Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-22

Manitowoc county, there have been draft
ed 4,455 men.
OF these were discharged account or
Reported in camps of rendezvous. 2341
Subseu uertly discharged for disability and
ether causes of exemption ........... about 1000
Leaving. ........... .......... ........... 1885
Of which 49l have volunteered for old
regiments and in the 9th and 31st. The
balance have been organized in companies
and assigned to the 34th regiment Those
who have not reported are considered as
deserters, and their names have been fur
nished to the u. S. special provost mar
shall, on whom devolves the duty of arrest
ing them as well as other deserters from
the army.
This result shows that there are intrin-
SIC errors in the regulations under which
this draft had to be made. Conscripton
is in my Judgment the best, the true and
proper manner of calling into the field the
military power of country; but in order
to be effective, it should be governed by
jast, wise aud proper regulations. Under
the present law and orders OF the War
Department the man who is already b.
You'd the prime of bis lite, whose constitu-
tion has been impaired by privations and
hard labor, who has large family depen-
dent upon him for their daily bread, who
by his Industry and daily labor adds to
the material wealth of the country, is as
liable to be called out as the young man
in the vigor of life, with no one depend
ing upon him for support. We should
profit by the laws of other nations and
let history teach US by the examples it
furnishes. Napoleon 8 famous armies,
raised by CONSUMPTION, were made up of
young men. at the extra session in Sep
TENDER last, called the attention of the
Legislature 10 the necessity of making
State laws and regulations upon the sub
ject OF drafting. They Were not then act
ed upon, but experience must have since
convinced many how necessary such
laws will become should we be required to
furnish more troops. | then recommend
ed that at least two classes should be
made, the first to consist of those between
Is and 80 years of age, the second of those
between 50 and 45 years old, the second
not to be called upon until the first should
have been exhausted. Perhaps even three
classes might properly be made, in order
to insure first The services of those in the
field whose labor at home might be most
easily spared. Proper rules for exemptions
i'll cases of great hardship should also ex-
ist. Had such regulations been in force at
the last draft, much OF its apparent harsh
ness, much Oh the suffering it now creates,
and much OF the opposition to it, would
not have appeared. The manner OF decd
iEg upon exemptions from military service
should also be changed. Commissioners
might ba appointed to go from county to
county to execute the draft, consisting of
surgeons to examine the persons after they
are drafted. and one or more commission
ers to pass upon the claims of exemption.
If d person drafted should be rejected,
another might be drawn in his stead i'm
rnediatey This would insure the requir
ed number, while it would probably obvi-
ate many of the complaints made Oh the
ground that different rules of exemption
had been adopted by the many different
commissioners and surgeons. Strict regu-
lations should also be made to prevent an
evasion OF the draft by persons liable to it
leaving the State immed .ately prior or
subsequently to the draft. A system of
passports for q short time would seem to
be necessary. All such regulations, enact
ed by the direct representatives of the peo-
mand more ready obedience and acquies-
cence. | most urgently recommend that
you take this matter under your c9nsid-
GRAFTON and enact such laws upon the subject
as in your wisdom may be just, effective
and as little oppressive as circumstances
will permit. ] hope and trust that the
army now gailantly facing the enemy, or
ready to leave for the field of conflict may
be sufficient in numbers to end the war,
bnt the past has taught us that we are
often deceived in our hopes, and that we
should be prepared for future emergencies.
1t becomes my painful duty here to
mention that serious disturbances took
place in one Of the counties In this state
at the time Of the execution Of the draft
therein. The proceedings of the draft
were interrupted by large and numerous
body of armed uen, who destroyed the
militia rolls and ballot boxes, drove away
and maltreated the commissioner of
drafting, demolished his house, injured
many other peaceabe aud law abiding citi-
zens and destroyed the property Of many
persons who were obnoxious to them
On being advised OF these disgraceful pro
ceedings which bore the character OF
open rebellion, took prompt measures to
restore peace and enforce the draft. A
large DuIber OF persons, most of them
taken with arms in their hands, were ar
rested by and turned over TO the United
States military authorities that they might
he dealt with as oruered by the pr0clama-
ton of the President OF Il e United States
of September 25th, ordering that all per
sons resisting militia drafts should be
tried by courts martial or mill AIRY COM
mission and | urged Immediately and
repeatedly upon the President the neces-
sity of giving them a speedy trial, as pro-
vided by his proclamation. | have en-
tertained no doubt of the power
of the President to subject to
trial by courts martial men who, as in this
case, are charged With openly re-
sisting the proceedings of the draft
They were actually In rebellion against
the government of the United States;
they were forcbly resisting regulations
lawfully and consttutionaly made BIZ the
President as commander-in-chief ct the
army. end OF the militia OF the United
States, called into active service to sup
press insurrection, and their proceedings
were insurrectiorary in their charac.e err
Should | have erred in this, it has
been in common with many wiser and
true men, end under circumstances of
necessity demanding prompt and imme-
date action on my part, to restore quiet.
aad save greater calamities and disturb
ances. BY bad aud designing men the
enforcement of the drafJ in that county
mad been made so odious, the spirit # re-
sistance had been raised 10 such an alarm