Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-08-15
HOW 1T IS TO BE DONE.

the quota OF the nine months men Tor the
State Of Vermont is to be raised As yet we
have seen but one satisfactory answer aud
that is, by draft But is there no way to
avoid draft This can only be answered
by the Governor, ard he has as yet issued no
orders respecting the nine months men,
General Order No. 10, which we publish to-
day, has reference solely TO the quota Of the
State and the deficient towns for filling up
the regiments now in. OF about going into,
the field and for those regiments the mode
Of enlistment is the same as it has hitherto
been, save that the seltcimen are constituted
the recruiting officers for their respective
towns.
General Order No. 90 from the War De-
par,men', which we publish to-day, prescribes
the mode Of drafting the militia in those
States where no provisions are made by the
State laws for that purpose. We find this
order in the Boston journal, addressed to
Gov Andrew of Massachusetts,, but suppose
1t Is also addressed 70 the Governors Of the
other States. Governor Holbrook among the
rest The question then arises, arc the pro-
visions for drafting in the State Of Vermont
such as TO exempt this State from the regula-
Gons therein prescribed We understand
tina, there is great dout- in the minds Of legal
men as 20 what the provisions for drafting in
this State are Our laws in this respect are
40 indefinite that IL is not easy to determine
proci,el how the thing is to be accomplished
under the State authorities without applying
the regulations as prescribed by the War De-
partment II SO. each one can read and judge
for himself Apparently the draft is imparo-
tire. and there can be no alternative no vol
uuteeriug can answer the requirements Of this
order and the people Of Vermont must stand
il nolens poieBs IT, however, the provisions
Of The State law are such that the State Of
Vermont IS not included in this order. the
people are anxious to know it; and further
more. they wish to know recisely what is to
be doao with them.
We still believe that the quota from this
State can be raised more speedily from voluu-
tecIing than from draft. Washington coun-
ty has hundreds OF willing men that stand
and We can assure the Governor that the
quota Of th. coul ty can be raised By volun-
tecrs IN bali the lime that it can possibly be
done by draft The draft is repugnant to
their patriotism, and it ID impossible to see
why they are not just as good soldiers when
taken as volunteers as they would be If draft
ed. The plea Of want Of time, cannot be
made against the taking Of further vol Hteers;
since we know that that plea will be decided
is in favor Of the volunteering Let it be
known to- day just how many men arc wanted
70 make up ,he quota Of this county, and ~
three dogs the number will be ready, Apply
the regulations for drait. as prescribed IS
the War Department, and at least 6jtoa,
days must be allowed in which to complete
the enrolment s6d get tho men to the place
of rendezvous. Why not then raise the men
in the speediesi possible MAJ ner, We have
no assurance that men will not in the end be
mostly volunteers. since every drafted man
has the opportunity Of procuring his substi-
tute Why then delay to put the men INTO
the field as uoiifnteers when II can be done 50
much quicker and much more in conson-
ance with the feelings of the people.
We see it intimated " that one or more Of
fcials are urging the Governor to listen to no
appeals in favor Of volunteers, but to resort
at once to a draft Perhaps the instructions
from the War Department are so arbitrary
that the jormcs of draft must be gone thro
with. But we hardly think that the General
Government will refuse TO any State the priv
ilege. in some way, Of answering the dis for
men in such way as that it shall not be
placed upon the record as an unwilling re-
spondent, so long as thousands stand ready
e. enter the field II any official Of the State
is thus placing himself between the people
aud tho Governor. who is Commander-in-
Chief of the militia Of the State, he might
as well begin to balance his accounts prepar'
atory to turning the duties Of his office over
to another man. We believe that the Rut
land Herald speaks truly when il says :--"Th'
way is simple and easy. Let Governor Hoi
brook Just inform the inhabitants of Vermont
how many able bodied troops he wants and
on what DAY tntY must oo !" h'"'''N"N'N
and they will be there " cooked and pr'n'ed
with patriotic ardor, early in the morning
as possibly TO catch the sentinels around thu
mansion Of our vigilant and popular EKeeu
tive. who clamor for draft, sleeping at thei
posts"
Drafted men--conscripts from Vermont
Who likes such a record Surely not tn
people Of the State and shall it be force
upon them, when ,bey stand begging at tn
door of the Executive that they may be al
lowed the privilege of fighting the battles
the country withom bei"g compelled to do 1t
We do not believe il we cant believe it,
But we must wait patiently for orders fro
the Governor. Until they appear tho who
matter is under cloud TLere are, howeve
questions in which the people are in'crcS'e'
and already inquiries are pouring in upon
from all quarters to know Il the towns a
not TO be allowed to furnish their quotas
v luateets and aagnrances that drafi H. u