Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-09-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To the Honorable the Senate and ASSEM-


to lay before you several matters of great
public Importance, which in my opinion,
require immediate action on your part
In this time of public commotion and
danger it behooves us all, and especially
those who are placed at the head Of
the Commonwealth, TO examine carefully
and closely our situation, and, if possible
to guard against dangers that may sudden
ly arise, and finding US unprepated, bring
upon US endless troubles and misery In
this respect we have learned much within
the last year Had the full extent and
power of the southern rebellion been un-
derstood by the loyal people had their
full strength sooner been called into a<.-
tivity-we should not now have to lament
the recent reyerses OF our arms and again
see our Capital beleagured and in danger.
When, prior to your adjournment, the
President of the United States had called
for additional seycnty-ii'e thousand men
to strengthen our national army, we all
fondiY hoped that that would be the last
call for troops, and rested in perfect Sc
curly, relying upon the army then in the
field and the latent power of the North
| We were sadly mistaken Six hundred
thousand more men have since then been
called for, and while every exertion is
made to send them to the rescue, our
army is compelled 10 retreat before an en-
envy superior in numbers. Week after
week necessarily passes in the herculean
| task of organization, and the 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 NAV not be
the last call for troops. The nation should
not again be found sleeping while this
gigantic struggle lasts; and it rests with
the people of the several loyal States to
prepare themselves for future emereen-
cies.
Again: it is evident that, to meet fur
Their calls, it is necessary to rely upon a
system OF drafting or CONSUMPTION, and
whatever may have been the popular pre-
Judice against this system, it Will soon be
generally conceded that it Is the true and
best mode of speedily calling out the mil
itary power of the country. But in order
to make this system a just, equitable and
effective one, legislation is necessary
When the call Of the President was made
for the 100000 drafted militia, no law ex-
listed, or does now exist in our state, for
drafting, aud hence | had TO rely upon
regulations OF the War Department to an
swer the call The enrolment OF the III :
Etia had for years been neglected in our
State. and although | had long before call
ed upon the Assessors TO make the en-
rollmeut as required, found that, IL the
absence of proper regulations for that
purpose, such enrolment would be utter
~ incomplete and inefficient. Prompt ac-
ton was necessary, and hence, | instruct
ed the sherills Of the counties to make the
enrolment, which Is probably now com
pleted throughout the State
The apportionment of the number Of
men required from each town, city, ward,
or county should have been based upon
the number OF men liable to military duty
therein: but in the absence of any enroll
ment, | could only make such apportion-
ment according to the number OF inhabit-
ants. Volunteering being permitted to a
given date only by the General Govern
ment to apply on the drafted militia, it
became necessary to assign ut 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 re-
turns of the enrolled militia from the on
tire State, which have not vet reached Us,
and further delay than IS absolutely nee
esSary would not be warranted by the criti-
cal condition of our country. Whatever
number, therefore, may be required to ill
cur quota for the past calls of the Govern
ment, VIII have 70 be drafted under regu-
iations already made.
1t seems also hardly proper, and Ger
family Is contrary to the regulations dicta-
ted by long experience of other countries,
where conseription has always and does
now exist. that all able bodied men be
tween the ages of 8 and 45 wears should
be called upon to draw lots without any
regard to other circumstances. In my
view, men between Is and 50 years Of are
should first be called out and that class
exhausted before men between 80 and 10
should be compelled to 20 A distinction
might also properly be made between
married and unmarried men; exemptions
should be made, as in all civilized coun-
tries, In certain cases where of the same
family several are already in the service
and one has remained at home as the sup
porter of the family
In case of a further demand for troops,
State regulations, under the sanction of
the legislative power should exist for
these and other points
\ few weeks ago the public was startled
and shocked by the news of an Indian
raid and massacre in one ofour neiehbor-
ing States. This attack of the saya@cs in
Minnesota, was followed Immediately bv
CO is upon me from our own frontier in
the northern and northwestern part Of the
state, for arms, ammunition and men So
far as lay IN my power, | Immediately and
promptly answered those calls by sending
all our State arms and all the ammunition
at my disposal, into the regions threaten
Ell with danger; but in the absence of
any military organization under sanction
of law, had 20 trust these arms to some
reliable men In the different localities
There are thousands of Indians in our
State lowering upon the frontir settlements
Evidence has been furnished to me that
leaves bat little doubt in nv mind that
all the northern Indians, including those
in our own State, have been tempered with
by southern cmmiSsariCs in the employ of
the rebels, 70 induce them to form a lea
que and TO commence warfare upon the
borders Of the loyal States. The recent
outbreak IN Minnesota, am we'll satisfied
must be ascribed TO rebel influence.
The feartnl consequences of an unex-
peetcd attack of these sava-es upon our
peaceful communities can hardly be i'm
aSined; but the recent panic in some of