Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-09-17

IDENTIFY and naturally so much engrossed
with the movements of our great army.
that prompt action can hardly be expec-
ted In case of any disturbances on our
frontier After more than two weeks from
the time eff the massacre, Minnesota was
yet without sufficient arms ana applied to
Us for aid, | trust and hope that no such
disturbances will arise in our State, but
the surest mode of avoiding danger is to
be prepared for it. We should become
familiar with the thought that in the pres
ent condition Of our country we must be-
como warlike people; every community
should be always prepared to defend it
self
To be able then promptly to answer flu
ture calls of the General Government for
troops; to be able to send into the field
men who know at least the rudimcnts OF
drill and how to use a gun; to be able TO
defend our own fresides against attacks
and invasion our State should have an
effective organization of the militia, and a
sufficient supply of arms and ammunition,
AID should have it now. Our pre- sent laws
are insufficient for this purpose. They
were not made for such times or emerge =
gencies our supply of arms is too sm II
and for ammunition we have to RELY on
the General Government at Washing
ton
Perhaps circumstances will not permit
you to enact ut the present time, an en-
tlrely new and we'll digested militia system
with ali its details. [ would therefore
recommend that bv some few and general
enactments amending the present militia
law, provision be made for the immediate
organization, the necessary drill-and the
calling into actiye.serv;ce in case oil need
the militia CT cur State: that provision be
made for drafting militia in case of need
to serve out of the State, and Tor the pur
chase OF the necessary arms and ammuni-
ton. This would answer for our present
emergencies until the next regular session
of the Legislature A military Board or
Com mission might, however, be created
with instructions to prepare complete
militia system, to be laid before the next
Legislature For present organization
the recent enrolment made by the Sher-
ills would be sufficient, and il might be
adopted as basis.
Another subject to which | desire to
call your attention at the present time is
the enactment of law which shall give
the soldiers from this State now in the
army the right to vote at the next general
election. After our quota shall have been
filed we shall have about As, 900 men in
the army of The Union Among these it
is safe to presume that there are at least
10000 voters, who certainly have as deep
If not deeper interest in the welfare Of
the State and Union and in the policy to
guide The counsels in their representative
halls as those who have remained at home.
The views of those brave and patriotic
men should be heard through the ballo5-
box, and should have proper weight in
shaping the destiny OF our lmperllled coun-
try. " no votes must bear AIMS, was the
just decision and rule Of the Secretary of
War; who bears arms should not be dis
franchised, but be permitted to vote,
should be the policy of the country
tuition which would prohibit the enact
mcnt OF such Il law On the contrary,
Section of Article 3, provides that no
person shall he deemed to have lost his
residence IN this State by reason of his
absence on business of the United States
or Of this State This at least indicates
that the Spirit of our Constitution is
against acknowledgements OF our soldiers
justice seems TO demand that they should
he rewarded in n different manner for
their pati iotisn than by loss of one of
the most important rights of citizenship,
especially in the present crisis, and it now
POSTS with you to say whether our election
laws shall be so amended as 20 permit the
taking of the soldiers vote. 1t is believed
Jhat a law could without much difficulty
be framed for this purpose, SO that the sol
diers may vote for the most important pub
lie officers at least; for State officers and
their respective Representatives in Con
greSs, and State Legislature.
The three field officers or in their alb
senee the three ranking officers of each
regiment, and three highest commissioned
officers, or those acting in their places, OF
each battery OF artillery breach company
or squadron of infantry or cavalry on de-
tached service, might be made the inspec-
tors of the election, with power to APP
point the proper person clerk OF the cleo
ton, SO that the vote ma, DC alen on the
day fixed by the Constitution.
| consider such law matter Of sim
pie justice, as Well as of great Importance,
and trust therefore it will meet with your
Another subj ect that should receive your
is the condition of our Volunteer
Aid Fund
The payments made from that fund from January lst to
the present time are, .............. $211, 800 26
The payments viii average at least two
months IN arrear. Including
ges to meet the demands upon the Vol
unteer Aid Fund say to the middle of
next February, will require money
enough for eight months payments,
which at $50, 009 per month, will
amount to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $4,000 90
To meet this there is now in the Fund
about. ......................... 10000 90
Leaving deficiency of. $3.50, 0oo 90
Should the aid be continued throughout
the next year it viii require at least $780,
900, without extending it to any Of the reg
mentS after the Goth
This deficiency OF $3.50, 900 arises main
" from the fact that since the appropria-
ton was made by you for this purpose last
spring, the volunteer aid has been exten>
ded To the 20tk regiment, and that it was
supposed that alter final settlement with
the United States of our war claims, and
after payment Of our war debts, there
would remain surplus of al out 100000
to 90 into the Volunteer Aid Fund. This
calculation was probably correct, but al
though our vouchers have long since been
transmitted to the Treasury Department
at Washington, we have not yet been able
to obtain Il full settlement of our accounts,
:. "a Ifll