Page images
PDF
EPUB

exhibited some of these objects in former chap | costing nearly as much as the taking of the centers of this work.

NUMBER OF MEN CALLED FOR.

In round numbers, the President has thus far called for about 2,100,000 men, and of these about 1,000,000 have been called for by draft. Of the whole number, about 1,200,000 have been secured, and without pretending to be exact, (not having the figures before us), we may safely say, that aside from volunteer substitutes, the Administration has not obtained 20,000 men, as living trophies from the "prize wheel." This is an exceedingly small per

cent⚫

MR. CAMERON'S EULOGY ON VOLUNTEERING.

sus-the support of Draft Commissioners-Examining Boards-provost marshals, spies, delators, and the tens of thousands of officers that must be paid and fed from the public crib all to procure the poorest material for war we cannot doubt the statement. We say "poorest" advisedly, for so far as we have read history and studied human nature, a man forced into the ranks against his will, is, in nine cases out of ten, inferior to the volunteer, because his heart is against it.

From the observation we have been enabled to make, of all the facts, we are prepared to hazard the opinion that with less than a third of the expense incurred, the Government could have got all the men it wanted. Had it abolished-or rather never organized-its hordes

Mr. Secretary CAMERON, in his first report, before the radical measures had been fully de-of enrollment and draft officers and hangersveloped, said:

"History will record that men who, in ordinary times, were devoted solely to the arts of peace, were yet ready, on the instant, to rush to arms in defense of their rights when assailed. At the present moment, the government presents the striking anomaly of being embarrassed by the generous outpouring of volunteers to sustain its action. Instead of laboring under the difficulty of monarchical governments, the want of men to fill its armies, which in other countries has compelled a resort to forced conscriptions, one of its main difficulties is to keep down the proportions of the army."

He says again:

cum

on, and applied the funds they have absorbed, to liberalizing the soldiers' monthly pay, to— say $25 per month, we should have heard nothing of mobs and riots, and no complaints of a lack of men, even under the present pernicious policy. This is the candid opinion of one who has been in favor of a most vigorous prosecution of the war to crush the rebellion, from the start.

REPUBLICAN OPINIONS.

The Albany Statesman, a Republican paper, thus warned the Government against continuing longer to insist upon the enforcement of

"I cannot forbear to speak favorably of the the draft: volunteer system, as a. substitute for a brous and dangerous standing army. * * A government whose every citizen stands ready to march to its defense can never be overthrown; for none is so strong as that whose foundations rest immovably in the hearts of the people."

And the second report from the same office glowed with a no less deserved panegyric on this system.

[ocr errors]

COST OF THE CONSCRIPTION.

We have seen it stated, though with what degree of facts to back it we know not, that each soldier drafted and mustered into the United States forces, has cost the people not less than $3000. This is an enormous sum we know, but when we take into account the vast army of officers who are stationed all over the North. hunting down deserting conscripts, at $15 or $30 per head-the trouble, delay, and vast expense attending on making the enrollment

"The Government never committed a more fatal mistake than when it abandoned the volunteer and bounty systems-systems which put into the field a million men in eighteen months. The Government, after it puts down the riot in New York, should take a calm view of the dangers which surround us, and if possible return to a system which has never failed us, and which should never have been abandoned.

Every person who wishes to see the southern rebellion promptly put down, should use every exertion to prevent a rebellion from breaking out in the loyal states. We are no alarmist, and yet we candidly think that it will take

more troops to enforce the draft in this state than is required to capture Richmond.

"The rioters in New York should and must be crushed. We owe this to the supremacy of the laws. Having done this, we do beseech our rulers to so modity the draft that the loyal States may continue to exhibit an unbroken front against the rebellion. Nothing but this unbroken front can prevent the rebellion from becoming a success. We call upon President Lincoln to save the North from anarchy. God grant that he may be equal to the task. At the

present time the Republic has more to fear from the follies of the war office than from a pair of armies such as Lee now heads in Maryland."

THE DRAFT IN RHODE ISLAND.

