Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-11-06
ILLEGAL ENLISTMENTS.

A case occurred not long since in the upper
part of this County which excited good de-
gree of feeling. 1t seems that JOHN Ii. HIN
MAN, few days above seventeen years OF age,
was over-persuaded by an older companion to
enlist in the volunteer service of the State OF
New York at Waverly. His parents, know
ing their son, on account of physical debility,
unfit for the service, demonstrated against his
removal But the recruiting officer was deaf
to every objection, or offer to refer the case
to the legal tribunals for determination and
finally sent an armed force to the house OF the
parents in the night, threatening they would
take the recruit dead or alive away with
them The father accompanied the men, still
demonstrating, while the guard declared on
being reinforced at the State line, there was
not men enough in Pennsylvania to keep their
victim in the State. Young HISMAN was hur-
rieI across the line into the railway cars, and
Immediately taken to New York city. Here,
the answer to the renewed remonStrances OF
the father, was a threat to send him to Fort
Lafayette, if be did not leave the camp forth
with.
On his return home, several of our citizens
whose sympathies were aroused by the circum-
stances, became interested in measures of re-
dress. c. L. WARD, Esq, volunteered his
services, and witnesses were brought before
Judge MERcUR, who heard and certified the
evidence in the case. The result is shown i'll
the following correspondence, which exhibits
a ready sympathy and prompt action on the
part of Governor CURTIN and also quick
sense of Justice in Governor Mo2GAN. Young
HINMAN was discharged at once, and means
of transportation furnished him to return home.
We trust it will be the last case of the illegal
enlistment of minors under eighteen years of
age in this region -
TowANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY
Oct. l6, 1862. !
To HIS ExCELLENCY, THE GOVERNOR
I beg to enclose herewith, the Dispositions
taken, accompanying the petition of a distress,
ed father in case which think Justly claims
your Excellency'S interpoSition and relief, In
what little have undertaken in the affair, |
have not acted professionally: nor is there in
it in the remotest degree, any feeling of mere
political or partisan character. Indeed, | be
leve both the petitioner and all the witnesses
are your ExcGency'S political friends. | ad-
dress you in their behalf, simply as a neghbor
and fellow citizen of wronged and distressed
persons my appeal is to you as the chosen
guardian of the rights and peace OF our be-
loved Commonwealth.
As your Excellcncy's personal friend, |
would gladly in these distracted times, have
saved YOU all trouble in this case, by giving it
another direction, if l could fairly have done
so. But the father is poor mechanic, una
bic, even if it were likely to avail him, to en-
ploy legal counsel in New York, or to bear
he expense Of pursuing his claim in the Courts
OF that State.
This affair has created much feeling here
amongst all classes of our people being liter
ally forcibe abduction in the night, by an
armed force, of born and resident citizen of
Pennsylvania, who was hurried across the line
of the State, tauntngly aud avowedly, to avoid
the interpositon of our courts of law.
The father has legal right to his sons SER
vices under our State laws, as well as those of
the United States [the son being under IS
years of age,) against all military claim, and
no matter what the son himself may have rep
resented his own age to be and the Courts
would order his discharge upon the proofs en-
bodied in the accompanying papers.
| presume your Excellency will have no far
ther trouble than merely to send those proofs
forward to the Governor Of New York, ask
ing discharge of The boy at his hands-he
being Commanderin-Ch Chef in that State of
forces not mustered into the service of the
United States which is the case | am in
formed of the regiments now commanded by
Major Willard at Camp Green"
/ think know your EXcelency too well,
to feel there is any necessity of adding sim
gle word to these proofs, to induce your ear
nest sympathy. Nor would l feel it respect
full to do so-haying seen recently that even
the Governor of North Carolina, in the region
and in the midst Of the rage OF the present re-
beion, has shown such a sense of tue rights
of q sovereign State, and the sanctity of indi
vidual freedom under them, that he rescued
by positive and unconditional demand one
of his citizens from the power of the imperous
and almost imperial President Of the new 500
disant Southern Coufederacy!
have the honor to be- with much esteem,
Your EXcellcney's obedent servant,
(Sgnedl c. l.. WARD.
PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
HARRISBURG, Pa, Oct, 20, 1S62. !
HIS ExCELLENcY, Z. D. MORGAN:
Sir: The papers and aiiidavitS enclosed dis