Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-09-01
( WHOLE NO. 4OS.

for the Government to permit tbe
expectations Of the soldier to 10 realized.
We know that Governor Morton, who
has ever had the interest OF our troops at
heart. has twice presented this matter TO
the War Department, aad urged as
matter Of justice and good faith. that the
understanding to which we have alluded
be carried OUT and similar applications
have beer made by other States. But, on
the ground that the muster in rolls show
the men to have been enlisted for thres
years. and that to go behind the enlist
ments would establish O precedent which
would seriously injure the public service.
the Department has In every case refused
to accedc to the proposition.
AS a last resort, the Governor receptlv
addressed memo oiial TO the President OF
the Senate and Speaker of the House of
Representatives. on the subject, fully
setting forth the facts, and asking that
Congress take such action in the premises
as justice, good faith and sound policy
demand. The memorial reads as follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTxsSr.) |
INDIANAPOLIS. ISD, June q, '64.
To tile President Of the Senate and Speaker
Of tie House Of Repressntafires, Con-
gress Of tie United States:
l desire to present to you, and through
you to the Senate anl House of Represen-
tstlves, an important question growing out
OF the enlistments of recruits anterior to
the lst OF January. 1868. for three years
regiments then in the field The men
TIM, recruited in Indiana had the under
standing that they were enlisted for the
unexpired term of the regiments iato
which they went, and would be discharged
along with them. This understanding
grew up from several causes.
First. From the general impression
which prevailed that the country would
not need their service after the expiration
of the term of tho regiments, which would
be from about the middle to the close of
the year 1864
Second. Because the recruiting wss
carried on for particular regiments and
not Tor the general service. carrying with
it the idea that the recruit was to serve in
that regiment and no other. and it not
heing known then that the regimental
organization weuld De extended beyond
the FIRST three years by the enlistment
OF veterans OK by any other process.
Third. Because this understanding was
universally encouraged and presented BY
recruiting officers. and was agreed to and
concHrred in by United States mastering
officers, as | ain informed and believe.
then on duty.
Fourth. From the general reading.
though perhSps not critical, of several
orders issued by the War Department.
providing for and regulating recruiting for
old regiments, apparently proceeding on
the hypothesis that the recruiting was for
regimental and not for the general service.
and that the recruits would be held only
for the unexpiTed term of the regiments.
and would be mustered out along with
them.
But from whatever causes the under
standing may have arisen, or however
erroneous it may have been, it is absolutely
certain that it existed. aad so full was is
that in the month of Oct. 1862, many of
the men who had been drafted in Indiana
for the period of nine months. volunteered
into old regiments for the unexpired term,
with the understanding that they should
be held no longer; and most respectfully
submit that good faith requires that it
should be strictly carried out.
Nor was this understanding, as / am
advised, confined to Indiana, but prevailed
extensively in other States. It is
undoubtedly true that the rolls which the
men signed described an enlistment for
three years of during the war, but this
was explained. as learn. as the necessary
technical form of the enlistment, and did
not disturb the conviction in their minds
that they would be held only for tha
unexpired term Of tine regiment.
The question has been presented to the
War Department. and by il decided. that
from the form os the enlistments, the men
would be held for three years from the
date OF enlistments, and without regard to
the expiration of the term of the regiments
into which they volunteered. Although
it may not bo in the power of the War
Department to grant the relief sought for.
yet it is undoubtedly within the power of
Congress. and / respectfully but earnestly
call their attention to it as alike demanded
by justice, good faith. and sound policy.
o. p. MoRroy.
Governor of Indiana