Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-08-05
CORRESPONDENCE.
Fill up the Quota.

The old proverb says, that 1.-the darkest
time is just before day" and it does seem
that now. while prices on everything. even
the "staff of lile," bread. ranges from
two to ten times higher than before the
war. and Grant, after hundred days Of
fighting, unequaled in our struggle, is held
at bay at Richmond aud Pctcrsburg--and
Sherman is still knocking at the gates Of
Atlanta without admission, and Sumter
faunts its rebel flag still in our face-and
Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania.
is mcnaced by a powerful maraudins
army-while the people are taxed without
stint and the President calls for two fiftbs
more men than ever has been called for
before at one time, that il Is really the
I" time which tries mems souls ans h.
who, amidst all these discouraging cir
cunstanecs. can stand UP straight and DO
hopeful for his country. must be animated
with patriotism and true love rS liberty.
As have walked up and down these
streets, and listened to the spirit manifest
ed in the looks and words of even nominal
Union men, l have been encouraged and
my faith made frmcr in the glorious aud
final result of our nations epoch. and SEQ
an answer in every Union mars face. -
the important query, which ! put to our
excellent representative last winter, on
Acnnsylvania Avenue How goes the
battle - - first rate, if the people will
consent to be tared, fight and tmonei-
pate, and the Union men rcitcra,e.
tar. fight, emdaeiPats." Thus comes the
word, not FROM me, but from all Union
men, " fill up the quota"
1t is no time ROW, for the people who
are the rear gard of our veteran army. to
throw up their hands and play the pol
troon, skedaddle to California or skulk be-
hind superficial disability. He who
trembles at draft, tidgets at taxation and
turns up his nose at the niger" .
living unworthily in this age OF martyrs
for civil liberty-anl such win 60 down t.
posterity crushed and despised by all true
lovers of freedom.
Young man, middle aged man, old man,
and woman in all her conditions. wsuld
you do an act worthy to he recorded, then
fill up the quota by word by tax. by men-
all come, every lover of his or her country
to the rescue and save by one united and
righteous effort the cause Of human lib
erty. which is in the struggle for life with
tyrsnts and barbarians. will not picture
the fall of liberty in America, all l have
to say. if it goes down, (Which I capDoe
believe,) let me go down with it, and al
of mine, that my name may never be
known among the living hereafter, with
my face to the foe and my back 70 the
world, shouting liberty for all.
would suggcst, that all enrolled men
and others who will do anything by word
or deed. meet Immediately and arrange
to work together for the one purpose to
fill up the quota without a draft. Strike
hands together, We should no longer be
1t is child, 1.-THE cause) Of
our own, therefore, see to it that it is not
left to be nnrsed into life aud action by
cold statute law. Breathe into it your
own life giving principles. Such men
sent to fight our battles, have a higher
purpose than men obedience to authority.
and therefore fight for liberty, for life, for
posterity.
DO not understand me to be despond-
ing-I believe in God and the triumph Of
iustice-which latter is sure to come with
healing in its wings. wher we as people
shall be deserving. Now We have stripes
like the siuggard whipped to school,
Let us therefore, do our work cheerfuiiy.
completely, apd God shall give
Us the victory.
Ellsworth, July 3ist, 1864.
G.. w. MADDOX.
Co. L. LIST Me. Heavy Artillery.