Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-10-16

in any sense charged against 1t, Is relieved
entirely of all that was odious under the old
French system, and only provides, in the
mldest form known 10 history. the simple aud
most equitable form OF draft. with the ad-
dition of reasonable and mild Communication.
50 moderate in amount as 10 place 1t within
the pow er of men of limited means even, to
avail themselves of the provisions. There
can he no doubt. under any fair and reasonable
Interpretation of the Constitution. but that
Congress had the clear and obvious power to
resort to this mode Of raising men to replen-
ish the wasted army. independently, how
ever, Of all questions Of Constitutional au-
thority. it Is the law of the land, and as such. .
is entitled to the obedience and respect of
the citizens of the government, until, in the
proper and legitimate method it Is judicial
" determined TO be unconstitutional, and
therefore void.
The quota assessed 10 this State, to be rails
ed under the Act. was AIS. OF this num-
ber only 94S have entered the service or furn-
ished substitutes. and 1888 have paid the
eommutation. There has thus been paid, by
the citizens of this State, into the Treasury
OF the United States. about Fire Hundred
and Fifty Thousand Dollars.
The men raised by the Draft have been
sent to the ID, Sd and 18th regiments, except
ing l64, performing duty at BrattleborJ
STATE MILITIA. AND MILITIA LAW.
The Legislature at it, last session passed
an act for the organization. regulation
and government OF the Militia of tins state.
The act provides simply for an enrolment
Of persons liable to do military duty. he
tween the ages of Is and -. and tor the
proper exemptions. In case Of " war. inva-
sion. the prevention Of invasion, the suppress
sion of insurrcction or riots, and to aid civil
officers in the execution Of the laws of the
the State. the CommandeI-in-Chie may or
der for actual service. by draft, or otherwise.
a. many of the enrolled militia, a the case
demands '' In the event the militia are
called out upon the happening of any of
the contingencies named ia the act. then
provision l. made for the proper dra l.
ing the system Of substituting, the mode of
organization. and such other measures as are
necessary to render the military power OF the
State, efficient and serIlceahlc.
For all immediate practical purposes,
therefore, beyond a simple enrolment, the
law is wholly without value, and really at
foris to the State no protection, nor present
available means of defence.
In pursuance oC the act. the proper in
structions, forms, blanks, &c. were pre-
pared and distributed to the -clcctmcn OF the
several towns, and the militia Of the State
were duly enrolled in the month of January
last Medical boards were appointed. fur
nished with the necessary instructions. and
held session in the different counties, for the
purpose uf examining and cxemptin. such
as were not liable to do military duty. Com
missioners were also appointed to enroll the
militia in the trores and unorganized towns
IN the State.
The result Of the enrolment was as fol-
lows
Number enrolled HISS
Exempted by Medical board. 3.3-i
In United States service l5,6S7- I7-07l
Total number liable tn draft. 30.ll2
of this number there are known to De- ma
nv who are wholly unfit for military service.
being VIGOROUSLY disabled. and who from
that fact refused or neglected to attend be-
fore the medical board for examination. and
pay the fee prescribed by the Act, because
they felt certain of being exempted if draft
ed. As result Of this, the quota of the
State is largely increased, and additional
burdens are imposed upon those Liable to
draft. and injustice Il thereby done To the
State.
would call your especial attention TO this
subject, and would recommend that the law
be modified ~ as TO guard against such re-
suit in the future. The best mode of rem
edving the evil is left to your Judgment
Whether it would be better to abolish alto
cether the fee required to be paid to the
board by the applicant for exemption, or
whether it would be sufficient to authorize
the board to refund, TO every person
who receives a certificate of exemption.
the fee advanced by him, are questions for
your consideration. Additional provision
should also be made for ascertaInins and en-
railing with more care the men who are in
the service of the United States, and their
exemption for that cause should b. properly
shown upon the enrolment list.
In the present disturbed state of Affairs,
hath as regards the civil strife which Is rag
inc in our country, rs also the critical posi-
ti6n of the relations of this country with for
eign nations. it becomes a question of serious
moment for YOU, gentlemen, to consider
whether a more efficient and active militia
system is not required in the State. Theac-
neighboring province for a complete, tho
rough and efficient organization of their MI
htia, should properly lead us to inquire into
the state of our own deiences, and the condl-
ton in which the State would be left in the
event of disturbance of the amicable rela-
tons, for the present sub-isting. between this
government and foreign powers. invite
your thoughtful attention to the subject,
confident that YOU will bcstow upon it that
deliberate consideration which ito Importance
justly demands.
THE SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS N HOSPITAL.
The communication from my predecessor,
already laid before you, gives the full par
ti.ulars on this subject. 1t appears that over
twenty-five hundred sick and wounded Yer
mont soldiers, in more than one hundred
general hospitals, in the different States, have
been visited, and over one thousand have
been transferred to the hospitals in Vermont.
The change of air and treatment thus secured,
has not only been Of immense value to the
poor soldier, but has contributed larger per
cent. of cured and returned to duty, than
from any other general hospitals known.
The system is o great value, and no effort
of mine shall b. wanting to give it all the
efficiency the nature of the case will admit OF.
THE STATE. N HER AGRICuLTURAL INTERESTS
AND PRosPECTs-
| have only time to allsde, IN general
way. to the material interests Of Vermont, IN
that department of her industry which con
stitutes alike her pride and chief source OF
wealth. In an eminent degree, Vermont Is
an agr,euhuraI STATE. and it Is 10 this, more
perhaps, than to any other source that she
!, Indebted for tie hi.h character for virtue
and morality which she every where sustain' /,
for that spirit Of exalted patriotism whlc6
has ever been her leading characteristic. ano
for that love Of freedom and free institutions o.
which have secured for her an cnSia'le dis
tinction un the records of our nations history