The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-01-16
KAyNf cOUNN
HSIQHICtt EGciEN

by whom, the equivalent should be paid,
and to the mount of the equivalent itself
An appeal was taken from his action in the
premises. As the constitution and laws Of
Indiana make nc provision beyond the fact
that persons conscientiously opposed to bes
ring arms shall not be compelled to do mill
tary duty, and as the authority By which the
draft was made was derived solely from the
act OF Congress, and the action Ct the War
Department, referred the questions involv-
0 ed at once to the decision of Assistant Adj.
!. Gcni Buckingham. Alter mature deibera-
lion. he decided that. as the exemption was
D made by virtue Of :he Constitution Of the
State only. the Var Department had no au-
thority and could confer none upon III. Ex-
ecutive of the State TO enforce the collection
of the equivalent, or determine It's amount.
In the correctness Of this decision l fully
concur and therefore refer the whole mat
ter to the Legislature as proper subject
for its con sideration.
l appointed j. p Siddall, Esq, Com
missioner. under whose direction and super
vision the draft was made. His duties were
novel and difficult, but were performed with
great promp,ness and ability. His report
is herewith submitted.
SIX REGIMENTS.
At The extra session of the Legislature
an act was passed authorizing the organi-
zaion of six reg giments of State troops, en-
listing for the period of twelve mouths
These regiments were raised, and shortly
after their organization four OF them were
permitted to reorganize and enter the SER
vice Of the United States, for three years or
during the war !; the remaining two were
subsequently, transferred to the service of
the United States, under provision in the
act authorizing such transfer to fill the re.
QUESTION for troops made by the President
Of the United States, the General Govern
ment assuming all expenses incurred in their
organization and support.
SUPPLIES.
During the first FIVE months Of the war.
there was no Federal Quartermastef in this
State, and the General Government furnish
ed no supplies OF any kind for the equip.
ment Of Indiana troops. but all necessary
supplies were furnished by the State.
The State has also furnished large sup
plies from lime to time, since that, where
they were required for the health and
prompt eqgipment Of our troops, and where
The Government had failed or was unable to
furnish them in time.
STATE ARMS.
When the war began, the stock Of arms
on hand belonging to the Government was
small and generally Of very inferior quail (
ity. 1t was due to the lives and honor Of /
the brave men who went TO the field, to the /
char acter Of the State and the success of 1
our cause, that our troops should be furn-
ished with the best arms that could be pro-
cured Accordingly, | sent my agents into
the market from time to time, and purcha
sed the best arms that could be obtained .
upon fair terms. and this | continued to do !!
until such time as the Federal Government !;
the States to desist from the fur
her purchase of arms. alleging that it in
creased the competition and raised the pr |
.es, and declaring that it would supply all t
roops. and would pay for no more arms ,
purchased by the State. With the excep.
ion of few thousand, all tine first class l
arms in the hands OF Indiana troops were {
purchased BY the State but it has been
source of great trouble and mortfcatian
that large portion Of our troops, despite of
all efforts made. have been supplied with
arms Of an interior quality. i
In the months of August and September
last, the rebel army entered Kentucky, aud
the war WAS brought to our very border
the Ohio river was low, and could be ford II
ed in many places BY cavalry, and even in.
fantry. and the peace Of the State was Sc
rionsly threatened. In this emergency, l
believed it to be my duty to purchase 10,
600 superior arms for the use Of Indiana
troops. and sent an agent to New York.
who succeeded in purchasing that number
Of the first quality at fair prices. Mr. ID r.
Martin, President of the Ocean Bank, with
out requiring any security. and upon the
credit of the State. advanced the money 10
pay for them. in all $237, ,269 80. Shortly
after the purchase Of the arms, the rebel
l. th Il
of war lowed back from our borders. and
the danger so seriously threatening the
State passed sMsy. At that time, we had
ia the Sta'e about 5000 troops preparing
for service, but who were unarmed, and no
arms had been provided for them at all pro-
per to take to the field | therefore put
these arms in their hands upon a special
agreement OF the Government, to pay for
hem at once. There was a delay of few
weeks in getting the warrant through the
departments OF Washington, but the Gov.
ernment has now paid the principal, but not
the interest; the officers OF the Treasury al
leging the want of authority to pay the in-
terest.
When our first regiments were ready 70
take the field they were unproviGed with
and as none could be readily
it became necessary 70 have it
prepared. Mr.. S,urm. now the Lieutenant
Colonel of the 54th regiment. was engaged
for that purpose. He had studied the art
in Europe. and was thoroughly Instructed
in all its details. He succeeded well in The I
enterprise from the beginning, and his am
munitiou was pronounced the very best in
use Thus was the Arsenal established, I
and as the demand for ammunition daily {
aud the necessity, so far from
passing swsy. became constantly greater as
the war progressed, what was first intended
as a tenn porary convenience became large
aud permanent establishment. Lieutenant q
Colonel Sturm continued at the head of The
managing 1t with greas sue
cess and ability, preparing ammunition OF
every description for artillery and small I
anna no, only sunnlYing our own tronps 4