The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-12-12
Letter from the State Capital.


Tothe Editor Qfthe Press:
In an editorial paragraph in Tuesdays issue
you allude to my views on the recruiting
question, as expressed in my letter of Mon
day, In such manner as to betray a miscon-
ception of my sentiments did not refer to
the recruiting system in Massachusetts, as
having proved a failure, for understand that
it is meeting with very satisfactory success. l
merely alluded to the fact that the extra ses-
sion of the Legislature in that state had not
accomplished the object for which it was con-
vened and that, in consequence, the Governor
ito whom it properly belongs had been
obliged to exercise his own authority, to REM
edy those abuses which the Legislature proved
insufficient to prevent. The whole matter of
raising troops by volunteering is by the gen
eral government, delegated to the governors
of states and not to Legislatures, and the gov
errors have full authority to act upon it,
subject only to the restrictions and sugges-
tons OF the War Department.
The Legislature of Massachusetts was
called together and voted State Bounty of
1926 to be paid in installments to each person
who should be accepted as one of the quota
Of the State, and forbade, by public enactment,
all municipal bounties whatever; but cities
and towns there evaded the law by raising
recruiting funds" &C., amounting in some
instances, as / am credibly informed, to $1,000
per man for forming part Of their quotas.
The consequence is, the governor and COM
mander in chief is obliged to promulgate
General Order No. 40, to enforce the act Of
the Legislature and to declare that all such
sums will be considered as so much money
paid in behalf Of the COMMONWEALTH and be
deducted from the state t..ounty when the lat
ter is p@id. Vain threat! Mathematcians
VII. 90 pu1.led Tor amused) to ascertain how
one p'lousand dollars - not mere algebraic
SYMBOLS, but actual, substantial dollars, can
be deducted from only three hundred, and
creditors will rejoice to learn that debtors
owing but two dollars will pay ten, take re-
ceipt upon account and liquidate the remain
der when it becomes due. As paying inven-
ton, this one is not surpassed by any OF the
age, and must, In very short time, become
exceedingly popular.
But If the Governor can enforce alegislative
enactment or make additions notifications
to one by general order, why is not another
order as good as the original statute? 1t c0r-
tainly is less expensive, as we reckon dollars
and cents in this State, although perhaps by
the Massachusetts, method Of Computation it
may not be so economical.
In this State Governor Coburn after duly
hearing and considering both sides Of the
question OF calling the Legislature together,
decided to save the State the expense Of an
extra session and to issue general order in
stead which Of course had all the force of the
law on the subject. In this order he recon-
mended that towns should offer bountles to
recruits not exceeding $500. When it was
found that towns disregarded this injunction
las they did the act Of the Legislature in Mas
which corresponds to Governor Andrews
General Order, No. 40, with the exception Of
the arithmetical paradox, and announced that
all proper influences would be brought to bear
to assist such towns as did not disregard his
expectation in this respect, and now he has
issued another order directing that no city or
town which pays more than 5000 bounty shall
be allowed to procure men from places which
confine themselves to the sum unless the quota
Of the latter has been previously filed.
The action of the Governor in the matter
has proved the wisdom of his views. Enlist
ments are coming in rapidly, as much SO al
least, as in any State in the Union. Whether
the quota of the State is to be filled by volun-
teers, the 5th of January will decide, but
venture to predict although laying no claim
to second sight that the quota of this State
will be as nearly filled by volunteers as tina,
Of Massachusetts, or any other State of the
Union. Yours truly, HELIos.