The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-25


lied. Several of the religious societies of the
city have associations connected with them,
zealously engaged in sending the proceeds of
their labcrs to the soldiers, also the Martha
Washington Temperance Society.
We must not forget what has been done for
the Freedmen. Boxes, bales, and barrels have
been sent forward by the cart-load, while in
cash there was raised and forwarded during
the past fall 5000, and during the present win
ter-very recently-s20O0 more, making $1,000
in money in this channel of philanthropy.
The IS. Y. F." Society of young ladies',
whose cash receipts and disbursements iaii out
little short of $1,000, should not be forgotten,
besides sheir constant labors for the comfort
and blessing of the soldiers. We think Port
land while she has no disposition to boast of
her record, has no reason to be ashamed oft,
and God grant, in consequence of her contn-
uance in well doing, that she may never have
occasion TO blush when that record is held up
to view, only that she has not had the ability
to do more for those who have calamity laid
their lives upon their countrys altar.
The following oracular statement of "He-
los" we propose to put to the test. He says;
The city of Augusta has exceeded every
quota she has ever been called upon to fur
nish; Portland has Rerer filed one OF hers.
Augusta has exceeded her quotas. So be it.
Taking Augusta for standard what should
be required of Portland? BY the official CEN
sus of 1860, the population Of Augusta was
1909; that of Portland, 26,34l. The Appen-
dix to the last official report of the Adjutant
General, made up after the two quotas Of 1862
had been responded to, gives tabular view of
the number of men enrolled in the different
towns under General Order No. 2s, and also
the number of men who had then entered the
u. S. Military service during the present war.
By consulting this table we find that Augusta
returned 1909 enrolled men, and Portland,
44s7. Augusta is credited with 541 men en-
tered the service as above, and Portland, 2466.
Now taking population for the basis of cal
culation, to be in proportion TO Augusta, Port
land should have 1893 men enrolled, and should
have furnished to the U. S. service 1878 men,
showing that, in proportion to her population,
she had an excess over Augusta Of 994 men on
the enrolment list, and 593 men in the service,
or 80 more than all that Augusta had fur
nished.
Taking the number of men enrolled for the
basis of calculation, and to have been even
with Augusta, Portland should have furnished
2270 men, showing relative excess over Au-
gusta of 1896 menl Do such figures indicate
that Portland has not done her duty?
Portland has never filled one of her +"
quotas has she? We will inform "Helos"
that letter from Adutant General Hodsdon,
on file at our City building, written after the
two quotas of 1862 were apportioned, ac-
knowledges in terms that Portland had done
her duty, that her quotas had been filled
We think we may safely rest the reputation
OF the city in this regard, with these state
ments, but one fact should be known. While
Augusta is an inland city, and has probably
had opportunity to furnish few or no men for
the Naval service, not less than 1900 men
have been enlisted in Portland for that service
during the war; fivesixths Of whom belonged
in this city, mostly single men, though the
city is now aiding one hundred families of
men who are in the U. S. Navy.
Under all the circumstances of the case we
can think of nothing in "Helios' article more
unfortunate and ill-timed than his gross at
tack upon our city, in its corporate capacity,
in connection with the respect shown to
Names noble hero, the gallant Gen. BERRY.
He says Portland charged the state for the
band, for ringing the bells and for the trans
portation of the body through the city, the
gross sum of S55, which was paid. The facts
are these. The mayor was notified from Bos-
ton when the illustrious dead would arrive.
He made hurried preparation 10 show it proper
respect, and the amount Of money named we
dare say was expended without the slightest
thought OF asking the state TO refund it. But
in few days ii was ascertained that the state
stepped in and paid all The bills for the grand
display made at Rockland-the place of resi-
dence Of Gen. Berry-at the funeral amount
ing, as the newspapers reported, to some
$1,000. This became debt for the state to
pay, and Portland would have 10 pay one
seventh Of it, for she pays that proportion of
the state tax. Why should not the honors
paid TO the ilustrious dead in Portland be-
come state expense, as well as those
at Rockland ? Can Helios" give any
reason why a difference should be made ?
And while he is considering this question he
may also consider, if convenient, who paid the
expenses Of the large corps of civil and mill
tary officials from Augusta to Rockland on
that occasion. Did not the states pocket
bleed for that? One. fact more: large and
beautiful new flag, for which the city paid $50,
was allowed TO go to Rockland as shroud for
the coffin of Gen. Berry, which was never re-
turned! And yet in view of this whole mat
ter Portland is meanly twitted OF meannessl
While we are at this point we may state
few facts showing that Portland has stunned
no sacrifice and no expense that would serve
TO aid our common cause by encouraging a
military spirit, or by cheering the hearts of
our soldier friends. More than $1,000 were
expended to give fitting reception to the
gallant Maine It'll; $500 was spent on the re-
turn OF the Maine 10th; when..the nine-months
regiments returned, the bill of one provider of
refreshments for them, paid for out of the City
Treasury, was nearly sllOO. BY referring to
the City Treasurer's books we find that the
city has expended to aid soldiers families
over and above all claimed from the State un-
der the reimbursement law, up to Jan. l, 1864.
s3s,621,o2; for other military purposes, such
as providing for regiments leaving for and re-