We clip the following from a Rhode Island paper:

history, that the great rebellion was put down entirely by the spontaneous and unforced patriotism of the people."

THE CONSCRIPTION IN MASSACHUSETTS.

[From the Boston Herald,]

"The work of examining conscripts in the different districts in this state has progressed "In the First District, Wednesday, 78 ob- quietly end with good order during the past tained permission to go, pay, or find a substi- week. All the Boards of Enrollment have tute; and 95 were exempted-49 for disability, been in session to hear claims for exemption, 10 were elected by their parents,9 were aliens, and we regret to find that so many of those 2 were from families having already two in the whose names were drawn have been compelled service, 6 were of unsuitable age, 4 were only to go before the medical officer to claim exsons of widows, 8 were non residents, 4 are al-emption--it speaks ill of the climate of New ready in the service, and 3 commuted. In the Second District 24 substitutes were accepted, 51 were exempted for physical disability, and 31 for various other causes."

A statement went the rounds of the press, which we have not seen contradicted, that of all the persons conscripted in the state, but nineteen actually entered the service, and some of these were negroes.

A CANDID STATEMENT BY A REPUBLICAN

PAPER.

The Springfield (Mass.) Republican, a strong supporter of Mr. LINCOLN, from first to last, in speaking of the draft in that State, thus testifies to its failure:

"The daily reports of the results of the draft throughout the country, country, produce the general impression that it is a failure-that it will not add materially to the strength of our armies, and that it will cost more than it is worth. This is not absolutely true, but it must be confessed it is too close true, but it must be confessed it is too close an approximation to the truth to be contemplated with satisfaction. Evidently the Government will not get one-fourth the number drafted, counting in the substitutes. Indeed, some consider one-fifth a large estimate.[And this is a state where the "roads would Swarm' with volunteers, if the proclamation should be issued!] Making due allowance for the states exempted from the draft, and the whole number actually drawn will not be over 300,000. One-fourth of this number will be 75,000. But many of the conscripts, as well as substitutes, will make their escape, and the War Department would undoubtedly jump at the chance to exchange the whole lot for 50,000, or even 40,000 volunteers. The draft, it must be conceded, if not a failure, is.not a very gratifying success. If the President could have foreseen how badly the draft would have been mismanaged, we believe he would have decided to rely upon volunteering to fill up the armies, and as things have turned, he could have done so with safety. The money and effort expended on the conscription would have secured fifty thousand volunteers, there is every reason to believe. And it would have been a glorious thing to record on the pages of

England.

"On reviewing the returns of the Boards of Enrolment for the districts of which Boston is a part, we find that during the week the board in district 3 has exempted 259 men,has received satisfactory evidence that 13 have paid the commutation fee, has received and accepted 54 substitutes, and has held one man to serve who reported at once for duty.

In the Fourth District 1,135 men have been examined, and of these 938 were declared by the Board to be exempt, 70 had paid the commutation fee, 10 were passed as fit for duty, and 108 substitutes were accepted.

[ocr errors]

"In the first district, up to Friday night, 256 conscripts had been examined Board of Enrolment in this city of whom 29 by the were accepted and furloughed, 12 furnished substitutes, 21 commuted, and 104 were accepted.

It is stated that Hon. Caleb Cushing has been retained by the Democratic Association tionality of the Conscription Law. H. W. of this state, who prepose to test the constituPaine will be associated with him. Hon B. R. in this connection, may give a written opinion Curtis, whose name has been before mentioned in the case."

[ocr errors]

A MYSTERIOUS DRAFT.

[From the New York World.]

