Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-12-21

From the Commercial Advertiser, Dec l2l
Although the country was assured BY
Solicitor Whiting, and by various Other
official outgivings just previous to the
presidential election, that the last draft
had been successful, and that the govern.
ment had obtained all the men, and even
more than was needed, 10 capture Rich.
rnond, cat the railroad communication o
the entire South, and end; the rebellion
yet scarcely had the result OF the election
been announced, when the provost-msr.
shal general issued orders for revision
and correction ofthe enrolment in all the
States and from this order and other Of
fetal and unofficial announcements and
hints, there is now very general imprcs
sion in the public mind that another
draft is soon to be made. Under these
circumstances brief retrospect of what
has already been done, or left undone, in
the way Of drafting. may not be uninter-
esting to our readers. The people are not
generally aware Of the fact land it would
hardly seem that the government itself is
conscious it) that'since the lstof Feb.
rusry last, period of little less than ten
months, the President has issued calls for
volunteers and ordered drafts 10 FIJI quo
tas not filled by volunteering, TO the num-
her CT 200 900 men. On the frs. of Feb
ruary last, he issued call for 500, 900 men,
ard ordered draft on tho 10th of March
following for all deficiencies not filled by
volunteering at that date. On the 18th
Of March he ordered new draft for 200,-
600 more men. alleging as an excuse the
immediate necessities of the army and
naval service. On the 10Th of July, ano-
ther sall for 100000 men was made, and
d draft ordered for all deficiencies exist
ing on the 5th of September following
With regard to the first two calls, those of
February and of March Is, various ex-
Cuses were gwen by the government and
champions Of the administration for their
not proving effec.ua in filling up the
ranks to the extent anticipated large
portion of the February call, it was said,
was disposed of in settling up old claims
and striking balances for excess of men
furnished by various States over previous
calls; and as to the March call it was al
legged that more than half Of that was iill-
ed by the re-enlistment of veterans al' cody
in the service, thus bringing less than one
hundred thousand new recruits to the
army. But the last call in July Tor, 5OO,-
600 men was not supposed to be subject
to any Of sbese drawbacks, and Congress,
having in the meantime abolished the
$500 Communication clause, and compelled
every drafted man to either 60 him
self or furnish.a substitute, it was uni
yersally understood by the people, and
go given out by government officials, that
this call would be effective, and would
bring to the army all the reinforeements
needed to crush the rebellion and restore
peace to the country. From the date
of the call up to the time OF the election
the newspapers were full OF these assur-
ances. both official aud unofficial, and The
people were given TO understand on ell
sides that the last draft had becn ordered,
that our armies were already or soon
would be, amply reinforced, and that the
end of the rebellion was nigh. As specl-
mems of the hundreds of newspaper arti-
cles and official assurances to this effect,
we will quote the following. On the 2Sd
OF July, four days after the call; the New
York Tsnes, in an editorial article said
"The immense reinforcements which
will be secured to the national armies by
the last proclamation of the President, OF
course have most important miiitaiy
bearing. They will make these armies ir-
resisti0ly superior to any force the "oon.
federates can bring against them: u
Lees and Johnston's armies have not been
able to prevent Grant and Sherman from
fighting their way through the most de-
fensible parts of the " confederacy" With
the old leyies, it is u sound military con
clusion that when the new levies are add
ed TO them, it will be in our power topen-
etrate to any part of the South, and, and
TO drive the rebellion to its last ditch
The draft is to take place on the5th OF
September. In many, and perhaps most
portions of the North, it will be iuiiy met
in advance by volunteer enlistments. In
all the draft. without serious difficulty,
will supplement any deficiency in voun-
teerinr. There is little or no doubt that
before the end of October the entire
fore. called for will be under arms. From
The time this result 10 attained we may
saw. indeed, from the time when it be.
comes apparent to the rebels that IL wiz
be obtained-signs, we believe, VIII mui-
tiply of o new anxiety on their par' ior
peace"
On the 2Sth of July the same paper
gave the public the following editorial IN
formation:
"Seyeral of the States have credits on
other calls, which will reduce the NUMBER
of fresh troops actually supplied by the
present csll to about four hundred thous-
and men. With the vast addition TO our
present forces which will be given by TINS
call Of the President, every main railroad
now left in the " confederacy," ought TO
be. and under tho management OF Lieu
tenant-Gen Grant, unquestionably would
be, brought into our control within three
months, when that is once done, the Tune
ior rebel surrender would soon come eyer,
were not another gun sred."
THE DRAFT NOT TO Ok POSTPONED.
The following editorial extracts ana
Washington dispatches to the same paper
will show that the. goyernment author',
ties were determined that this last cal,
should result in filing up our armies, and
that the President was resolved to enforce
the draft at all hazards: