The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-07-30

eral Assembly for little expenditure
and effort for a militia system at the
next session; and after great exertion,
and constant entreaty by the friends Of
the measure, the Legislature, at the
very close of the session, in April last,
passed the bill which is now in force;
and feeble though it be in the appro-
priation of money, the system is good
and practical when once put into oper-
alton.
The Legislature, in its wisdom and
economy, ordered 1000 extra copies of
the law printed for circulation The
first order from Cincinnati, upon the
Adjutant General, was for 5000 copies
for circulation in that city.
Immediately upon the passage of the
law, and before it could he printed,
steps were taken by the Governor to
inform the people as to its provisions.
Many counties in the State were visit
cd by the Adjutant General and Quar-
termaster General, and public meetings
held, warnings and entreaties made to
induce organization under the law.
Every county through which Morgan
and his marauding band has passed
was visited, and public meetings held,
before the 18th of June.
The Legislature fixed the Fourth of
July as the day for the election of Off
GERS, and fifteen days from that time as
the day for returns to the Adjutant
General.
Morgan's raid began on our western
border on the 18th. On the evening
Of that day, near midnight, the Gov
ernor received telegram from Major
General Burnside, asking that 10000
militia men be called out. The morn
ing papers of the 18th contained the
proclamation Of the Governor, calling
out all the militia force in thirty-two
southern counties of the State (which
had been organized into companies
How many companies had been Or
ganized, or what force this call would
bring out, it was impossible for the
Governor to know, as but few returns
Of elections, and not twelve complete
company organizations had been made
The prompt and patriotic response to
the call was not the result Of organiza-
ton, as many of the companies held
their election after they went into camp
1t was the result Of that good common
sense and patriotic impulse of the peo-
pie that teaches them to defend their
ownhomes and institutions against rob-
bers and assassins, and to repel force
wtih force. 1t was a glorious demonstra-
ton, for which every lover Of his coun-
try may well be proud and thankful.
Let the petty croakers and fault-fnd-
ers who condemn the Governors CALL
hang their heads.with shame, when we
know and can clearly see what Morgan
might have done and what would have
been his route, but for the prompt call
and liberal responset to it by the people.
lie attempted to destroy Camp Den
nison, where were many convalescents,
a valuable camp, and much public pro-
perty. His repulse there warned him
that a visit to Camp Chase, where were
thousand rebel prisoners, among them
his Adjutant General and Chief staff,
would be attended with greater risk
and probably capture.
Our beautiful Capital, with its valu-
able archives and thousands of treas
ure, paid in by our rich and prosperous
people, was tempting prize for the
daring raider and his band of robbers.
All praise to our gallant and patri-
otic Governor, who had backbone to
promptly appeal to the people (whosc
faithful servant he is) to come to the
rescue who made the call without
knowing what it would produce, or
how much it would cost; and who
never for moment stopped to inquire
its influence upon the next election Or
whether it might, for the time being,
incommode the editors of weak, parti-
san presses, who could only see an
" elephant when just and uniform
rule, requiring every man subject to
military duty to report at camp, en-
dangored the failure of the next issue
of his sheet which might, with a grand
flourish of wisdom and independence,
criticise and ridicule the honest and
faithful efforts of a public officer, who
would make no exception in favor of
printers and editors over any other
citizens.
People of Ohio, how long will you
continue blind to the issues involved
Have done with party chickering's and
strifes, and stand by your country;
stand by the Executive, and every
other honest, true man who is devoting
his life and energies to the salvation of
this glorious Government, and the
crushing out of the accursed rebellion,
which can never be done except by
force,
Organize organize at once, and
adopt the present militia system, espe-
cially the volunteer provisions of it,
Had you done so one month ago, Morgan
and his band of marauders would never
have gone through our entire South
ern border, carrying destruction and
sorrow in his train.
Doubtless this raid will cost the
State and General Government one
million of dollars, saying nothing
of the lives Of our brave and gal
liant men who have fallen by the way,
and whose place in our hearts and
homes no worldly goods can ever fill.
The cost of this one raid would have
established militia system, and main