Year: 1864

Rights Of Citizenship P


We suggested week OF two since
that the men who run away to avoid
draft, or to escape service after draft,
should be declared aliens, or be banisbed.
We are pleased to find the following arti-
Gle upon the subject in the Rockland
Democrat.


There are men belonging in nearly
every town in the Sta.e,-and doubtless
it is the same throughout all the loyal
States-that have run away into the
British Provinces or elsewhere out of
the country, after they have been drafted
into the service of the United States.
A citizen of the United States is in duty
bound, under such regulations as the legal
authorities may enact, to serve his coun-
try in the army, ii his services as a SOL
dier are required for the national de-
fence. Every government requires this
Of its subjects, and no government could
exist without the power to enforce it. 1t
is the price which every subject or citizen
is holden to pay for the protection and
privileges which his government extends
to him.


Now if man has been drafted into
the service of the United States, and by
running away into another country seeks
to evade, and does evade the payment Of
the service which he owes the government,
should he not forfeit all the rights as a
citizen which he possessed He is de-
serter, and if caught his punishment is
death. But thousands have run away
with the intention and expectation of
staying away until the war is over, and
then they intend to return and claim 10
exercise the same rights which they cx-
ercised previous to deserting. This they
should never be permitted to do. TIE
government will, Of course, seize as many
as it can while the war lasts, but when
the war is ended, and there is no further
need of their services, its efforts might
relax and those recreant runaways be al
lowed to steal back. To prevent this
efficient measures should be taken in all
our legislative assemblies. 1t il due to
the people. 1t is due to the viDdieations
Of the national authority aud its peimau-
ent establishment It men can desert
with impuni:y, how will you fill the arm
les or maintain the government ? 1t Is
due to the men who are obliged to come
forward aud Gil the gaps lett by those
; skedaddlers. 1t is well understood ROW,
(and the government could take no other
course, because it Elust have the mem
that the places Of sll these skedad3lers
must be maac good if it takes the last
enrolled u an in town. Hence men who
would have escaped the draft had all
stood their ground, have been drawn iuto
the army, and will actually be conpell-
ed to do the sosvice which belonged to
the ruuaways to do. They stood their
draft aud would have escaped, but those
who stood before them on the lis. reu to
Canada. aud these must take the places
left yacent.


1t becomes, therefore, the duty Of our
Legislators 10 see that measures are taken
which will compel the dessrters Of their
country in its hour of danger, to return
and do their duty like mec, or prevent
them from ever returning. Those upon
sober, second thought, will come back
and take their places in the ranks, or put
in substitutes within q reasonable time,
might be forgiven, but he who will peith-
er give his personal servics nor furnish a
substitute, should feel the vengeance of
all outraged people. Not only should he
be disfranchised, but his property should
be forfeited to the State, and he never
should be SLOWED to come within its
limits. He hss iorsaken his country, let
his country forsake him aud cast him off
utterly. If it Id Tot worth defending,
its protection is not worth having and il
he will not aid in the one let him not en-
10y the other. There are towns which
have steadily discouraged enlistments,
and as steadily encouraged their young
men to run away. These towns have
probably thought that their young men
could make sn excursion to the Provln-
ces, stay till the danger was over, shirk
the performances Of their duty, and come
home to enjoy all the rights and priv
ileges Of good citizens, and be equally re-
spected with those who stepped forward
aud took their places in the ranks. If
such towns do not learn that they have
made wrong calculations, and have totally
mistaken the spirit OF the mass of the
American people, We shall be much dis
appointed. No recreant who fees from
thi. country while in danger will ever find
it tocrable to return when the danger is
over. Even should tae authorities fail
to pass such laws as the case demands
the very women and children would hoot
the deserters in the streets. 1t was SO in
this country after the Revolution, has
been so in all countries, and will be so
here again. Who these deserters are
there will be no difficulty in aseertaining
for the records of the Offices of Provost
Marshals will tell the whole story. Head
ers if you have friends that have skedad-
died from the draft, tell them to make up
their minds to an eternal exile, or come
forward like men and shoulder their
muskets. One of these must be their
lot,


PURELY ACCIDENTAL. BUT FATAL
is releted that. once upon time, whena,
man was hanged for murder, his next
friend broke the news gently to the cul-