The Portland daily press., 1864-07-02
Represented in the Army.

Wealthy men of New York, who are unfit
for military duty, either from age or other
physical disability, and are not liable to draft,
are giving an exhibition of their patriotism,
and aiding the government in its hour OF need,
by being represented in the army by able
bodied soldiers Of their own procuring. More
than 1000 men have already been sent into the
army from that city, each representing man
whose money secures his services to the gov
eminent. The Provost Marshall General when
informed ofthe wishes OF these gentlemen, i'm
mediately issued the following circular
a WAR DEPARTMENT,
PRovosT MARsHAL's GEMS OFFICE,
Washington, ID. e., june 70, 1854.
CIRCULAR No. %.
Persons not at for military duty, and not Ii
able to draft, from age or other causes have
expressed desire to be personally represent
ed in the Army. In addition to the contribu-
lions they have made in the way of bounties,
they propose to procure at their own expense,
and present for enlistment, recruits to repre-
sent them in the service. Such practical pat
riotism is worthy OF special concentration
and encouragement Provost Marshals, and
all other officers acting under this Bureau,are
ordered to furnish all the facilities in their
ceptable representative recruits presented, in
accordance with the design herein set forth.
The name of the person whom the recruit
represents will be noted on the enlistment
and descriptive roll OF the recruit, and will be
carried forward from those papers to the OFF,
cial records which form his military history.
Suitable prepared certificates OF this perso-
nal representation in the service will be for
warded from this Office to be filed out and is
sued by Provost Marshals to the persons who
put In representative recruits.
JAMES b. FAY,
Provost Marshal General.
A call will undoubtedly be made for 10000
or 100000 more men, OF which Maine stands
ready TO raise her proportion, as she always
has done, promptly and unrepiningly The
question that most interests our people Is, how
shall they be raised? There Is deep-rooted
and insurmountable prejudice everywhere ia
In this country against draft. 1t has not thus
far succeeded well in this State, and its history
Ia this State Is very nearly its history in every
other State where it has been attempted. Let,
then, the volunteer system be tried to its full
est extent before resorting 10 draft. We do
not question the justice or the right of the
government to demand OF any man his person.
al services 10 aid, In any manner that its EN-
ergencies may require, in sustaining its au-
thority and putting down the rebellion. Every
man owes 1t TO his government, when the dag
ger Is pointed at her heart, to rush TO the res
cue and at any and all hazards stand between
her and those who seek her destruction, but
as every man is not required TO go into active
service, the question as to who shall go may
be settled by one oftwo ways; by lot or byIvol-
untary consent BY voluntary consent IL the
requisite number can thus be obtained: by lot
II otherwise. The practical question as 1t is
soon to be presented to the people OF this and
other States is, how can the number of men
required TO put down the rebellion be raised.
SO as to secure the hearty action OF the men
raised, and equalize, as nearly as may be, the
burden.
There are men In this city who have,
since the commencement of the war, and in
consequence of the war, made from $4,000 to
100000 year. During all this time men
who are under no more obligations to sustain
the government than they, have left families,
poorly provided for, and in some instances, we
fear in many instances, to suffer on account
OF their absence. Here is an inequality that
should, as far as circumstances will permit. be
remeded. This can be done to a certain ex-
tent, by men OF wealth being personally repre-
scented in the army. The government has been
liberal in its bounties and wages paid to men
who have entered its service-more so than
any other government under heaven has ever
thought of being, but the present prices of all
the necessaries Of life allow but little margin