Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-11-20
tFor the Free Press
What shall Burlington DO /!

what shall Burlington Do!
The people of Burlington are by the recen;
action Of the General Government and the State
authorities in respect to the call for troops, re-
quired very soon to decide the important ques-
ton, whether this town shall furnish ifty-nine
volunteers before the 9Th of January next. or
one hundred and twenty-nine drafted men
as soon after that time as the Government can
set the machinery of the draft in motion.
Both as patriotic citizens of the Union and
townsmen of Burlington, alive to its good name
and fame, 1t seems to me We ought to do every
thing in our power to secure the accomplishment
Of the first alternative.
The Government is in great need Of men, and
that too, Immediately. VoluHtesring will raise
the men, and, if suitably stimulated, will
furnish them speedily. The draft cannot
be set in motion till January, ITS operation
will then be slow and cumbersome, and, rea-
soning from past experience, it will furnish the
government much money which they do not
need, and but few men for which their necessity
is most urgent. The recent draft which called
did not obtain both in drafted men and substi-
tutes more than twenty-five soldiers for the ar
my
The quota Of the State has now been ap-
portioned among the several towns, so that
each bears its Just burden. Those towns which
have exceeded their quotas under former calls
have to raise Just 80 much less than their pro-
portion under the present call. The general
Government have directed the Provost Marshals
to make each town a sub-district and to draft
hereafter accordingly, so that each town knows
in advance Just what it is required to do
lam informed by those who have had the fullest
opportunity for obtaining information on the sub
ject that the common sentiment Of the members Of
the General Assembly was, that their towns would
straightway go vigorously to work to raise their
quotas, aud that every effort would be made tc
stimulate volunteering both by public meetings
and judicious but attractive system Of bounties
Most of the towns have already raised money
by tax to pay bounties to volunteers under pre-
vious calls in many cases as much IS one hun
dred cents upon the dollar of their grand lists
having been thus raised. Burlington has hith-
erto done nothing in the way Of taxation for that
purpose BY private assessment sufficient
money wa raised in 1862 to meet the uecess!-
ties Of that period, but there was nothing CON-
pulsory in thst payment. none but the liberal
responded to the asses ment, and large pro
portion Of the money thus voluntarily paid vac
not needed and was refunded.
Besides, the present call upon Burlington flr
ffty-nine men is a very light one compared with
that upon most Of the towns IN the State Thus
the proportion which Burlington Is required to
furni> under that call is only one hfy-sixth Of
the whole quota Of the State, while her populs-
ton Is one-fortieth and her grand list one forty
ninth Of that Of the whole State.
But if Burlington does nothing until the draft
is ordered she will then have 70 furnish one hun
bred and twenty-uine men which is oue-f7rtie.h
Of the total number demanded Of the State if
the draft is made
With all these Advantages ou the part Of this
town, both in respect TO her past burien ami
the present demands upon her, and in view 4
the facilities which, with her large foreign pop
ulation and border situation, she enjoys for pr,-
curing men, shall Burlington, the largest. and .
leading town Of the state, lag behind her sister
towns in the race Of patriotism, and alone. or
almost alone, in the State, suffer anothe. draA
50 dscreditable to herself sud s. ?roftless to the
country,
Shall she not, on the other hand, take the
IL - --'-'"e With the utmost possible prompt
ness the men she owes TO the protection Of the
Government, and Of which the country Is in
such pressing need, ani thus. IS she has ever
hitherto done, contribute TO the support q the
nation, and yindicate her recorded and renowned
reputation for patriotism
The way and means Of encouraging volunteer
ng will be discussed in another Communication.
Burlington. Nov rs. 1865