The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-07-25
THE INJUSTICE OF A DRAFT IN KANSAS.

THE INJUSTICE OF A DRAFT IN KANSAS.
We had thought, in common with majority
Of our people, that certainly the excess Of the
quota of troops ascribed to Kansas would save
our heroic young State from the stigma Of
draft. Indeed, it was thought by Eany that
even if our number fell short, the peculiar cir
cumstances of our people, would forbid any fur
ther demands upon our State for troops. There
is repugnance in every spirited mans breast to
the very idea of being drafted even in defence of
his Country-but somebody must stay at home,
as necessarily to the defence of the Government,
as ne who goes TO the battle field. As gigantic
as has been this rebellion, yet it has but developed
the power of the Government, and demonstrated
the inexhaustible resources Of the free North
Hence it is no reproach to o man but, in the
case Of our State, it looks more like stigma
upon the State as SUCH
Kansas stands to-day more fully and unequiv.
Ocslly in favor of prosecution of this war until
the Federal Government is acknowledged su-
I'reme than any other loyal State On her soil
it began, undisguisedly, q war for Freedom.
Ever since then, the numbers and quality of her
soldiery, have but added to her determination
and fame. The spirit of her people is indicated
'by their restlessness when draft is agitated.
Last fall, when prominent speakers demanded
'enhstments, or threatened draft in lieu thereof.
iuily nifty men left Davis county, all that it was
then supposed could possibly be spared. Farms
were desolated, families left, it may be said, un-
provided for-and the weeds now covering spots
that were wont to wave in grain. or glisten with
the golden tassels of the ripening corn, stand as
living monuments of the patriotism of our peo-
pie. And to-day, notwithstanding there has
been some few new settlers come among us, a
large amount Of grain stands unharvested be-
cause Of the scarcity of men. The ordinary pur
suits of life are checked, for the same reason.
Still, this does not dampen their ardor in the
least. The present extensive preparations for q
draft in this State exhibit that more can enlist
but leaving desolated farms, and standing crops
to go to ruin. From our observation, we can saw
that twenty five more men in Davis county stand
ready to forsake all and volunteer, when it is
made plain that draft is to come-and let the
officer appear in town with his wheel, and the
number will be doubled.
Our people are a unit. No demand upon them
by the General Government, for the defence of n
principle living within them. will be considered
too onerous. They stand pledged to the last
man and dollar to the complete subjugation of
this rebellion-are willing to fcrsake the fruits
OF their toll, and turn them over to the unciyil
lied state in which they were found.
But look at the injustice of it. Kansas has |
iweive Thousand men in the field. To equal |
this, New York and Pennsylvania would each
have to furnish over Four Hundred Thousand |
Neither one OF them has half that number. Yet
our State must bear this unjust burthen, receiv-
ing no credit for what she has done The arri-
cultural interests of the State, upon which her
prosperity depends, are now suffering badly
and if twenty-five Hundred more men are
taken from among US, the State will be ruined |
for years to come.
This is not an intentional act of injustice. |
We have not received proper credits-but little |
is known ut Washington Of what we have fur |
nished. through the neglect or Encouragement
OF the first State administration. 1t could be |
stayed, however, were our public men TO repre- |
sent the facts. That they have not, can only
be accounted for by the handsome profits of the
commission business. The division and sub |
division Of the State into Provost Marshal Dis |
tricts seems SO useless that we must ascribe to
the power within these commissions a greater
portion of This imposition upon our people.
kELIEF FOR CorPEIHEAD INDIANA.-John Nor |
gan, with few thousand of his followers, have |
been in Indiana for q few weeks, giving them |
taste OF rebellion. He did not pass through
county but what was able to corral him, had the |
people turned out. They send all the way to
Kansas for regiment of infantry, while our own
border is constantly menaeed. They will doubt
less require one to patrol the streets Of New ork,
and still another to keep guerrilla parties out Of
Shouldn't wonderi {
CoNs'srENcr.-We agree with the Leavenworth |,
Times that the New York riots are the result of
he teachings Of Fernando Wood, and the World
md Express newspapers. The Chicago Times
s the vilest of the Copperhead tribe 1t was
egitmatcly suppressed by General Burnside
he Leavenwosth Times defended some pusil-
an'mous Republicans, who petiioned the Presi.
lent s'r revocation Of the order expressing it.
he order was revoked, and the treason, which
ne Iimes says resulted so fearfully in New
Av,x L