The draft which commences in this city today and which is about to be enforced all over the North, promises to be a very mysterious business. Instead of ordering a general conscription, and publicly apportioning the quotas to the several states, the administration has privately notified the several district provostmarshals, and the drafting has been begun without the knowledge or information of the public. We believe this secret way of doing business is common in Russia or Austria, but it is quite new in this free country. So far we have no assurance that it is to be an equal conscription. From the number actually drafted in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, it would seem that the call was for 300,000 men; but the number required of the counties of Warren and Essex is on a basis of 400,000. According to the Tribune, the number New York city must raise is 26,000, and Brooklyn 10,000, which is conscripting at the rate of 600,000 for the whole North. Can it be that

dom, when drafted himself, ingloriously shrinks from taking his share of duty and danger.Shame on such a sneak. Subject by law to military duty, and constantly pressing others into the field, Mr. Tilton must be craven in spirit, without patriotism, pride or manhood, to skulk a draft himself, while he is merciless in regard to the mechanic and laborer, who is compelled to leave his wife and children.

the administration has so much more confidence | fy their precepts by their examples. The ediin New York copperheads than New England tor of the Independent, whose zeal for the draft Republicans' that it calls for more of the form-led him to rail at all who questioned its wis er than the latter? This is really a serious matter, and in the absence of any official announcement by the government of the number of men it requires, how do we know but what the secret instructions of the provost marshals are to conscript heavily in the Democratic districts and lightly in the Republican districts? Of course it is incredible that they should do this injustice; but the secrecy which marks the machinery of the draft naturally excites comment and uneasiness A Secretary of War who, on an occasion of great national rejoicing for victories won, is small souled enough and prejudiced enough to malign the majority of his fellow-citizens and apply to them an approbrious party epithet, as Mr. Stanton did at the serenade the other evening, is equal to any in-profits, but his son, when drafted, is not strong justice towards the people he dislikes. President Lincoln has issued a number of unnecessary and mischievous proclamations, but we think one on this subject is very much needed to avoid misapprehensions."

There is no doubt that the iniquities of the draft in New York was the cause of the disgraceful riots in that city.

RESULTS OF THE DRAFT IN MASSACHUSETTS.

The whole number drafted in the 4th Dis

"Still more mortifying, if possible, is the course of Mayor Opdyke, whose drafted son, instead of gallantly stepping forward, as an example to poor men, sneaks! The Mayor is filled with patriotism at conventions-he is gorged with government contracts! He leans heavily upon the government to make good his

enough to be a soldier. He is, however, strong enough to hold offices, but these offices do not expose him to anything but salary and fees.Being a soldier is quite a different thing. Out upon such false practices-such cheap loyalty -such bogus patriotism."

This just rebuke hits not only Mayor Opdyke and the editor of the N. Y. Independent, but it is a just criticism on the sneaking conduct of nineteen-twentieths of those who have so long and loudly abused all Democrats who

trict was 4,198. The account of the Examin- did not go to the war, and yet they will "sneak”

Board stood as follows:

Exempt for various causes.............

Absentees...

[blocks in formation]

2,857

22

4

134

196

46

939

4,198

[blocks in formation]

These were no doubt extreme cases, but few districts have done much bettter, and the whole shows the system of draft to be a farce, and we are led to record our convictions that the draft is only kept up for political purposes, and not to obtain soldiers, for in fact, nearly all the soldiers that have been obtained for the past year have been enrolled by voluntary enlistments.

THURLOW WEED ON "SNEAKS."

The following from the pen of that conservative Republican, Thurlow Weed, is as true as it is "rough":

"It is to be regretted that leading, boisterous abolitionists who were so free of their abuse of all those who differ with them, fail to justi

out of all danger-all responsibility-and if they can only get a fat contract or enjoy fat fees, they set themselves up as extra loyal!

We have heard of a very loyal member of the Wisconsin Legislature, who gave his age in the Blue Book as considerably below the maximum for the first class, and yet, when drafted, he claims immunity-and gets it-for over age.These things will happen among the best regulated advocates of loyalty.

DRAFTING IN THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION,

We recall to the memory of all who have read the history of the revolution, the action of the Congress at that period in relation to the principle of drafting, and to offer for their digestion the following morsel of history:

On the 26th of February, 1778, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted by Congress:

"Resolved, That the several States hereafter named be required forthwith to fill up, by drafts from their militia, or in any other way that shall be effectual, their respective battalions of Continental troops.

"All persons drafted shall serve in the Continental battalions of their respective States, for the space of nine months from the time they shall respectively appear at the several places of rendezvous hereinafter mentioned unless sooner discharged."

