Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-12-09
BY JOHN MAHIN.
M BOuntics. Say We,


Our Davenport correspondent, in :
communication published in these col
umns Wednesday, gives an estimate OF
the number of men which each sub
district in this county would be requir
ed to give under new call for 800, ,0Ot
more troops. There is no evidence tina
such call will be made, but steps are
being taken to perfect the national en-
rollment, and prepare for any emergen
cy which may arise In view of the
possibility of another draft, our cores
pondent suggests that each sub-districi
in this county raise by subscription q
fund sufficient to pay each new recruit
who may be received bounty of $500.
His theory is that, the substitute mar
ket now broken up in this State, in
course of time sufficient number OF
recruits can be obtained and credited to
our county. to clear us from future
draft. We recognize the good inten-
tions of our correspondent, but must
beg leave to protest against recruiting
another man for our army, by the pay
ment of bounties.
Before the recent election we joined
with our political associates in taking a
pledge to do all in our power to lessen
the public expenditures and tighten the
burden of taxation now so heavy. Tax
es cannot be abated, by unnecessary and
extravagant expenditures. The enor-
dollars has already been expended by
our National Government in payment
Of bounties, because selfish and design
ing politicians dared not meet the issue
and place among our statutes one for
drafting men into the military service
In the early months of this war. A
thousand millions more have been eX-
pended by States, counties, cities and
towns. Millions have been paid worth
less, graceless scamps, who have enlist
ed, received their bounties, deserted and
gone to other parts to repeat the same
fraud. The payment OF bounties r.,
carried into the ranks of our arm
many of the most abandoned wretches
In the country-inmates OF our peniten-
tiaries and jails, with whom the flower
Of the lands virtue and honor are COM
peiled to associate. Thousands of men
have been paid liberal bounties, gone to
the front and deserted to the enemy
Millions of dollars more have been eX-
pended in maintaining military
police force in the loyal States to look
after these miserable Williams who have
been the recipients Of the peoples most
gracious bounty.
The exact amount paid by the loyal
people as hounties to fill our armies can
never be known, but we think we haz-
ard nothing in saying that the total
money expenditure to keep up the
bounty system, is not less than fifteen
hundred millions of dollars. Since the
enactment of the cOnscriptiOn act, the
people have discovered that every cent
expended for bounties is unnecessary
is money wasted.
The people, 10y all overwhelming ma
jOrity at the bnilot-boX, have declared
in favor of the only just method of rails
ing an army for the nations preserva-
ton, viz: Conscription. On the theory,
then, of retrenchment in public eXpend-
itures, we hope not a dollar will be con-
tributed to Il bounty fund, because it is
an unnecessary swelling of the debt to
carry on this war. The experience in
this State, under the recent draft, con-
rinces us that the average OF drafted
men is superior to our volunteers. We
believe our army can he reinforced by 81
more enduring class OF men by draft
than by amy other method. At least
there viii be less horse thieves, burglars
and knaves in general than under the
bounty system.
We are opposed to bounties because
every man has an interest in the pres.
ervation of this country not to be com.
puted by dollars and cents. There is nc
equity in calling upon laboring man
to enter the service and give his life fol
$500, contributed by a shoddy contractor
speculator in gold or wheat, or one
who revels in wealth acquired from
quick sales of enormous stocks ofgoods
Our theory is, let every man take his
chance at the wheel, and if it shall be
the lot Of some man to be drawn upon
whom it would prove a grievous hard
ship to go, then let a generous patriot
ism go down below self-interest ant
provide for his relief. Let the money
changers look out for themselves.
Under call for 300, 900 men this coun
ty must furnish 262. Pay each MAI
abounty of $200, and such view of =.
trenchment is presented that we :5
NO more bounties."