Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-08-12
How shall it be Done ?


out 300 900 militia to aid in putting down trea-
son, was received with enthusiasm by the whole
country, the emotion was excited manly be-
cause Of the evidence that the order gave of the
purpose of the Government to % ahead imme-
dntely with the war, and at last make short
work Of treason. few persons who are ex-
enpt from military duty for any reason and
yot who would be expected to pay bountles
while volunteers were being called for, may
have rcjolced in expectation OF II draft TOR other
motives than The patriotic one. hat such persons,
we are glad to believe, are not NUMEROUS But,
az IL general thing, the order Tor a draft, while
not feared, was very soon seen to be wholly un'
necessary in this vicinity, if any opportunity
had been first given for volunteering for nine
months service, and for that reason it was re.
GREETED that the alternative had not been pre-
scented, 50 that those who chose might still have
had the satisfaction Of feeling that their service
OF their country was IN no sense a compulsory
one. And it Is quite evident that this opinion
isgaiuing ground rapidly, and that ten men are
to-day satisfied that no draft Is necessary il
Vermont, where five men held that opinion one
week ago. In fact, 30 far as our observation
extends, there is confident belief that the
quota Of this State can be raised in less time, and
by infinitely less complication and trouble, by
the system Of voluntary enlstmcnts, as hith
crto, than by the compulsory process
But the laws Of this State and the laws Of
the United States, and the terms Of the call for
the militia, present obstacles IN the way Of vol
unteering which may deter.aine our State au-
tharitles to call out the militia by lot We
trust the Governor will avoid this. however,
it possible We are confident if the Legis
ature were now together, they would in one
hour, so modify the act Of last session as to
authorize the Governor to raise our quota Of
militia by recruiting, only presenting the
draft II, the alternative proposition. And the
Governor need have no hesitation in acting AZ
though such were the law, and the people will,
with entire unanImity, sustain his action.
q
meet this general desire OF the people for an
opportunity to volunteer, should 20 ahead with
recruiting for the militia IN the same way they
have done for the tn rec years men, fixing as
short limit of time as they may choose in
which the quota OF each town shall be filled. In
the meantime they can also get the machinery
E,r , 1r,tt IN ro,dinasa and usa : upn, tho.n
towns where it may become necessary, 1t it is
urged against this that there ls no law for such
a course, We answer as before, that the people
will ratify the act, which will make it as good
as though author lied in advance Besides. if
the strict letter OF the Law is to be followed. the
process OF drafting may present obstacles as
great, or greater than the plan of volunteering.
II volunteering were resorted to, the quota OF
each town might be assigned at once, and the
selectmcn OF the towns notified of the time when
the men must he ut the rendezvous. Tho re
cruiting officers could then 20 10 work with
field OF operations distinctly defined, and with
the Knowledge that the au thorities OF each town
were earnestly atwork cooperating with them
If ten days or two weeks time were given, W.
don't believe there would be the least occasion
to use compulson And if Vermont could thus
have the good name OF sending into the field
az volunteers, her portion OF AN army Of 300.
900 men, We think the number of men ia the
State that would object to any little anticipa
tion Of the will OF the people in this regard
would be too contemplate to be afraid OF.
Weare aware that there is, in the minds Of
some prudent men, another objection to yolnn-
teering, on the ground that volunteers would
doubtless be entitled to, or at least receive, the
State pay and aid now by aw given to our three
years volunteers. But we believe the State will
not only pay all its volunteers for any time OF
services in this war, but all its drafted men, il
no opportunity Tor volunteering be given them,
the same pay and aid that it gives it, soldiers
already in the field The State may become
bankrupt but it will not, while il can raise II
dollar, refuse to the mon who uphold is honor
IN battle the seven dollars month which it
was the first, and is still the only State TO pay
to it, soldiers.
And we think there need be TO apprehension
hat four regiments cannot be raised in the State
at once by voluntary enliStmen;s. Two rcgi-