The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-07-20
UNION NOMINATION..
FOR iGoyERNoR,
SAMUEL CONY,


tI- There is a report current in the city that one
of the sub-ediors OF the Press who was drafted has
suddenly determined to leave. We hope, for the
credit Of the young that this Is not Though
the evidence is strong) as he has been one of the
ercest advocates of and of the very bitter
est against those not agreeing with his abolition
views.-tArgus.
in his eagerness to say smart thing our
contemporary has been betrayed into an act of
unkindness which, when the facts are made
known, will afford him no satisfaction. The sub
editor of the Press to whom he alludes, is Mr.
HOBART w. RICHARDSON, one of the most
honorable, high-minded and worthy men of
our acquaintance. The facts in brief are
these, stated by us wholly unknown to Mr.. R.,
who will, perhaps, feel annoyed to think we
should have taken SO much notice of the
above paragraph. Mr.. Richardson is a self
made man, having worked his way through a
printing-ofiice into college, from which he
graduated with honor. For several years he
filed an honorable position in Watervile Col
lege as Tutor, and left only because duty to
himself and family required larger remuner-
alton for his labors than his college connec-
tion afforded. He came to this city in pur-
suit of honorable employment, aud about six
or seven months since was engaged upon the
editorial staff of the Press; not as politician,
n OF as a controversialist-in no sense as a
sighting editor"-but for an entirely different
charge Of correspondence, of miscellaneous
selections, Of the examination of the out-of-
the-State exchanges; has written literary no.
tices, kept his eye open to matters Of interest
from foreign countries, and has specially at
tended to all matters connected with the OPP
erations Of our army In the field. Such have
been his wide and often varied duties, and
very seldom has he had occasion to interfere
with controverted political matters or to break
q lance with contemporary; only when the
necessities of the case devolved such labor up
on him in our absence. How well Mr.. Rich
ardson has attended to his duties the readers
of the Press can Judge; how feIicitously he
has handled literary matters those can judge
who have been in the habit of reading his
well-written and exceedingly interesting book
notices. So much for his being zone of the
very btterest against those not agreeing with
MS otoAttion siSWc. nv bhuhh ios VA. As4SAt-
ardson Is not bitter man, nor is he man
of extreme views. The Argus was never
more unfortunate in the selection Of language
70 express an actual fact.
Now for the draft and the alleged sudden
determination to leave. Mr.. Richardson has
been under no engagements to us that would
preclude his acceptance with honor of more
lucrative situation. This has been fully un-
derstood between him and ourself. Some
weeks since, through friend, he applied for
situation at Washington for which his method
ical and accurate habits admirably flt him, and
before the draft in this city had taken place,
he received information of the success of his
application, and that 1t would be necessary
for him to report for duty with the least prac-
ticable delay, as it was necessary the situation
should not remain long vacant. Like an hon.
orable man he notified us at once, and asked
to be relieved from duty at our earliest con-
venience; and to our great personal incon-
venience and with many regrets to lose him,
we consented that he should leave at once, SO
that his interest should not be prejudiced.
Alter he had gone thus far the result of the
draft revealed the name of Obed Richardson,
and though 50 different from his own name,
Mr.. r. had suspicion that he might be the
man intended. Wishing to know all his liza
bilities that he might honorably provide to
meet them in season, Mr.. Richardson went to
the Provost Marshal's office, and there learned
facts which left no doubt upon his mind that
the name OF Obed Richardson was but mis-
take for Hobart w. Richardson, and his deter
mination was made at once. He felt that
he could not respond to the DRAFT in person,
and for reasons that the Argus would fully ap-
preciate should we 60 SO far into his private
affairs rs TO state them; but he determined
not to pay Communication and thus withhold
the force Of muscle from the Government, but
TO provide an acceptable substitute. He is no
man to skulk his duty, much less to place
himself In the position of deserter to save
the expense Of procuring substitute, as the
Argus has unkindly suggested.
The draft has picked up two other of the
employees In this Office, viz: Mr.. Prentice
Loring, book-keeper, who win be ready to
shoulder his musket the moment the Medical
Examiners shall decide upon his physical fit
ness for the service. The other Individual in
our Office lucky enough to draw a prize in the
conscription lottery, is worthy young man
Joseph Akers-brother Of the late Paul
Akers, and though he could readily command
the money TO pay the Communication fee he
"scdrns the bribe.p aud stands ready TO report
himself for duty as soon as notified OF the
time and place.
In parting with Mr. Richardson we feel that
the readers OF the Press will regret, as we do,
that our columns are no longer TO be enriched
BY the fruits Of his pen. He is gentleman Of
unimPeachable integrity, Of sterling worth, of
marked ability and OF unquestioncd patriot
Ism, and cur best wishes viii follow him
through all the mutations of fortune and VI
eissitudes Of his lutare life.
Don't -ce tses's usnd-esa't thank Him .
President Lincoln, Feeognl1isE the hand Of