"Resolved, That all persons, in whatever way procured, for supplying the deficiencies in the Continental battalions unless enlisted for three years, or during the war, shall be considered as drafted.” etc.

On the 9th of March, 1779, it was again

[merged small][ocr errors]

ceive, that the Democracy of the country are now, as they ever have been, loyal to their government and true to the Union of their fathers. The best criteria of the aims and purposes of a party or individuals, are their recorded avowals-the actual and logical re

opponents by these criteria, we will now pass in like review the principal leaders and measures of the Democratic party.

"Thus, it appears, that during the Revolutionary war, men were drafted to fill the up regular regiments of the line, and were immediate-sults of their measures. Having judged of their ly subject to the orders of the Commander-inChief, without reference to, or control by, the Governors of the states. We have here, therefore, the most undeniable precedent for the action of the last Congress and that of the President, for raising drafted men and placing them in the army. None but Tories and the friends of the enemy opposed the principle then-none but traitors will do it now.-Rep. Paper.

Ah, yes, but you forget one thing. You have offered a precedent, but that precedent proves just what you didn't want it to. It proves that under the old Continental sway they never thought of allowing Congress to draft, but required the states to fill up their quotas by drafts. That's precisely the Democratic way now. That's just the only way the Democrats believe to be constitutional-the only way to preserve state sovereignty, and state identity. With the following quotation from BURKE, we will close this chapter:

"I can conceive no existence under heaven, that is more truly odious and disgusting than an impotent, helpless creature, without civil wisdom or military skill-without a consciousness of any but his servility to it, bloated with pride and arrogance, and calling for battles which he is not to fight."

CHAPER XXXVI.

LOYALTY AND PATRIOTISM OF DEMOCRATS. General Remarks and Facts pertaining to... The Democraey of New York...The Iowa Democracy...Doctrine of the Kentucky Democracy...The Ohio Democracy... The Democracy of Wisconsin... The Minnesota Democracy... Democracy of Pennsylvania...Illinois Democracy....Connecticut Democracy....Democracy of Indiana....Of Columbus, Ohio....Of Madison, Wis.....The National Democracy ...Sayings and Doings of Leading Democrats...Governor Seymour's Proclamation...Gov. Seymour's Message... Gov. Parker's Proclamation... Kemarks of Hon. H. L. Palmer...Et tu Vallandigham...Democrats Rejoice at our Victories... Testimony of our opponents... New York Times....Mr. Seward, Official...Judge Paine, of Wis.... Administration Compliment Gov. Seymour for his Patriotism, &c.

From 1801 to 1861 the Democracy of the nation had been constantly in power in one or all of the different branches of Government, and most of this sixty years they had full con trol of the entire administration of govern ment. That the Democratic party during this long period, embracing the early pupilage of our government, may have committed errorsthat individuals of the party may have perpetrated gross wrongs in the name of that party, perhaps it would be uncandid to deny; but, history, the true arbiter, justifies us in the re petition of the oft reiterated, yet never impeached declaration, that during all this period-while the noble-historical Democracy— have been beset by all the ills that party and flesh are heir to, our country has flourished without a parallel in the annals of human governments. On every recurring national holi day, thousands of candidates for oratorical honors have over-taxed the eulogistic muses, and exhausted the most extravagant panegyrics on the fame and progress of our "Glcrious Union." All parties, without exception, appealing to facts and drawing lavishly from the store-house of fancy, had held up our country, in marked contrast with all other lands, as the most free, happy, progressive and prosperous-nor was it safe for foreign pretenders to draw in question Brother Johnathan's panegyrics of the glorious past, or his predictions of the glorious future.

