2-10-21 Be Careful What You Wish For

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As the Civil War intensified both North & South instituted policies that were unpopular but nevertheless Harper’s Weekly was ready to “poke fun” at the policy as seen below in their cartoon published in August of 62.

What is the policy portrayed in the cartoon?
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credit: @DBF
 
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As part of the national conscription policy adopted by the United States during the Civil War those with the financial means could hire substitutes to fight in their place. This cartoon is criticizing individuals who hired substitutes. Here, a well-dressed gentleman appeals to his companion that he has succeeded in finding a substitute; however in response she states that she has found one for him as well. This depiction encourages bravery and service to country, coloring the hiring of substitutes as cowardly.

Source: https://gettysburg.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4016coll2/id/1722/
 
From what I found that cartoon makes fun of the opportunity to pay for a substitute who would stand in for draftees, so that they could evade service by hiring someone who was exempt from the draft - someone under or over the mandatory conscription age, one whose trade or profession exempted him, or a foreign national.
It seems that Confederate law had that opportunity as early as 1862, while in the United States the Enrollment Act of 1863, well after August 62 when this cartoon was published, created the same opportunity.

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As the Civil War intensified both North & South instituted policies that were unpopular but nevertheless Harper’s Weekly was ready to “poke fun” at the policy as seen below in their cartoon published in August of 62.

What is the policy portrayed in the cartoon?
View attachment 390520


credit: @DBF
The substitute policy, allowing draftees to hire others to serve their military service in their place.
 
As the Civil War intensified both North & South instituted policies that were unpopular but nevertheless Harper’s Weekly was ready to “poke fun” at the policy as seen below in their cartoon published in August of 62.

What is the policy portrayed in the cartoon?
View attachment 390520


credit: @DBF
He is telling "Addie" he has found a substitute to replace him in going to serve in the war. She is basically telling him to get lost as she has found someone else as a substitute to replace him in her life.
As part of the national conscription policy adopted by the United States during the Civil War those with the financial means could hire substitutes to fight in their place. This cartoon is criticizing individuals who hired substitutes. Here a well-dressed gentleman appeals to his companion that he has succeeded in finding a substitute; however in response she states that she has found one for him as well. This depiction encourages bravery and service to country, coloring the hiring of substitutes as cowardly.
source: https://gettysburg.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4016coll2/id/1722/
 
The policy of substitution, whereby an individual could avoid being drafted by hiring a substitute to take his place. This cartoon appeared in the August 30, 1862 edition Harper's Weekly and is entitled "Scene, Fifth Avenue". The dialog is as follows: He: "Ah! Dearest Addie! I've succeeded. I've got a substitute!". She , holding him at arms length: "Have you? What a curious coincidence! And I have found one for YOU!". On the lower half of her dress strips of fabric have been applied to form three large Xs.

Sources: Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/item/2006691864/ and Civil War Cartoons http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1862/august/civil-war-cartoon.htm
 
As the Civil War intensified both North & South instituted policies that were unpopular but nevertheless Harper’s Weekly was ready to “poke fun” at the policy as seen below in their cartoon published in August of 62.

What is the policy portrayed in the cartoon?
View attachment 390520


credit: @DBF
As I recall, the beau has just announced that he has purchased a substitute, whereupon his belle says that she has also gotten one - FOR HIM!
 
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