The Portland daily press., 1864-09-21
Bounties to Volunteers.

1t has been intimated Ia city journal that
no city or town In the State has given boun-
ties, in Its corporate capacity, to ill its quota
under the last call. We know that Bath,
Lewiston, Richmond, Brunswick, Phipsburg
wesl Bath, Freeport, and many other towns
we could name, hdre paid hounties, In their
municipal capacity, and the State bouniies
have In no case been refused to the volunteers
thus raised.
We say further, that in Bath some twenty
Thousand dollars was subscribed the same As
subscriptions have been raised in this city, but
IL was found that bounties paid in this way
were just as much Ia contravention of the
law as though voted by cities or paid by Sc
lecmen of towns. The wealthiest men in
that city objected to subscribe because Of the
inequality OF the thing, and appealed TO the
Msyor to call the City Council together and
vote bouniies and thus make the burden equal
thus make disloyal rich men bear their part
as well as loyal men.
Before the Mayor took this step he consult
ed with the Governor-by messenger-and
the Governor took the sensible view that the
law was Designed to aid towns In filing their
quotas, and not to embarrass them but since
the change in the national CONSUMPTION Law
the State law Of last winter does prove an en-
barrsssment.
The City Council Of Bath-and we mention
that city only because its action in this regard
is sample OF other place-passed an order to
pay bounties, and directing the Treasurer TO
effect loan TO carry out the objects OF the
order; the Banks Of that city at once fur
nished the money, the quota was promptly
fled, and the State has paid It's bounty TO the
men without word OF cavil.
These are facts. And we may further state,
that there have never been any city or town
bounties paid except In advance Of law, II.
have any State bounties been paid except in
advance OF law, till under the existing law
And TO day the State is paying 500 and 500
bonnties TO one and two years men, when
there Is no provision In the law for auy such
grade Of bounties. Who doubts that Union
Legislature will legalize any such act done in
good faith to furnish men for our armies 10
the field? LAST winter every act which had
been put forth TO secure men was promptly
lsgalized; the only act that the Legislature
refused TO legalizs was one which tended to
Uithhold men from the Government II the
laws do not provide the means to respond TO
the urgent calls of the Government, the towns
and cities must, In good faith. assume the
needful powers, and trust to the loyalty of the
Staie-which never has failed, and never will
fail,-to provide the neediul lesalizing act.
Bouniies paid by the city are equal. All
bear the load equally. There is no Sinking
iron such burdens. We wish they could have
been provided in this city. We know that
many Of our heaviest taxpayers urgently de-
mand such policy. But different views pre-
vail We think the City Council would vote
such bouniies II they had opportunity to do
20. A petition signed by twelve members Of
the City Council was presented to the Mayor
yesterday, requesting him TO call q special
meeting to consider the subject OF bounties,
but as he has not complied, we presume he
does not see his way clear to do so. While
We regret that he takes this view, We certainly
do not mean To censure him. for as an honest
Chief Magistrate Of the city he must be gov
erned BY his own ideas of right and duty.