Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-09-20
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To the Honorable the Senate and As-

se1ably :--....s. .,...... ......-...
FELLow-C1rIzENs - Under the
power granted by the Constitution OF
our State, have convened you at this
time in order to lay before you several
matters Of great public Importance
which, in my opinion, require immedi-
ate action on your part In this time
of public commotion and danger it be-
hooyes us all, and especially those who
are placed at the head of the Common
wealth, to examine carefully and close
ly our situation, and, if possible, to
guard against dangers that may sud
denly arise, and, finding us unprepared,
bring upon us endless trouble and
misery. In this respect we have
learned much within the last year.
Had the full extent and power of the
southern rebellion been understood by
the loyal people-had theirflll strength
been sooner called into activity-we
should not now have to lament the re-
cent reverses Of our arms, and again
see our Capital beleaguered and in
danger. When, prior to your ad-
journment, the President of the United
States had called Tor, an additional
seventy yfve thousand men to strength
en- our national army, we all fondly
hoped that would be the last call for
troops, and rested in perfect security,
relying upon the army then IN the field
and the latent power Of the North.
We were sadly mistaken. Six hun
dred thousand more men have since
theE been called for, and while every
exertion is made to send them to the
rescue, our army is compelled to re-
treat before an enemy superior i'll num-
bers. Week after week necessarily
passes in the herculean task of organ
ization, and the new troops are hurried
to the field without having had time to
learn the most necessary military drill
and discipline. What valuable time
has not been lost because most of the
States were utterly unprepared to meet
the call of the nation This may not
be the last call for troops. The nation
should not again be found sleeping
while this gigantic struggle lasts; and
1t rests with the people OF the several
loyal States to prepare themselves for
future emergencies.
Again, it is evident that, to meet fur
thcr calls, it is necessary to rely upon
a system Of drafting or coDscrptIon,
and whatever may have been the pop
ular prejudice against this system, it
vii! soon be generally conceded that it
is the true and best mode of speedily
calling out the military power of the
nation. But in order to make this sys-
tenn a just, equitable ard effective one,
legislation is necessary. When the
call of the President was made for the
100000 drafted militia, no law existed
or does now exist IN our State, for drat-
ting, and hence | had to rely upon reg
ulanonS Of the War Department to ar
swer the call. The enrolment of the
militia had for years been neglected in
our State, and although had long be-
fore called upon the Assessors to make
the enrolment as required, found
that, in the absence Of proper reg',la-
tons for that purpose, such enrolment
would be utterly incomplete and inetfi-
cient. Prompt action was necessary,
and hence / instructed the SherltfS OF
the counties to make the enrolment,
which is probably now completed
throughout the State. 1861.
The apportionnent Of the number Of
men required from each town, city,
ward or county, should have been bas-
ed upon the number of men liable to
military duty therein, bnt in the alb
sence Of any enrolment, | could only
make such apportionment according to
the number of inhabitants. Volunteer
ing being permitted to a given date
only by the General Government to APP
ply on the drafted militia, it became
necessary to assign at least to each
county it's quota of men Immediately,
and that could only be done according
to the number of inhabitants; and even
now it will not be practicable to make
another apportionment, as that would
require returns of the enrolled militia
from the entire State, which have not
yet reached us, and further delay than
is absolutely necessary would not be
warranted by the critical condition of
our country. Whatever number, there
fore, may be required to fill our quota
for the past calls of the Government,
will have to be drafted under regula-
tions already made. Il -ns ..a...
1t seems also hardly proper, and GER
tainly is contrary to the regulations die
tated by long experience Of other coun.
tries, where conscription has always
and does now exist, that all able bod
led men between the ages of Is and
As years should be called upon to draw
lots without any regard to other cir
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