The Portland daily press., 1863-07-29
UNION NOMINATION.
Aid to the conscript-the True Policy

Aid to the C0nscript-the True Policy.
The City Council has voted with almost I'M
exampled unanimity, to pay the sum of $500
to each drafted man who shall himself or by
an acceptable substitute, be mustered into the
! military service of the United States, which,
added to the State and national bounties, will
make 1902 that each one will receive in addi-
ton to his monthly pay, clothing and rations,
and the allowance provided for his family or
dependents.
The city government have not been disposed
to meet this obligation with doubtful paper,
but to do SO with current bank notes. and TO
this end they have taken pains to ascertain
how and where the needful negotiations can
be made to enable them to carry out the vote
referred to. We understand that no serious
practical difficulty has been met with, and that
capitalists and bank officers have such implic-
il faith in the readiness of the Legislature to
sanction the raising Of money by taxation or
loan to consummate such patriotic purpose,
that they are willing to furnish the money on
the faith of the city. Let it be borne in mind
therefore, that as the matter noc stands Ev-
cry DRAFTED MAN icho goes into the service
wiu receipeh his $500, and erery one ,cho pro-
poses to furnish an acceptable substitute WM
receive like sum.
Suppose now the vote was changed so as to
allow the conscripted man to pay the $500 to
the Government 10 purchase his exemption,
what would be the effect? The practical eff
feet would be that not one dollar of money
could be raised. The citizens may vote in open
town meeting, and the City Council may vote
in both boards to pay Communication money
for the drafted men, yet for such a purpose,
we repeat, not dollar can be raised Such
vote would defeat the whole plan of aiding
the drafted men, and why? Simply because
no one-neither capitalist or bank would
loan money to the city for such an object.
They know that tax to raise the money
would not be legal-could ne. be collected.
But some one may say the Legislature win le-
galize the act and authorize tax 10 raise the
money. Who believes this I? No bank direct
ors believe it. No capitalist believes it. F.
o. J. Smith himself don't believe it. If we
are correctly Informed by citizens of his own
town, he has already, by his acts or refusal to
act, shown that he has no faith in any such
healing process by the Legislature; or per-
haps he takes the still more fundamental view,
and concludes that IL the Legislature should
pass an act to legalize such proceeding, that
the Supreme Court would decide it null and
void oTithe very first appeal.
The vote Of Westbrook required s $4,000 to
carry it into effect The practical question,
after passing the vote, was to find the money
that could be obtained on the Treasurer's
ones have signifled willingness to do SOP
Have capitalists responded to the demands of
the town! Who are they? Has the great
cash man Of that town, whose friends boast
that he has more ready money than any other
man in the State - F. o. J. Smith - has he
shown his faith in such town security by his
works?
The facts, as we have been posted by intel
ligent and influential gentlemen of that town,
are as follows: Mr.. Smith was appealed to to
furnish the money to carry out the vote of
t he town. He was known to be the author of
tue schtIft anu its great auNOchte Ill tOWn
meeting, and he would not therefore refuse to
take such security as the town had to offer and
furnish the money. Did he do so? No! He
is too shrewd for that What did he do? He
made very safe proposition. 81 win be one
of forty" said he, ito furnish the money.
Find hirty-aine others to do the same and
win make the fortieth, and furnish 500! He
knew he was safe to make such an offer. He
knew the town would never go round beg
ging to pick up in 800 driblets the money to
pay its soldiers; aud he knew further, If the
Treasurer should do so, it wouldn't be much
for him to pay 500 even If it should be lost,
to make show of honesty in his successful
demagoguery.
But enough; this fact shows that even the
author of the unpatriotic scheme referred to
has no confidence in its success. 1t may an
swer to ACCOMPLISH present purpose, but it
viii bring no money to the drafted man. The
Communication clause would nullify the whole.
Let those who would really aid the drafted
man remember this, and not be deluded by a
cheat and mere hollow pretence.