Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-01-15

ana submit 70 lava and the demands of tho
Government. n &
81 The Constitutions Of Indiana provides
that no person eonscientiously opposed to
bearing arms shall be compelled to do mi
litia duty, but such person shall pay an G.
auivalent for exemption. As the draft
was upon the militia OF the States, all
persons included in the constitutional pro.
vision were, entitled TO its benefit. The
Legislature had omitted to prescribe any
amount forythe equivalent. and Assistant
Adjstant General Buckingham, of the
War Department, under whose supervis-
ion the daft was conducted throughout the
United States, fixed the sum az 5000
which was supposed to be the ordinary a.
mount required at that time to hire a sub.
stitute The draft was made under the
LIST section, OF the act. of Congress. of July
18th, 1862. which authorized the Secreta-
ry Of War. where there is no State law. or
where the State, law is deficient, to adopt
such rules and regulations in regard 10
calling out the militia as be may deem
BEST. ~
The whole number who established their
claim to the benefit of the constitutional
provision was .. 100. as is shown by the
report of the Commissioner A portion
of these took exceptions to the plan adopt
cd by Mr.. Siddall. the Commissioner of
Drafting. by which it was determined how
many. and by whom. the equivalent should
be paid, and to. the amount of the euniva-
lent itself. An appeal was taken from his
action IN the Premises. As the .Constiru-
ton and laws of Indiana make no proyis.
ion beyond the fact that persons conscien-
tiously opposed to bearing arms shall not
be compelled to do military duty. and as
the authority by which the draft was made
was derived solely from the act Of Con.
gress. and the action of the War Depart.
ment. referred the questions involved at
once to the decision Of Assistant Adiutan,
General Buckingham. After mature de.
Gbc, alton. he 'dechled. that. as the exemp-
tion was made by virtue of the Constitn-
tios Of the State only, the War Depart
mcnt had no authority and could confer
none upon the Executive of the State to
enforce the collection Of the equivalent, or
determine its amount. /IE4
In the correctness Of this decision fully
concur, and therefore refer the whole mat.
tier to the Legislature as a proper subject
for its con.lera.ion.
appointed j. p. Sildall. Esq, Com
missioner. under whose direction AMI SUI
peryision the draft W as made. Ills dut les
were novel and difficult. but were perform
cd with great promptness and ability
His report is herewith submitted.
SIX REGIMENTS.
At tho extra session of the legislature
an act was passed authorizing the organi-
zation of six regiments of State troops,
cnlisting for the period of twelve months
These regiments were raised, end shortly
after their organization four of them
were permitted to reorgaRize and enter the
service of the United States, for three
years or during the war; the remaining
Two were subsequently transferred to tho
service Of the United States, under a pro.
vision the act authorizing such trans.
fer to fill the reqnisition for troops mad,
by the President OF the United States
the general Government assuming all ex-
penscs in their organization and support
SUPPLIES
During the first ive months Of the wa,
there was no Federal Qnaitermaster in this
State. and the General Government fur.
nished nc supplies of any kind Tor the e.
quIpment OF Indiana troops, but all neces-
sary supplies were furnished by the State.
The State has also furnished large sun
| nj IL
they we've required for the health and
prompt equipment of our troops, and
where the Government had failed or was
unable TO furnish them in time.
boz STATE ARMS.
When the war logan. the stock OF arms
on hand belonging TO the Government was
small and generally Of a very inferior quail
ity. 1t was due to the lives and honor O,
the brave men who went to the field, to
he character OF 1.-THE Stare and. the success
OF our cause. that our troops should be fur.
j nishcd With the best arms that conld be
procured Accordingly. / sent INV agents
into the marker from time -tovtinr. and
PURCHASED the best arms that could be oh
tanned upon fair terms. and this contin-
ned to do until such time as the Federal
Ggernmcnt requested the States to desist
from the further purchase Of arms, alleging
that it increased the competition anil rails
led the prices. and declaring that it would
Supply all troops. and would pay for 10
more arms purchased by the State. With
the exception OF a few thousand, all the
I first class arms in the hands Of Inliana
troops we've purchased by the State; but it
has been q, source ofgreat troube and NOR
LITIGATION that large portion of our troops,
fdespite Of all efforts made. have been sup
lplied,with arms of an inferior quality.
In the months Of August and Septem.
Der last, the rebel army entered Kentucky.
and the war was brought to our very Dor
der; the Ohio river was low, and could be
iorJled nmany places by cavalry. and
even infantry. and the peace OF the State
was seriously threatened. In this emer-
gency, believed it to be my duty to pur-
chase 10. 600 superior arms: for the use of
INDIANA troops. and sent an agent TO
New York. who succeeded in purchasing
that nnn,i,erlof the first quality at fair pri-
ces.. Mr.. ID: r. Martin, President of the
Ocean Bank, without requiring any securi
ty. and upon the credit of the State. ad-
vaneed the money to pay for them. in all
1887 .269 80. Shortly after the purchase
| OF the arms. the rebel forces were driven