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George C. Burmeister diary, 1864
1864-01-05
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Tuesday 5 This is the day set apart for conscription so the loyal states, by the president of the United States. I am anxious to know who of my friends and acquaintances with be fortunate enough to draw a ticket to enter the army. If we are engaged in a righteous war, we must have an army to carry it on, this arrangement be raised either by volunteering or by draft. I know that some men who have never been friendly to our course, will growl and rant, if they should be drafted yet this will avail them nothing. They must go. I am in favor of drafting to fill up the depleted ranks of our army, yet I do not favor the $300 claim, that now exists in our conscript law, I would favor law that exempts only those who are physically incapacitated from undergoing the hardships of a soldiers life. When the rich man that has more at stake in the present contest than the poor man, would come on the same republican level with the latter. I regret to [illegible] many resident foreigner, claim exemption, on account of not being citizens of this country, when they have probably resided and voted here for the last ten or fifteen years. Here they have made their livelihood, yes perhaps their fortunes, have received the protection and privileges guaranteed to citizens of our country, and now when the government which so generously supported them, appeals to them for assistance in its life or death struggle with foul rebellion, they craven like, cowardly desert it. I have, everlasting infamy when the heads of such base ingrates.
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Tuesday 5 This is the day set apart for conscription so the loyal states, by the president of the United States. I am anxious to know who of my friends and acquaintances with be fortunate enough to draw a ticket to enter the army. If we are engaged in a righteous war, we must have an army to carry it on, this arrangement be raised either by volunteering or by draft. I know that some men who have never been friendly to our course, will growl and rant, if they should be drafted yet this will avail them nothing. They must go. I am in favor of drafting to fill up the depleted ranks of our army, yet I do not favor the $300 claim, that now exists in our conscript law, I would favor law that exempts only those who are physically incapacitated from undergoing the hardships of a soldiers life. When the rich man that has more at stake in the present contest than the poor man, would come on the same republican level with the latter. I regret to [illegible] many resident foreigner, claim exemption, on account of not being citizens of this country, when they have probably resided and voted here for the last ten or fifteen years. Here they have made their livelihood, yes perhaps their fortunes, have received the protection and privileges guaranteed to citizens of our country, and now when the government which so generously supported them, appeals to them for assistance in its life or death struggle with foul rebellion, they craven like, cowardly desert it. I have, everlasting infamy when the heads of such base ingrates.
Civil War Diaries and Letters
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