This picture is by no means overwrought, and it shows that high grade of opinion in which, we, at least, held ourselves, and although the leading maratime powers of Europe may not have been willing to acknowledge that Brother Jonathan, yet scarcely out of his teens, had actually outstripped them in wealth and mate

LOYALTY AND PATRIOTISM OF DEMOCRATS.rial greatness, they nevertheless acknowledged

Having shown, beyond a cavil, in the fore- our vast and rapidly increasing power, and sent hither millions of their own citizens to be pargoing pages that the Republican leaders are disloyal to their goverement, we will now show takers with us of those manifold blessings of by the best evidence that man can give or re-personal happiness and civil liberty, for so

m

many centuries denied them on their native nominated HORATIO SEYMOUR, September, soil.

1862:

We may safely say, without fear of contra"First, That they will continue to render diction, that for all these blessings of our gov- the Government their sincere and united supernment, so justly celebrated for the wisdom port in the use of all legitimate means to supand beneficence of its laws, the partakers were press the rebellion, and to restore the Union as it was, and maintain the Constitution as it indebted to the Democratic party-for we be-is-believing that that sacred instrument, lieve no one will question the fact, or attempt founded in wisdom by our fathers, clothes the to impeach our veracity, when we state that constituted authorities with full power to accomplish such purpose." every general law of general public importance, found on the statute book of the nation, up to December, 1860, had its origin in the Democratic party. Perhaps these laws, or many of them might have been bettered, for no man or party has yet reached the degree of Divine perfection—but such as they were-they constituted the basis of all our national prosperity, so often and so long the lyric's song and the statesman's eulogy.

During this sixty years-embracing a long war with the first maratime power on the globe, and sundry harrassing Indian wars, together with a war with the Republic of Mexico, no man was arbitrarily deprived of his liberty without a remedy-no press was destroyed by the direction or connivance of the administrators or executors of the laws--no system of espoinage, spies and delators was established. No citizen was ever exiled or banished-no suspension of the writ of habeas corpus occurred outside of military lines. In short, no constitutional right was denied to the people without a remedy. No Democrat was known to curse this Union as a "league with hell," or any equivalent, impious anathema. No clear and unequivocal infractions of the constitution were suffered. In short, the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were guaranteed to all, in strict accordance with the constitution.

Such, in brief, was the history and result of Democratic rule, up to the breaking out of our present troubles, and it becomes us now to enquire, what Democrats and the Democratic party (we mean those and only those who fell not into the snares of secession) have done since that time. Our remarks will apply to the two millions of Democrats in the loyal states. Are they disloyal, or are they not?Let them answer for themselves.

THE NEW YORK DEMOCRACY.

The following is the pertinent plank in the platform of the Democratic Convention that

NEW YORK DEMOCRACY IN 1863.

The State Convention that met at Albany, September, 1863, passed the following:

"Resolved, That we reaffirm the platform adopted by the Democratic Convention of 1862, viz.: First, That we will continue to render the Government our sincere and united support in the use of all legitimate means to suppress the rebellion, and to restore 'the Union as it was,' and to maintain 'the Constitution as it is,' believing that sacred instrument, founded tuted authorities with full power to accomplish in wisdom by our fathers, clothes the constisuch purpose."

THE IOWA DEMOCRACY--1863.

Gen. TUTTLE, the Democratic candidate for Gov. in 1863, issued an address to the people, from which we take the following, and on which he was supported by the Democracy:

"I am in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war to the full extent of our power, until the rebellion is suppressed, and of using all means that may be in our possession, recognized by honorable warfare, for that purpose. I am for the Union without an if, and regardless whether slavery stands or falls by its restoration, and in favor of peace on no other

terms than the unconditional surrender of the rebels to the constituted authorities of the government of the United States."

DOCTRINE OF THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRACY.

The following from the message of Governor BRAMLETTE, Sep. 1, 1863, is the doctrine not only of the Democracy of Kentucky, but everywhere:

"We affiliate with the loyal men north and south, whose object and policy is to preserve the Union and the Constitution unchanged and unbroken, and to restore the people to harmony and peace with the government, as they were before the rebellion.

It is not a restored Union, not a reconstructed Union, that Kentucky desires; but a preserved Union, and a restored peace upon a constitutional basis.''

THE OHIO DEMOCRACY.

We select the following from among the planks of the Democratic platform adopted by

« PreviousContinue »