The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-31

calls of last year were three years. men,
there was a considerable proportion of
those furnished by Massachusetts and
some Of the other States only 8 months
men. Altho' the call was for three years.
men, yet these States had received the
credit for the nine months men Just the
same as this State had for the three years.
men. Gov. Seymour despatched Adju.
tant General Sprague to Washington,
who, with the assistance of Senator Nor
gan, succeeded in settling this question
and having the State credited according
to the term of the men. But they were
unable to ascertain whether this State
was then ahead of all others in its quota
OF troops or behind, aItho' every effort
was made to do so, in order to tell
whether the next draft, if one was to
take place, would fall heavier in pro-
portion or lighter on this State than 9th.
ers.
This question out of the way, Gov.
Seymour, through the assistance of Sem
ator Morgan, then endeavored to arrange
the quotas of the different counties. =
Adjutant General Sprague was despatch
ed to Washington two or three times
on that mission. The object was to get
those troops raised last year credited to
the Localities OF their enistments, and
where district or county had sent more
than its quota to have it credited on
their quota under the next draft. But,
with all the intercessions and labors of
Senator Morgan and Gen. Sprague, it
has never been arranged, altho' numer-
Gus promises have been made by Wash.
ington officials that they would attend
to it; but they have not. As one prom.
inert Republican from the interior of
the State remarked, they seemed to sleep
Tor month or two at time, then wake
up impressed with the idea that they
must do something, and forthwith
started off with spasmodic effort,
regardless of the consequences, and ap.
parently without the least consideration
| Thus much as to the quotas; now to the
draft.
Some two months since Sec. Stanton
wrote letter to Gov. Seymour in ref.
erence to the draft. The Governor at
that time replied and stated that he saw
disposition in some localities of the
State TO resist its enforcement, and that
he was engaged in securing enlistments,
and thought that, with the aid of boun
ties, he could fill the quota of this State
without the draft But this seemed not
to have been considered at the War OF.
flee. 1t is well known fact that re-.
cruitS were rapidly coming in when the
draft commenced.
The management of this draft has been
entirely in the hands of the authorities
at Washington and their agents appoint
ed for the diliertnt Congressional dis
tricts. The State authorities had moth.
ing to do with it, nor did the Washing.
ton officials notify the Governor, Mayor
or any other authorities of the State or
local government what day or week they
will commence drafting, and they were
therefore taken by surprise.
1t appears that the Provost Marshal
General at Washington wrote letter to
Gov Seymour, dated July |, 1863, sta.
ting that the enrolment had been com.
pleted in the Thirtieth Congressional
district (Bulfalo) aud that the quota had
been sent on to the enrolling officer, also
giving the number. Atttr some palaver
about the matter the letter went Oh to
state that the quota was considered i'm,
partial but that the list was on file in
the department, and if any error should
be found it would be arranged en- the
next draft, thus impliedly admitting that
there would be no correction made for
this draft. This letter did not reach
Albany until after Governor Seymour
had left for this city. There was not
one word in the letter showing whether
the draft was to be started Immediately
or at some future day. 1t was simply
stated that the enrolment for that dis.
trict had been completed, and the quota
forwarded to the district officer.
On the Sd inst. the Provost Marshal
General wrote another letter in regard
to two country districts of similar i'm.
port, but not word whether the draft
was to commence Immediately, or week
or a month hence. On the 7th instant
another letter was written, stating thai
the enrolment in the First, Second
Fourth, Sixth and Eighth, and also one
or two country districts had been com
plcted but not one word was lispet
when the drafting you'd commence, and
no mention was made in the Ninth dis
trict, where the draft commenced first il
this city. According to the time taken
10y the first two letters in reaching AL
buny, the latter did not reach there be-
fore the 18th, and the drafting com
menced in the 9th district on the llth
Gov. Seymour did not receive the lettel
till the l4th. There have been one OF
two other letters since, but Of the same
character. We understand Col Nugen
did not receive his orders to commence
drafting until late on Thursday, previ
Gus to the Saturday that the draft com
menced. ed.
Gov. Seymour heard a rumor on Fri
day-the day before the draft was com
menced-that drafting would be com
menced early the next week. This waI
the only intimation he had that the day
|, was 30 near at hand. He Immediately
despatched Adjutant General Sprague t.
Washington; but before he was able t.
get an interview with the authorities tn,
L. q LnI unnllu onra..a.aAl al.o.l.. Z.