The New York herald., 1862-08-30
fore IT insists on commencing the draft on the
The Free Will OHering Of tho American
People.


AT the commencement of the rebellion we
kept list Of the individual contributions, the
free offerings Of our people, to assist the govern
mens in the prosecution Of the war and tho
suppression of The unhoiy rebellion, until the
amount reached upwards Of forty-dye millions
Of dollars, all Of which was given without any
expectation OF it's return, save III the security 70
life ana property that would be guaranteed by
the success of the Union arms, Us well as the
vindication Of our republican form Of govern
ment by the crushing out OF tho extensive con-
spiracy against it-a conspiracy not confined 70
our own country, but extending to the aristo-
cracy of the Old World. Since that period no
correct lists Of these donations have been kept
Not day, however, passes without our chronl-
cling the donation Of patriotic individuals. The
rich and the poor Of every locality are ccntinu
ally placing upon the altar Of their country
their private means, and swelling the amount
OF the patriotic contributions in behalf of our
goverAment to sum unparalleled in the his
tory Of tho world
Ever since the last call Of the President for
troops the public have literally come forward
with their funds to make the response quick
and emphatic. individuals have given their
hundreds and thousands, societies and corpora
.ions their tens and hundreds Of thousands,
and. in fact, liberal contributions have been
made in every quarter. The circumstances
connected with most of these gifts, and the man.
ner in which they have been made, speak volumes
for the patriotism Of our people and their deyo-
ton to the country, Take, for example, the
Police Department of this city. They have al
ready organized two full regiments, ans have
two more under way, and at the same time have
secured = fund for the support Of the families
>of those who enlist in their regiments. To this
fund they have already received individual con-
tributions varying in amount from twenty-five
cents to Eve hundred dollars, amounting in all
TO upwards of thirty thousand dollars. To this
there vail be added; on tho lst Of September,
from the police force, fully tw enty-fve thousand
dollars more, which will be daily augmented
The families of those who enlist in the police
regiments will be visited every alternate Mon
day, and their necessities supplied out Of this
patriotic fund.- thus furnishing guarantee to
those who march to the battle field that their
Under this arrangement it is useless to add that
the two regiments Of the Police Department
were recruited in less time than any other in
this city
While this and the Inducements offered by
individuals for recruits for particular regiments
are taking place in this city, the rural districts
are not behind in their free will offerings.
We give these rs examples Of whist has
been done but other localities are not behind
in their free will offerings. II the entire
amount Of the individual donations could now
be enumerated, together with those made by So
cetes and corp0rations--for which there is no
expectation Of r6imbursement-the entire
sum Of free will offerings OF our people, e. on
the breaking out Of the rebellion down to
this time, would amount to upwards Of one
hundred millions Of dollars. The like is un-
paralleled in the history Of the world and tells
. tale of the devotion of our people to our de-
mocratic form Of government that the aristo-
cracy Of the Old 1Vorld may vel, take warning
from. It shows the earnestIess of the masses
and their determination 10 maintain our gov
eminent that will be we'll for our officials 10
carefully consider and beware how they tribe
with.