The southerners give up 20 slaves for exemption, like the northerners gives up $300 for exemption
Soldiers were obtained in the Civil War by volunteering and later the draft. In the South, any able-bodied male between the ages of 17 and 50 could be drafted. In the North, between ages 17 and 25. A Southerner could avoid the draft by owning at least twenty slaves. A Northerner could avoid the draft by paying the government $300. For this reason, the Civil War became known as "The rich man's war, poor man's fight".
Under the Draft Act of 1863, it was legal to hire a "substitute" who had not been drafted. A man could also pay $300 (a large sum at the time) to avoid conscription.
A man could avoid the draft by paying a substitute to take his place.
During the Civil War, individuals in the North could avoid the draft by paying a commutation fee, which allowed them to buy their way out of service for $300. Alternatively, they could find a substitute to serve in their place, effectively hiring someone else to fulfill their military obligation. These options were often criticized as favoring the wealthy, as they could afford to avoid conscription while poorer individuals had to serve.
There was a military draft during the Civil War, so if you evaded the draft you could get into trouble. Of course, not everybody was drafted.
Hiring a substitute
He could get up $300, a substantial sum at the time ( my guess this was donated to the Department of the Army) or (Buy) a qualified substitute. It is not known what the service obligation of the substitute was- it could be say, 24 months, or possibly for the duration of the war.
Grover Cleveland paid money to avoid the draft for the Civil War. (This was a legal option which he took advantage of.)
hiring a substitude
hiring a substitude
Yes you could. There was a draft, but you could pay to have someone take your place .
Paying a substitute to serve in his place.