The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-23
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In 1862, George E. Pugh proposed to Gov
Tod to become the Colonel of Regiment of
Ohio Volunteers. In 1868, he is the cham
pion of the foe of his country, who never
voted man or a dollar for the war into
which Pugh was in haste to dash in 1867
Now Pugh denounces the war for the sup
preston Of the rebellion, and all connected
with it. If Geo. E. Pugh is any more homo
rable, or has any more integrity tEan his file
leader, it viii require Keen optics to discover
the fact. In August, (25th1 1862, Pugh
wrote to Gov. Tod saying; (his letter being
published in the Cincinnati papers at the
time)-
.sOur army needs reinforcement immedI-
atelv. and since volunteering has failed, or
nearly so, even with the additional stimulus
of private bounty $500 to each recruit-an
expenditure Of money which, considering
community can long sustain-the obvious
duty Of the Federal Government is to call the
militia of the States, or as many of them as
are required, INTO actual service.
This, if the war be worth prosecuting,
ought not to cause any complaint it is a
choice, by lot, for such as are liable to dis
charge'an obligation everywhere acknowledged
in the civilized world, and which has fallen
less hardly upon us than upon any other peo-
ple Consider that war is not thing of plea
sure, bus of the sternest and most terrible inn
portahee; no man has a right, morally speak
ing, to avoid his share of the difficulties, the
perls, or the sacrifices. =
The draft cannot be and ought not to be
delayed an hour"
Upon the 10th of August, Gov. Tod re-
ceived the following telegram
g CINCINNATI, o., Aug. .26, 1862.
Hon, DaUid Tod
!" Will you accept regiment of Volunteers
upon conditions specified in my letter pub
lished in the Cincinnati papers Of this date
g G. E. PUGH"
Upon reference to his letter published il
the Commercial of that date, it will be fount
that Mr.. Pugh offered to take command of {
regiment or otherwise serve in it, upon con.
ditons
lst. That the Governor would accept tn,
regiment if rendered by Sept. 4 and gran
commissions to the officers chosen.
81! Term of service to be three years O
during The war.
81 The men who join aud then refuse t,
appear, 10 be entered upon the rolls of tht
Militia For actual service, as if actually drawn
4th. Field and Company officers to be cho
sen by ballo;.
These conditions Were ell satisfactory tt
Gov. Tod, who at once communicated tn,
proposition to the Secretary OF War, askin:
mthority to accept the regiment, allowing th,
Usual lay and bounty.
The Sec'etary's answer was communicate,
to Mr.. Pugh in dispatch, of which the fol
lowing is copy:
"CoLUMBUs, O., aug, 81, 1862.
:" Ho,, Geo. z. Pugh, Cincinnati, o.:
:" Have just received the following dis
patch:
e. WAsHINGToN Aug. 27.-There will b
no objection to receiving the Regiment pro
posed to he raised under your authority bu
no advanced pay or bounty can be allowcd
because that having been stopped in all tn
other Stases, except for recruits to old regi
meats, 10 preferences or exceptions tcail-b
Justly made. Numerous applications fror
different States to continue the pay ian
bounty for the purpose of raising and film
up new Regiments, have been denied: and
I would be Il breach of good faith todo in on
case and refuse itsin all Others, and woul
subject the Government to deserved reproacl
s'E M. STANTON.
PLEASE advise me whether you vill g
forwrrd if SO, please cailnpon me at once
"DAVID TOD, Gov"
At this stage it seems the matter dFoppe
aud nowiwe find Pugh stultifying his vo
untary position that '' the draft cannot an
ought not to be delayed an huur,' and th;
"no man has a right, morally speaking,
avoid his share of the difficulties, the peril
or the sacrifices of the war-for now he Al
oepts the position of his traitorous patroI
saint, and is doing what he may 10 imper
and destroy the life of thenatior, and to gi1
aid and comfort to the enemy. This is Geo.
Pagh-as he was aud as he is-what do yc
thing of him?