North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-03-11
Billy OH the Draft.

AS Billy was brought out IN ofder tnat ne
might show his wonderful parts" it was an
nounced by the lovely babes before they
took their exit, that they were to be succeed
ed by this prodigy of learning, wisdom and
beauty. The Babes ascribed to him what
the song says of old Zip Coon, to wit: that
he was ga very high larnt scholar" Billy
announced in his debut that he could GO write;''
he intended to write &c. To still further in
crease our admiration, and excite our wonder,
he now repeats that he can write" and
that lie "was Superintendent of Columbia
County :" that the appointment was urged"
upon him that, having had charge of a Sem
mary for ten years, "after some delay, he
consented" was commissioned, &c.
After these thundering blasts from his
trumpet, blown by the redoubtable Billy him.
self, who can but feel that he is a great man !?
A self-sacrifcing, dsinterested patriot? He
is also, it would seem, valiant man for he
tells.us that when all was in confusion"
and ne was drafted, he "did not evince the
least trepidation or desire to evade the draft"
No, not he
In order to still further impress us with
his courage and patriotism, Billy offers to
I" shoulder his knapsack and musket and go to
the war along with u.s. We will not blame
him for wishing to get into better company
This isnaturaI; and would be redeeming trait
in his character, were it not for the fact, that
L. o(
than he, have sought the society of their su-
periors, and dped their actions. We must
hover decline going en- any niger catching
expedition with him; especially must we OBJ
ject to mai ching, for any purpose, by the
side of any such gander- shanked, red faced
wall eyed, carroty-haired, narrow shoulder
ed, and narrow Drained specimen of the ne
gro worshipping tribe
Now, Billy, the best way to have proved
your valor, was to have taken your knapsack
at the time you were drafted, aud marched
southwark. On the tented field, pi:ted
against the slaveocrats," you could have es-
tablshed your reputation. We have notion
that you are one of the tathing patriots whose
inclinationS, like fugitive n gger's, are very
strong towards the north pole. We do not
doubt, if drafts are to be continued, that you
will, eventually, land safely among your
coored brethern in Canada.
But to examine little more seriously the
Vindication" made by Billy. He says thqt
after being drafted DR.. JOHN Gan abolition
friend, } wrote to the Secretary Of state, " the
peculiar dilemma the public schools would
be placed in" We might ask, what the Sec
retary of State had to do with the public
schools or county superintendent OF Colum-
bia county?
He says he had made his arrangements to
remove to this county long before the draft.
1t seems that neither DR.. John nor Mr.. Bur
CESS had made any provision for the " diem
ma" In this case but it was only suggested
when the lar required him to ' shoulder his
knapsack and musket," and travel south
He distinctly affirms that he was cleared
on account of his official position - yet he
had arranged to do so and did abandon the
ing cleared, and for aught we know, or from
anything that appears in his vindication,"
the duties are yet unperformed. We do
know that complaints on this score were
made in the papers of that county.
So far as the legality of this discharge is
concerned, it would have been just as com
petent for the Secretary at war or Of state,
or Gov. Curtin or Thos. Fl Burrows to have
discharged Peter Funk" because he had a
license to auctioneer Pinchback, jewelry, as
to have released Billy Burgess on account of
his official position, and this even If he had
not then, virtually abandoned it.
The policy of the order," releasing him
from the draft, Billy says, he " is not discuss
ing"
That policy and the utter aDant of Legality
in the transaction, are just the points raised
hers which we desired this learned peda-
gogue edit or to throw light upon. We, nor
the public generally, have no desire to know
how long he has been an officer, or how long
be welded the pedagogue's feruIe in the
Milvlle Seminary. The lap by which he
evaded the draft, or the policy which au-
thorized his release are of far more conse
quence to the public than these facts.
He says that we "design to break down
the influence of the Republicans by sophis
ticdl presentment of perverted facts, misstate-
ments and illogical conclusions" Who, but
the learned head of the g MIlville Seminary"
could have got off such lingo as this The
effort to do SO, seems to have exhausted his
powers, for IN a column and a half that fol-
lows 1t, he absolutely says nothing to the
point; and proves nothing, except that
drowning man, or sinking politician will
sometimes grasp things even less substantial
than straws.
IL During the Mexican war, large