The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-09-22
Transcription" and Arbitrary Arrests

Scarcely aaything has been more offensive
10 class Of so-cailed Democrats than tb'
"Draft," the conscription Of American citizens,
and tbs forcing of them TO bear arms in the
army whether willing or otherwise; to bear
arms perhaps against their "erriug brothers
10 the South of kindred political faith, and en-
gagged, as some democrats have strenously
IN ,iatained, In nghiing for their cherished
rights. Scarcely q political meeting OF the
democratic party has been held for the las
two years or more, that the draft has moi
been denounced as an unla wlul, unjust, OPP
pressive and unconstitutional interference
with the rghtful prerogatives Of American
cisizsns. Companies have been organized IL
resist IL By force. and threats ola most omin
Gus character have been uttered against thi,
alleged despotic mode Of compelling men 10
defend their country's flag.
We all remember the howl Of indignation
with which democratic journals met the con-
scIiplion, although they had themselves clam
ored Tor Il, more than year. 1t was denounc-
ed as tyrannIcal, unjust, un-American, barbar
GUS and disgraceful, with so much vehemenc,
that Ia New York formidable riot wss
aroused axsinst 1t, which mob cheered for ], :
ferson Davis.
Now are our Democratic friends, who hav.
30 vehemently denounced the draft, but VIII,
are throwing up their caps for Mcclellan.
aware thar their standard bearer was the yer,
frst Of our principal military officers to pro.
pose the resort TO a draft? We will refresL
their memories.
la August OF lS6i-just month after the
battle OF Bull Run-when volunteers wer,
pouring into Washington by regiments ant
brissdes, he wrote TO the President as fol-
lows:
WASHINGTON, August 20, 1861
Sr: have Just received the enclose.
di pasch in cipher. Col. Marcy knows what b.
%, 5, andis VI ths coolest Judgment. recon-
M -nd that tue Secretary vi War ascertain
once by telegram how the enrolment pro
ceeds In New York and else where, and thai
Is not proceeding with great rapidly
drafts 10 De made at once. We must hav.
mea sithont delay.
Respectfully. your obedient servant,
s.GEoRGE b. MCCLELLAN,
"Msj-Gen. U. ). A."
The following is a copy Of the urgent not
Of y snerAl Marcy, bis father In law aud CHIEF
OF stat:
NEW YORK, August 20. 1851.
IL urge upon sou 10 make positice anc
uRcon iitionul demand Tor an fntmedidt
draft OF the additional troops you requir,
Men Will not volunteer now, aud drafting
III only successful plan. The people wiu ap
plaud such a course, rely upon it. | will u,
In Washington to-morrow-
ar. B. MARCY"
Now we hope II the draft should have to b.
"tried on la this State in order to fill up th,
qnotss, that no McClellanite will shrink frou
l.. for the father in-iaw Of Gen. Mcclellan sa. 5
SIC is the oaty successful plaa," that il shouo
be posi- I've and unconditional" while III
GsnerAi himself recomm snds that 1t "be MAJ G
at once 7"
But there has been one act OF the Govern
msnt even more offensive 70 good copperheas
Democrats than the draft. We allude to "aI-
bltrary arrests" Was not the patriot valla,.
dlghsm arrested, tried, sentenced and sell
SDuth, among his friends? Is not his the OF :
ly case on record Of q traitor .going TO .
own place" and not staying theres Ano
havea't some OF the democratic patriots near
or home been accommodated with lodgings IN
Fort Lafayette? Has Bob. Elliot been for.
gotten, or the Yarmouth martyr been suffered
to die out Of memory? Impossible.
But are the opponents of arbitrary arrests,
who now shout for Mcclellan, aware that the
most high handed, Wholesale, arbitrary, and
exorbitant OF all acts OF this kind-the SELF
ure aud Imprisonment OF the entire leoisla-
tare Of state-of the sovereign state OF
Maryland, was ordered and to certain exten,
ed BY General Mcclellan Banks wa
at that time la command At Baltimore, and a.
II was suspected that the members ofthe lee.
islature might take measures to carry the sta.
outof the uaioa iuto the Conlederacy. Nc
Clellan wrote 10 this wise:
tconfdensiAll
HEADouAsr KS Asay poro,,
WAsHrsoros, Sept IL. 1851
"MAJ. GEs y. A.. BANKS, u.
eral: Atler full consultation with the =, %.
ident, Secretaries OF State, War &c. II h..
been de -ided to effect the operation propase,
Tor the l7th. Arrangements have been q All.
10 have government steamer at Annapolis
to receive the prisoners aud convey them 70
their destination.
Some four or Eve OF tho chief men in
tue attic are to b. srres ted to-day. When
tney meet on the lin you win please have
everything prepared 10 arrest the whole party.
ann Dc sure that none escape.
IL IS understood that YOU arrange with
General DIX and Governor Seward the mo-
aus optrdndl. IL has been intImated m m.
that IL might take place on the IA h !. nlaass
D prepared. l would be glad 10 hava vo,,
advise me frequently of your arrangement ~
regard TO this very important matter III
IF 1t Is successfully carried out. IL win
far toward breaking the back bone of III. ~
bsion. liz will probably be we'll To have
special train quietly prepared 70 take the nris.
oners TO Ann ,lis.
Il leave this exceedingly important affair
:, your tact and discretion, aud have but one
thing TO impress upon you-the absolute ne
esssity o. secrecy and success. With the
highest regards, l am, my dear General, your
sincere friend, GEO. B. MCCLELLAN,
Msjor-Gen. u. s. A."
This was, II must be confessed. n pretty
summary and effective way Of dealing with
state rights, and Mcclellan went into Il with a
gusto. Il cannot be said that he was mere,v
carrying out the orders of bis super,or, -,
he appears to have suggested the plan hin.
sell. merely Consulting" the President .bon,
10. and lending it hls warm and earpe.t an.
proysi. His Anxiety to get IL done with com.
pisss success, aad the Importance he aseribe.