The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-03
Resistance to the Draft in Ohio
and Indiana.

Resistance to the Draft in Ohio
and Indiana.
Recently we have had almost daily &C
counts of resistance to the enrolment of
the militia preparatory to draft in Ohio
and Indiana. In the latter State several
enrolling officers have been murdered,
and affairs in Holmes County, Ohio, north
east of Newark, and directly south of
Wooster, wear most serious ASPECT
The Cleveland Herald gives the follow
ing account of the state of affairs in
Holmes County:
Marshal Bill, on obtaining the names
OF the rescuers, returned to Cleveland,
leaving Commissioner White to issue war
rants for them. On Monday, the 18th,
after the Marshal left, two men, one of
whom had been in Napoleon on Saturday.
and one on Sunday, 9Th and 18th, brought
authentic news to this effect: that about
one thousand men were in camp about Ma
poleon, well armed with squirrel rifles and
revolvers. That they had come from
Holmes, Knox, COshocton, Summit and
other counties; two or three were from
the State of Indiana; that they were be-
ing organized into companies and drilling.
Provisions were coming in by the wagon
load. Burroughs were being granted
Pickets were thrown out in every direction.
Signal guns were placed, which in two
hours time would increase this force to
fifteen hundred men. All were breathing
defiance to the Government. Two Union
men in the neighborhood had been dis
armed.
Gone German, for refusing to join them,
had been taken from his house, rope
thrown over limb to hang him, and he
was only saved by the tears and entreat-
les of his wife and children
Before the departure of the troops from
Columbus to suppress the insurrection,
Governor TOD addressed the following let
ter to the commandant:
THE STATE OF ONO, EXECUTIVE DEpr.,(
COLUMBUS, June Is, 1868.
Brigadier General Mason, Present.:
Learning that you are about sending a mill
tary force to Holmes County, for the purpose
of arresting body of armed men. who are
there assembled to resist the execution of the
laws of the United States, have to request
that before firing upon the party, you send for
ward, under flag of truce, the inclosed appeal
or proclamation 1 have made to them II, in
obedience to my admonition, the party shall
promptly offer to dispense, you may permit
them to do so. Of course, 1 do not wish, in
the slightest degree, to interfere with the per-
Torrance ofany military duty committed to any
OF your officers before this assemblage took
nIapp ShOnld the rioters rpfuSp IN uiv nod
ence to my request, then show them no quar-
ter whatever. Respectfully yours,
DAVID TOD, Governor
The Governor also addressed the fol-
lowing proclamation to the disaffected:
STATE OF ONO, EXECUTIVE DEPARTNENr,(
COLUMBUS, June 16, 1863
To the men avho are nor assembled an Holmes
County for the purpose Of using armed force IN
resisting the execution of the Lars of the Ma
tlOnGt Government:
have heard, with pain and modification, of
your unlawful aSSemblage; and as Governor of
the State, to which you owe obedience, and as
the friend of law aud order, as well as the
friend Of yourselves and your families, call
upon you to at once disperse and return to your
quiet homes.
This order must be Immediately complied
with, or the consequence to yourselves will be
destructive in the extreme.
The Government both of the State and Ma
ton, must and shall be maintained
Do not indulge the belief. for a moment that
there is not a power at hand to compel obed-
ence to what L now require of you. Time can
not be given you for schemes or Vaccinations
of any kind whatever.
l have felt it my duty to give yOu this timely
warning; and having done my duty, sincerely
hope you will do yours
DAVID TOD, Governor
INDIANA.
In Indiana, the frequent assassination of
enrolling officers, showing most malig-
nant and murderous spirit in the disatfect-
ed, has given serious alarm to all who feel
that they are concerned in the mainten-
ance Of the peace. Rush County is one of
the infected places, and there, on the 18th
inst, Senator THOMAS A. HENDRICKS made
a speech. The Indianapolis Sentinel says
of it:
He discussed the necessity of obedience to
all constitutional enactments, both as matter
OF duty upon the part of the citizen and as the
best means of preserving peace and order. In
that connection he enjOined obedience to the
Conscript Law, however Objectionable it may
W ~ eiiy POlelOu VI UCCduSc IL Is
the law of the land, and obedience to law has
ever been cardinal principle with the Demo-
cratic party, and of all conservative citizens.
Senator HENDRICKS read to the people
letter from CONRAD BAKER, Acting As
sistant Provost Marshal General for Indi-
ana," giving explanations as to the draft,
and assurances that it should be executed
with perfect fairness. Senator H. said of
Mr.. BAKER:
He is known in this State; he is an old and
respectable citizen, and believe him to be
man of integrity and honor, and incapable of
doing an act of injustice between citizens in
any case, and especially in matter Of this deli
cate nature, resting upon conscience and honor.
On the question of the right of resis-
lance, the Senator said:
But is resistance by force right? To this
most important question know you Will give
a considerate and honest response. Concur
ring in the judgment of a majority OF the peo- !