Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-30
Bounty for Volunteers.


our citizens met at the City Hall to devise
some means by which to raise volunteers
and furnish men to the extent required
of this place by the government, to serve
in the army. The people here, when fully
and fairly represented, like the people of
nearly all the towns OF any size in the
+ loyal portions of the United States, re
( solved it to be wise and expcdient to raise
local bounty for the families of volun-
teers, and thought it best to raise this
bounty by taxation. IN pursuance of
this sentiment petition was drawn up
/ in accordance with the law in such cases
made and provided, and signed by few
of the most respectable men in this place,
and presented to the mayor of the city
and by him to the city council at their
/ last meeting The law provides that no
greater amount shall be raised by taxa
ton to aid families Of volunteers, than
has been pledged or borrowed by the city
council, town or county boards, FOR that
purpose. At the meeting of the council
they refused to pledge the corporation to
the extent asked, sufficient to pay each
recruit 5000; in fact, refused to pledge
any amount, or order an election to ascer-
tain the wishes of the people-and the
mayer pronounced the meeting and the
petition g q farce"
1t may be a farce for the people to as
l I
tons, and find out ways to furnish both
men and money to assist the government,
but we believe the right is guaranteed by
the Constitution. 1t may be farce to
present petitions, in accordance with the
law, to municipal or national corporations,
but We don't see it.
We are surprised that some Of the Al
dermen should treat the petition as they
did; they must know that the bounty asked
for, is no greater than is paid in many
places in this state, and that wherever it
has been done, rapid volunteering has at
once commenced; hence the surest way
to get the men is to first get the money or
its equivalent Is it right to raise boun-
ties by taxation? We think so. Those
who stay at home have sacred duties to
perform, as we'll as those who 60 and fight.
1t is peculiarly the duty Of those at home
to alleviate the suferings Of those left
desolate by the hardships of the war, TO
give of what each has to the suffering and
needy, that the absaut father may know
that his family are among friends. We
are informed that where a town raises
hounties, and through them obtains volun-
teers. that town will be credited for the
man, regardless of where his residence is
If this be so, 1t silences the argument that
if the bounty be raised we cannot get tho
men. We hope that the Mayor, upon re-
Election, viii soften down little on the
idea of farce" and that the council
viii find it consistent to let the people
vote upon this question of taxation for
bount;es, and remove from themselves the
responsibility of defeating one of the most
successful plans for raising volunteers.
PooR THINGs-Gen. Gillmorc's Swamp
Angel, IN throwing creek hre into the
city of Charleston, caused no greater COM
motion among the traitors to the govern
ment in that city, than a few remarks from
Us in our last Issue, caused among their
allies who manage the editorial columns
of the HteHjgenecr; and Beaurcgard' wry
faces at such az unconstitutional mode of
warfare, Is more than equailed by the con
tortions Of the htelligencer men in their
attempt to blunt the sting of a guilty con
science. Poor things bottle Of Mrs.
Winslow's soothing syrup might ease them
for the time being. The only permanent
cure, however, would be return to loyal
ty, on the terms of the Presidents Proc
lamation.