Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-17

cACGS1 tuc hfuc OuUOcTcs OF the tuEOll-
meats 10 other parts of The State are grossly de-
hcient The practical Injustice will be the sane
in either case. If regard is had to the number
sent from the several districts the re-
cords of our State show that New York and
brooklyn have furnished more than their proper
ton. These records were carefully kept under
the administration Of Governor Morgan. If the
qrotas now fixed upon these cities nre proper
toned to the numbers enrolled. they suffer a
double wrong. for they DO not get a due
credit for the past, aud the eurollments are
excessive as compared with other sections
of the State. | send you tables which show
these results. and l will also state here a few
facts: The quota for the fourth Congressional dis
trlct, with a population of I3l .S54. is 1851. That
fixed upon the Fifteenth Congressional District,
a population of 1872 ,233. is only 2 $50. The
quota upon the last n,med district should exceed
that of the city district. for the census estimates
show that there is a larger population of females
aud Of aliens in the city OF New York than in the
If the comparison is made by the num-
Der of votes instead of population. taking the last
when the vote was very full, il will be
seen that the call upon the city districts is 5,S8l
upon a vote of 1883. while upon the country
district II is only $3.50 upon a vote OF 81. l65.
in two adjoining districts in the city of BROOKLYN
the discrepancies are equally striking. In that
represented by Mr.. Odell. with a population of
1920. the quota is 1857. In the adjoining
district. Represented BY Mr. Kalbheisch, with a
population of Isl .95l. il is 4 .I46. Yet the voters
in Mr.. Odellis district amounted to 1921, and
in that Of Mr. Kalbaeisch to 1887. The draft
as at present proposed will throw upon the east
ern portion Of the State, comparatively less than
one third OF the Congressional Districts. more
than one-half of the burthens of the CONSUMPTION.
This is particularly unjust toward New York and
Brooklyn, for they have not only furnished their
full proportions heretofore, without counting the
numbers they have given to the navy
OF the country. but they have been the
recruiting grounds for other States, and con-
slant complaints are now made that agents from
other States are now employed for that pur-
pose within those cities, aud are buying persons
there to act as substitutes. thus reducing still
more the number of persons who will be com.
PEELED to meet this undue demand, which obliges
them to leave their families and their homes.
and to peril their lives, IL they are less fortunate
than Others in their ability 10 paw the sum fixed
as n commutation. earnestly request that you
will direct thai the enrolling officers shall submit
to the State authorities their lists, and that an
opportunity shall be given me, as Governor Of
this State. and to other proper State officers. to
look into the fairness of these proceedings. Jus
tice to the enrolling officers. TO the honor and
dignity of the Government, to the people who
HIC NJ tCCpiN HuCCttbt " Nv pupitN tohQuu
ity demands that the suspicious which are enter
tanned shall be removed. If they are unfounded.
1t ia just tn add that the Administration owes this
to itsels, as these inequalities fall most heavily
upon those districts which have been opposed to
its political views. ! am sure that this fact will
your purpose TO see that justice be
done. The e%nrollments are only complete in
about one half of the districts. The results were
sent to me ut intervals during the month OF July,
but we're only recently received by me. in conse-
quence Of nv absence at the CITY of New York.
! am confident that you will agree with me that
the public interest in every respect will be
promoted bv affording the fullest evidence
OF the faithfulness and impartiality with
which the CONSUMPTION is conducted. In
the meanwhile large numbers are awaiting
themselves of the bounties offered by the State
and National Governments. and are voluntarily
e~nlisting, thus mitigating the distress which a
compulsory draft necessarily carries into the
homes of our people. The State of New York
offers liberal bounties TO those who enlist. !
believe il will be found that the Abandonment of
enlistment foe a forced CONSUMPTION
will prove to be unfortunate as a policy; that it
will not secure either so many or 50 effective
men as that system which one year since gave to
this Government the largest army ever raised
within so short a space of time by the voluntary
action of any people. | do not propose 10 dis
cuss in this connection the reasons why the peo-
pie withhold the support heretofore so cheerfully
rendered. Hereafter | shall make that the sub.
ject of further col munication. But ASSUMING it
to be due to the exhaustion of the number of
those able to bear arms, il would only. prove how
heavily this new demand falls upon the produc
tive interests and labor of our country; and it
makes another reason Why the heavy burdens of
the CONSUMPTION should be tempered BY everv act
calculated to remove suspicion and TO allay ex
element. Above all, it should induce every ef-
tort to get voluntary enlistments, which fall less
heavily up n the domestic happiness and business
arrangements Of our citizens. | ask that the draft
nav be suspended in the State. as has been dons
until we shall learn the result Of recruit
ing, which Is now actively going on throughout
the State. aud particularly in the city of New
York. I am advised that large numbers are now
volunteering. Whatever credit shall hereafter be
to this State, IL is certain that there is q
balance in its favor. Ii is but just that the de-
linQuent States should make up their deficiency
before New York. which has so freely and gen
erously responded TO the calls Of the Govern
ment. shall be refused the opportunity Ia con-
time its voluntary support of the armies of the
Union. There il smother point which profoundly
excites the public mind. which has been brought
to your attention by persons from this and other
States Our people have been taught that laws
must be upheld and respected at ever cost and
every sacrifice, that the CONSUMPTION act, which
demands their persons, and perhaps their lives.
must be promptly obeyed, because il is a statute
Of our Government. To support the majesty of
law a million OF men had gone forth from North
ern homes to the battle fields OF the South. More
than three hundred thousand have been laid in
bloody raves or have persisted in lingering dis
ease. The guilt of tho rebellion consists in rails
ing an armed hand against constitutional or legal
obligations. The soldier who has given up his
life: the capitalist who has contributed his treas.
IRE; the mechanic and the laborer who have paid
to the tax gAtherer the earnings Of their toll have
cheerfully made these sacrifices, because they saw
in the power of laws not only obligations to
obedience. bat protection To their rights. TO
their persons and to their homes. IL is this pro
lection which alone gives value to government.
Il Is believed by at least one half Of the people
of the loyal States that the conscription act. which
they are called upon TO obey because IL stands on
the statute book, is in itself a violation of the
supreme constitutional law. There is a fear and
suspicion that, while they are threatened with
the severest penalties of the law. thew are to be
deprived Of its protection. In the minds Of the
American people. the duty of obedience and the
right TO protection are inseparable. IL is there
fore proposed on the one hand to exact obedience
at the point of the bsyonet. and, upon the other
hand. to shut off by military power all approach
to our judicial tribunals and 70 deny redress for
wrongs: and we have reason to fear the most
-ruinous results. These disasters may be pro-
duced as we'll by bringing laws into contempt,
and by a destruction of respect for the decision
of courts. ~ by open resistance. This Govern
ment and our people have more to fear from an
acquiescence in the Disappointing teachings that
war ~suspends their legal rights OF destroys their
legal remedy than they have to fear from resist
ance To the doctrine that measures can be en-
forced without regard to the decisions Of judicial
tribunals. The refusal Of governments to give
protection excites criticisms to dsobedience.