The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-07-17
The Conscripts. State Bounty, Aid TO
Families xSc.


1t is with no small degree of satisfaction
that we bear testimony TO the general readi-
ness of our people to respond 10 the draft. 1t
bears hard in individual instances, and we
hope that liberal-niinded, big-hearted citizens
will be ready to aid those upon whom the law
bears with severity. We know of instances
which strongly appeal to the consideration of
men of wealth, and we do not believe the APP
peal will be in vain. We dare say that in such
cases the conscript will find those who are
ready to bear with him the expense of procur-
ing the needful substitute. 1t is gratifying to
know that most of the drafted men whose
circumstances render it next to impossible for
them to leave, are procuring substitutes in
stead of paying combinations. They are not
disposed to withhold from the Government
the physical force which its needs demand.
This is well and praseworthy.l There may be
exceptions to this rule, but Portland will no.
bly, do her duty, and no countenadee will be
given to any resistance to the laws of the
land.
1t may be interesting to drafted men to
know that the duty of towns to provide for
the families of the soldiers - volunteers and
conscripts-is imperative. Towns have no OPP
tion in the premises. The State provides for
reimbursement to the towns, and they must
provide such relief as in their judgment is de-
manded, The following is the language Of
the law:
The cities, towns and plantations in this
State shall raise money by taxation or other
wise, to be applied to aid in the support of
the wife or dependent mother, father, brother
or sister and minor children, being inhabitants
OF such city, town or plantation OF any soldier.
sailor or marine who may be actually engaged
In the military or naval service of the United
States or of this State, in any recognized COM
pany. battalion or regiment of this State or on
board of any armed vessel Of the United
States during the present rebellion; the mon
ey SO raised to be expended under the direc-
ton of the municipal authorities ofsaid cities.
towns and plantations as the exigencies of the
persons for whose benefit it was intended may
severally require.
While towns are not limited by the law in
the amount OF their provision, the State does
limit the amount to be reimbursed, in the fol-
lowing terms:
OF the money so applied by any city, town
or plantation as authorized in section one,
there shall be reimbursed from the State treas
ury to such city, town or plantation an amount
not exceeding seventy-five cents per week for
wife or dependent mother, father, brother or
sister, and fifty cents for each child, being in
habitants as aforesaid, who at the time of such
soldier, sailor or marine being called into the
service, were and who still continue TO be de-
pendent on him for their support; prorided
hoUerer, that the sum so reimbursed shall not
in any case exceed eleven dollars per month
for all the persons thus dependent upon one
soldier, sailor or marine.
Our city has not limited its aid to the
amount TO be reimbursed by the State, but
has granted relief with degree Of liberality
measured rather by the needs OF the families
and dependents of the soldiers than by
its claim upon the State Treasury. At the
next meeting of the City Council there is no
doubt but the families of the drafted men
viii be placed on the same footing with the
families OF the volunteers.
The following is the act entire under which
our conscripted soldiers will receive their
State bounty:
AN ACT to pay bounty TO soldiers who may
be drafted into the service of the United
States under the late conscript act OF Con-
gress.
Sect /. Every person in this State who
shall be drafted into the service of the United
States under the conscript act of Congress,
and who shall have been mustered into the
service Of the United States either as princi-
pal or as a substitute or volunteer shall be
paid the sum of one hundred dollars.
Sect. 2. The governor is hereby authorized
and empowered to adopt such measures as
viii best accomplish the purposes of this act,
and xtrtf al Is IL
warrant upon the treasurer for all expendi-
lures hereby authorized.
Sect. 8. This act shall take effect on its ap-
proval by the governor.
Approved March 20, 1862.