Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-03-07
The Case of William Burgess,

Leu US NTltc u plhlu Stoty VI uhS hHNot
the facts Of which arc well known and
have been stated by the very men involved
III the narratives
William Burgess, formerly Of Millvile,
in Columbia county, an Abcitionist of the
first water, and now publisher of Black
Republican newspaper in this county was,
and for aught we know is yet, Supcrinten-
dent of Common Schools for Columbia
county with good salary. lie was ap-
pointed to tho post, by the State Supern-
tendent of Common Schools to fill o va
cancy.
In October last, it will be RENE mbered, {,
the draft took place under the call oil the
President for troops, and, very sad to tell,
NE name of William Burgess ros draOn,
and was enrolled among the names Of those
lawfully selected to serve their country -
If he had been assigned TO fat Paymas-
tership, or other good Office, the duties OF
which would not bring man uncomforta-
bly, near the bullets of the enemy, and the
pay of which would be respectable, it
might have been considered very proper
thing but TO be drawn as a common SOL
dier, to be, perhaps, made "food for pow
der on some fine morning, was thing
"auite intolerable and not to be endured" :"
J There was remedy to be sure in the case,
for substitute might be hired and sent,
, and Mr.. Supo rintendent 60 on with his
: duties and draw his salary, or turn his at
tenlon to something else, according to his
: own will and pleasure. But this resource
: fer an unwilling patriot was liable to the
objection of erpenSe a thing to be con-
sdered by an abolitionst when it comes
home to his own pocket instead of the ma
tional treasury. Other men who we're
drafted and could not serve, or did not
choose to serve, hired substitutes; but the
} cost of a substitute was fount TO be several
hundred dollars-a very inconvenient out
lay for Republican politician, who had
never been favored with government con-
tract, and had only a salary to draw upon.
) The case was one for commiser ati on,
, for the deep sympathy Of all "loyal men,
} and Burgess was fortunate enough tt OBJ
l tain such sympathy in his hour Of sore
: trial. The Post Master of Bloomsburg
, holding good Office and luckily exempt
, by law from tho draft, had sympathy for
Y his less fortunate brother official, and came
y, to his aid with promptness and zeal de-
t serving of all praise lie wrote TO the
4 Superintendent of Common Schools at
S Harrisburg, and the Superintendent OF
/ Common Schools wrote to the Secretary
!, OF War at Washington, and the Secretary
+ at War wrote back 10 Gov Cartin at Har-
|, risburg. aud then Gov. Curtin sent an or
D der to the draft Commissioner Of Column
y bja County to discharge Mr.. Burgess from
= the draft This proceeding was a little
e circuitous, but the result was all that could
q be desired Mr.. Burgess was discharged
f from the draft, and could bid d fonce to
9 Provost Marshals forever
If Some inquisitivc citizen may desire to
8 know under what l0aC this was done the
t man was able bodied, not too young moi
too old, the very picture of hre soldier,
was neither a mail carrier, nor postmaster
nor Judge, and in addition to al this, was
an undoubted patriot, with most wholesome
views upon the subject Of the var and the
manner of conducting 1.-THE very man
Que would think for the crisis and most
6 happily drawn by the gentle pres o.
- the draft into the public seryHe
: We can oily answer to all tlis, that the
IS law was simply y set aside for he occasion
4 was dispensed with - and ifwas decr@ec
! that some Other nuu should stand in the
place Of Mr. Burgess in the Nay OF battle
e -because-the Postmaster d bloomsbury
: wanted it dono, the Superintendent OF Com
l. mon Schools thought it wotd be well tt
v be doae, and the Secretary at War con
i ceived it might be done, and thereupon the
Governor of the Commonwealth ''ln con
sideration of the prenisesI ordered it Il
Il be done 1t would be irrderent and div
: respectful to all these distit sushed Repub
d lican officials, to make dy troublesome
!. question up0n the laW 0fIhe case In view
of their arduous labors and most sag
u conclusions upon it,
Is But to stop the mouth OF all revllers
,3 we will state the ground ff the discharge
10 as we get it from the um nous columns o
- the Columbia County RDu6lican.
~ By the School laws of his State, Schoo
Directors are exempt frtn militia service
o, and fines. And as thief are not paid fol
1e their services, this is a reasonable provis
A. ion in ordinary times-3the piping time
II of perce''-though it otght not to extenc
80 to time of war. A Punty Superinten
dent, who is paid for is services, is no
"a exempt by the law. Fe 10, consequently
III subject to military si,vice and to draf
r when militia are callG for. But thos'
M simple minded peopleIHho suppose the Law
bo Is to be kept becaus ii IS lQ,o, are no
" well read in the logic of Republican rule
ne and must correct the ideas and conform
$, them to those great improvements in tn
g science of government which have beef
nh introduced since Abr,ham Lincoln becam
49, Chief Magistrate of The Uritcd States.
od 1t may be umlhantly asked if Mill
." tary necessity be an adequate reason 70
n' the arbitrary arres and Imprisonment O
MS a political opponefs (desplte the consttu
on ton of the State iId that of the Fedora