman al
| low me to explain?
Mr.. BROCKWAY. Certainly.
| Mr.. BUCK. The most of the people
of Bradford county went to the war and
are, therefore, exempt from military
duty.
MIR. BROCKWAY. Inasmuch as
there are no exemptions for soldiers in
the bill before us, do not think that
reason will answer as an explanation.
There is no exemption, except from tax
alton under the old law.
| Mr.. BUCK. The record the gentle
man refers to simply shows the number
who are bound to pay the military tax
under the old law.
Mr.. BROCKWAY. No, it simply
shows the enrolment of those subject to
military duty, and out of the number
onefourth of those enrolled in Bradford
county are put down as exempt.
Mr.. BUCK. Exempt from the pay
ment of military taxes, but not exempt
from military duty.
Mr.. BROCKW WAY. That is precisely
the point here.
The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentle
man from Columbia understand the gen
teman from Bradford?
Mr.. BROCKWAY. understand the
question, but evidently he does not.
1T isalleged that trained soldiers are
necessary even in a time of peace. Mr..
Chairman, in no battle during the late
war did the regular army prove superior
| to our volunteer forces, and in the
Franco. German war the citizen soldiers
of Germany were more than match for
the hirelingS of France. The Pennsyl-
vania Reserve Corps were as steady and
as efficient as the regulars in the same
corps. Humphreys Division of nine
months men, at Fredericksburg, made
as gallant fight as was ever recorded
in history, and no hayonet charge of
veterans eXcclied that of the Corcoran
Legion-raw men-at Sputtsylvania.
Standing armies are not necessary in a
free country. The Atlantic and Pacific
oceans defend US east and west, and our
neighbors north and south are too weak
to attack. Unless our Government be-
comes despotic or corrupt there is no
danger of internal discord for genera
tiOns to come.
In the next place, Mr.. Chairman,
what | conceive to be one of the most
important points in this bill, one to
which l would call the attention of
every member of this House, is that
in relation to the powers given courts
martial-the most terrible inquisitorial
powers ever granted by any act of this
Legislature. refer, in the first instance,
to section forty lone, which provides
that EVERY commander on duty shall
require and enforce obedience to all
orders, and put under guard any person
disobeying or violating them and may
prefer charges therefor"
The point to which l especially refer
is that the commander of these men
can, while on duty, put any person un.
Ter arrest, Not only the men under
his control, but he can arrest you, me
or any other citizen. He can order the
person under guard without any charges
or previous information, and the jaiier
is bound to keep him in confinement
until the time expires. 1t puts the
power in the hands of these men tC
make any arrests they please, without
} any charges, without warrant, without
oath, and in direct opposition to the
Constitution of this State and Of the
United States. Sectlon iOrty.three, FOL
lowing that out, says:
= "The commanders of divisions shal
discharge the duties, possess the powers
and be liable to the penalties pertaining
to their office as granted by law or mill
tary CUSTOM"
What is "military CUSTOM" Mr.
Chairman? The army regulation,
: which | hold in my hand prescribe
i | thnpn Nrhn haNy haan in ha
: remember how it was exercised how
men were bucked and gagged, tied III
: by the thumbs, strapped to the spar
wheels ofcaissOns and dragged through
the cities and towns in that manner
> without even the formality of cour
martial. By this bill you give then
+. this power in time of peace. aud under
take to make this the law of Pennsylva
: mia.
Mr.. MAGEE. / would like to asl
: the gentleman from Columbia whethe