Year: 1863

THE CONSUMPTION BILL.


We have heard but one objection to the
new Conscription law-thc $500 clause in
the 18Th section. The Germans ofthis city
have held q meeting and passed Resolutions
against this feature of the law, but we
think that after more mature reflection
their hostility will abate.


1t is alleged that the $500 exemption
clause is Oppressive on the poor man and
and favors the rich. This is a handle that
demagogues will not be slow to seize upon
andwield to prejudice the popular mind
against the law. It is beyond the wisdom
fman to frame consumption bill that
would please all classes. Some will search
out objections TO any bill. Section 10 says
that the Secretary Of War shall not exact
more than $500 from q drafted man who
rrefera to pay rather than to serve; the
Secretary may f1 the Sum as much lower
as in his judgment The good of the service
viii permit The drafted man il allowed
10 procure his own substitute at any price
he shall agree upon.


But suppose Congress had stricken out
The $500 clause, and left the price of sub
stitutes to regulate itself, what would be
the effect? Can any man doubt that the
price would range far higher than $500
The fact is, the cost Of substitute would
so up to thousand or fifteen hundred
dollars, placing the price beyond the reach
ofany but wealthy men. We would like to
have the demagogue spouter explain to
his dupcs how that state Of things would
help the poor man, or the man Of moder-
ate means who might be drafted? Is it
easier for mechanic, laborcr or farmer to
raise $500 with which to purchase the
services Of substitute tlan $500. Per-
haps the friends of this system can convince
lis auditors that it is, but VIC confess We
don't sec it.


Strike OFT the money provision in the
18th section, and wu111 draft is ordered
class ofsharks called substitute brokers" )"
will be in their glory. They will adrer-
ise and hand bill Substitutes furnished
for drafted men, 1t the same time their
runners will be cut making contracts with
persons willing to serve Us substitutes.
The fees for their services will range from
so to 100 per cent. on the amount paid
They will give the substitute six or eight
hundred dollars, and charge the conscript
ten or fifteen hundred. Drafted men would
be completely in their power, because
having Offered high price for substitutes
none could he procured by the conscript
direct without paying IN exhorbitant sum.
Let the price be what it may, no matter
how high, the rich will be able to pay it.
It must be perfectly manifest to every man
with grain Of sense, that striking outthc
communication clause will be no benefit to
The poor man, but on the contrary, will
work to his injury By quadrupling the ex-
rcnscs Of procuring substitute.


The persons who concocted and
draughtcd the resolutions that passed
the German meeting, saw thai
they dare not resolve against the $3ot
communication clause, and resolve in favol
of turning tho drafted men over to ths
tender mcrcics Of the conscript brokers
But they were obliged to devise something
in lieu Of the $500 Communication; therefor
they resolved in favor Of the Prussian syk
ten, Of what they call universal liabi
ity," and pronounce against the right c
privilege Of procuring substitute on an
terms, ''so that no citizen" in the languag
of their resolutions, "can escape militar
service, either by paying money or in an
other way" "as is done by the Conscnl
ton law Of Prussia"


It will be hard to convince the peop
either Of the wisdom or justice Of systel
TINT denies absolutely the privilege Of pr
siding substitute. However it ma
work in Prussia it would he exceeding
odious and unpopular in America. II
can not believe that majority Of the Ge
mans desire the adoption Of thst syste
of conscription. The new law is infinite
more liberal AID lcnfent towards the mn
ses Of the people. On what principle


justice drafted citizen shall be prevcnt<
from furnishing the Government with


willing volunteer for an unwilling CO
sc1ipt, is difficult TO comprehend. q
shall refer to this subject again, and exar
inc other provisions Of the new law til


must commend themselves to popular a


probation.


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