Year: 1863

laughter from the surgeon and his corps of
assistants.





Our True Cause of Alarm---The


Remedy.


Mr.. Editor: am aware that in the
present state of journalism in this country,
anonymous writings are generally of but
little worth in moulding public opinion, or
of giving direction to public movements
am also aware that the opinions and views
of men not in high official position COM
mand but little respect with the Masses
But as I write over nom de plume, | may
be pardoned for claiming to have been the
first to suggest number of expedieuts, not
in favor at the time, but which have been
at later periods adopted. Hence, 1 am em.
boldencd to make, from my humble posi-
ton in life, another grave suggestion, and
beg, for the first time, space in your COL
,umus for that purpose.


1t is needless to disguise the fact, or to
conceal it from the people, that our armies,
as at present organized aud constituted, are
hopelessly inadequate to cope with the
swarming legions Of the enemy, aud that
unless something is done to strengthen them,
and that speedily, we are to be overrun, the
heart of the Confederacy reached, and the
people disarmed and rendered power!ess,
either to send supplies to our troops or to
organize new recruits. In word, the
strong chain of despotism will be upon US.
God grant that the Government and people
will consider and look the danger full in
the face How has this state of things
been brought about?


= We have lost many men in battle and by
wounds, disease, and death. But we still
have the necessary number-of arms bearing
men in the country, but they are not in the
army How did those who have been in
and not in, and who are not disabled, get
out? And how are those who are able to
serve, and have not been in, manage to stay
out? This is the rub, that will CRATE hard.
ly upon those who are bound by every duty
to serve their country, but are not willing
to do 80. The immense number Of easy
places that have been made out of reach of
gunshot, is one pode; the immense num-
ber of men who have eithera Government
contract, or finger in one, is another mode.
Another still is said to be the fayoritism of
conscript officers. Another still is said to
be the infdelity Of army surgeons in gran
ting false certificates of disability. But the
great fruitful source Of this fatal mischief
is the substitute law, by which, I am in.
formed, upon authority that am not certain
is correct, but, which I have no reason to
doubt, the army has discharged 100000
men. Generally, laborers have been taken
in, or old men would from choice or neces.
sity be engaged in producing something;
or Of idle -vagabonds, who desert the army
the first opportunity they get. Those who
remain and who do not desert, are generally,
from age and other causes, not of much
value as soldiers. The army thus swaps off
y sot of sound, active men, for a set of
brokeu.down, worthless fellows, who do not
much good. The field is deprived of many
laborers whose services are and will be in
great demand at home, while the men who
are discharged from the army thus, having
the control of means, seldom turn to work,
but often to trading, to make back the
money their substitute cost them. Thus
the country is cursed with speculator, the
field deprived of laborer, and the army of
soldier; all resulting from a. most woful
bluuder in Congress, allowing men of means
to buy their exemptions from the duty of
defending the country against invasion.


Now my proposition startling as it may
SCENTS, that the Government is entitled
to the services of these men now, upon the
same principle that it was at the beginning,
to wit: EG aecessitate rel. The salvation
from utter ruin of the whole country depends
upon it. The Government will perish
hopelessly and speedily, if these men are
not put back into the army. The Govern
ment ought to keep the good faith implied
in the contract of discharge and substitu-
tion as long only as it can be done consist.
emily with its self preservation and the
preservation of the whole copntry from do
VISITATION and ruin. This it has already
done.


Ifit is necessary for Congress to act in
order to put back the ezempts and govern
ment oontTaotora, and persons improperly
discharged, and those holding easy places,
and those who have put in substitutes; and
if nothing is done until the regular time for
Congress to meet, the funeral kpell Of the
country will have been sounded to the re.
motest parts of the earth-"Mlium Fhit"
its inglorious epitaph.


Aenephis (Atlanta) appeal.


Ia The Lynchburg Republican records
the followinp afferfino inci6ant.