Year: 1862

DePaEtnhcnts


The recent orders of Secretary Stanton, in
regard TO the arrest of those persons who at
tempt to escape the draft or who speak or
write anything to discourage enlistments and
aid the rebellion, are undeniably necessary,
and are by no means too arbitrary and strin-
gent for the crisis. They affect no man who is
truly loyal and patriotic, except in the most
beneficial manner Loyal and patriotic men
will not speak or write anything to discourage
enlstments and aid the rebels, and conse
quenuy Secretary Stanton's order will not
trouble them. Loyal and patriotic men will
not be such towards as to attempt to escape
the draft by sneaking out Of the country or
into another State. and consequently Secretary
Stanton's order will cause them no annoyance.
1t is only traitors and disloyal citizens who
have anything to dread from these orders, and
what they dread all loyal men must welcome
and approve.


The freedom Of speech and Of travel, which
are the birthrghts of every American citizen,
are not violated, therefore, by these special
orders. 1t is only when a man talks treason
that he is to be arrested. 1t is only when man
changes his location, with the evident purpose
and intention of evading the draft, that he is to
be punished with impressment. Ordinary
travel is to be stopped no more than ordinary
conversation; but the extraordinary travel
of the order for drafting, and the extra
ordinary style of speech-making in which North
ern secessionists and abolitionists have recently
indulged, certainly called for the decisive ac-
ton of the government Only few days ago
Wickliffe wanted the war stopped until the
slavery question was settled. Only few days
ago Wendell Phillips wanted the war stopped
until the emancipation question was settled.
The Albany Argus discourages recruiting by
calling this an abolition war. The New York
Tribune discourages recruiting by calling this a
pro-slavery war. The corrupt organs Of the Sc
cession democracy hinder enlistments by at
tacking the financial policy of the government,
and by announcing that negroes are to be
placed in the field with white soldiers. The
reasonable organs of the Internal republicans
hinder enlistments by assailing the President
and his generals, and by declaring that negroes
should and must be put into our armies, or the
cause is lost, These are the two classes of per-
sons whom Secretary Stanton silences. Loyal
men stand upon the platform of the President
regarding this as war not for slavery or for
emancipation, but for the Union; believing that
this is government Of white men, and that
white men alone can sustain it; urging and in
ssting that the war shall stop for nothing, but
shall be vigorously prosecuted to speedy and
triumphant conclusion. For such men Sscre-
tary Stanton has no terrors and the laws have
no penalties.


But in order to make this war "short, sharp
and decisive as Mcclellan promised it should
be, moro men are needed. The government
has called for three hundred thousand more
volunteers, and they will probably be prompt
ly furnished by the time appointed. In addi-
tion to this immense force, however, three hun
dred thousand more soldiers are necessary to
give the rebellion coup de grace. To wait
until these soldiers can be raised by the tardy
processes of recruiting and enlistment would
not answer the purpose Of the government,
which clearly intends to overwhelm the traitors
by sudden and terrific avalanche Of armies.
The President has decided, therefore, to order
an immediate draft for the men required, and
he foreshadows his design in calling out. 30
many troops by announcing that their work
will be over in the brief period of nine months.
II is to the personal advantage Of every citizen
of this country that the war shall be speedily
concluded, and the government has at last re
solved to finish it at blow. Only the machi-
nations Of domestic traitors and the efforts OF
towards and shirkers to escape or evade the
draft can prevent such result The govern
ment understands this, and hence these special
orders of Secretary Stanton, one Of which, like
o sharp lash, drives back the ignoble and
unpatriotic refugees who are trying to
get off to Europe or to cross into Canada
or to fee into some State where they are un-
known, while the other, like strong muzzle
stops the mouths of those who talk and write
practical treason. What loyal man will refuse
to serve nine months to sustain a government
which has served him so well for years? What
loyal man will object to see traitors slenccd
and abolition and secession renegades brought
back and forced to do their share towards end
ing war which they have done SO much to
cause?


In two weeks from the 18th inst. the draft
will be over, and Secretary Stanton's necessary
restriction upon the movements of a portion of
our citizens will be removed. The benefits de-
rived from these orders will never be removed
Had not some such orders been issued the
North might have degenerated into anarchy.
A few reasonable papers, politicians and ora
tors had taken advantage of the seeming luke
warmness of the government to discourage en-
listments and weaken the confidence Of the peo-
pie in the President the administration and our
generals in the field. Ffom some of our ports
persons calling themselves men, but lacking
every attribute Of manhood, were leaving the
country to escape the draft. Meanwhile, our
armies needed reinforcement, and the rebels