Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-03-16
lruNNUNlCATED !


Editors qfMc C2cacfeM RcpuJLcan -
! Gentlemen - notice in your issue of
last week an article rejecting upon the
actions of the Coanty Commissioners in
offering the 5000 bounty to volunteers.
You characterize this act of theirs as q
| yielding, ITO the opportunities of a tclo
of our citizens | think you do the Com
missioners injustice. The offering OF the
bounty was not brought about 10y any out
side pressure whatever, but lcaS, the geU
considered conclusion Of their o,cn minds.
Your remark is calculated to impress
your readers with the idea that but few
of our citizens" are in favor of the meas
ure, while the truth is, their name is le-
gion.
/ The word few would much more truth
fully represent the number of those who
are arrayed against it. The proof of this
is found in the fact that the Democrats OF
this borough, generally have united in rails
ing a fund for the purpose Of paying bor-
ough bounty in addition to that offered by
the county. You do the Commissioners in
Justice, also, in pretending to give the rea-
son which led them to their act, and then
making your arguments to demolish these
pretended reasons.
1t was not because they thought this
would be The last call" but for other aud
= much better reasons, some of which we
shall endeaver hnre to present, that the
people may better understand the case,
before they pass in judgment upon their
servants.
By a reference to TIE 1ge Of the Goth
February ult, find synopsis ofthe
provisions of the Conscription Act which
passed both houses ofCongress on the 10Th
February ult. From that synopsis quote
: the following:
'lt any draftel person shall hereafter
pay money for the procuratlon of a sub
= stitue such payment shall operate only 10
relieve that person from draft on that call,
and his name shall be retained on the
rol! in filling future quotas"
1t is generally conceded, that the Pres
: dent's last call can be satisfied 6y ne. on
ly and not by money.
From the Provost Marshall Generals
order of the End March 1864 quote this
clause:
"lf the quota shall not be filed by the
first draft the board shall mako further
, drafts until the entire quota is obtained" ."
From q consideration ofthe law, the
Presidents call, and the Provost Marshall
Generals order, We are forced TO these con
, chsons That tho quota OF Clearfcd
, county must be furnished with men. That
the payment of $500 by drafted man,
8 in fact operates not as a credit, but mere
ly as cause Of exemption.
t If we should pay the $500 each for tho
I 344 men called for from this county. wo
would be just where we started, save that
we would be minus Sl03, 200
l Another and another and still another
7, daft will be ordered" until baying ex.
c hausted "the last dollar" we would Sill
be where we started and be compelled af-
ter all to yield "the last man" OF our quo
u Ia.
i The draft being an evil from which We
if cannot escape, our duty is TO make the e.
=. vii as light as possible.
This duty We contend, the Commission.
ers are endeayoring to perform The fill
ing four quota by offering bounties, costs
us less money and tclocr men.
= 1t is cheaper to pay 5000 per man than
+ $500, on the selfev!dent principle pro,
claimed by President Lincoln-"it is east
er 10 pay large sum than larger one"
1t is cheaper because when We once pay
u it our quota is filed whick IS not the case
t when We pay the Communication.
J., it is cheaper because a large portion oi
, the money paid in bounties will remain a,
home with us, whereas every dollar of the
S Communication money is drained out Of the
S county.
= 1t costs us fever mon, because il we do
not compete with other counties in this
manner our citizens will enlist and be
l. accredited to other places. Many did this
before our bounty was otfered-so too ma
ny OF the veterans from Clearfeld reen-
listed and accredited themselves to Other
: places II 100 men of this county enlist
u elsewhere, we must furnish 544 men ma
s. king in reality from Clesrfeld 44i-ont
r hundred more than necessary. Had wt
offered the boun,ies earlier we might have
= got the benefit Of All these men-and ther
n Clearfeld county would have lost only the
number of her quo;a-now she loses tha
and many moro-srd would have lost
IS many mere yet had there been no bounty
Il offered.
,f The bounty taxes only those who car
60 and thus saves those TO whom it wo ulc
be a great hardship TO be drafted.
h The soldier himself reaps the benefit 0
+ the commutation.
J. TbatitIs al endorcemen! ofshs policy o
a the administration deny. The stron
% rest democratic counties in the state hat
IS offered bounties, and many OF the demo
Q Gratis of this county, who are as bitteri!
a opposed to Lincoln's abolition policy ant
. arbitrary acts, as any man can be- ar
. found supporting this measure.
= 4 Believing that the action Of the Com
4 missioners when fully considered, will b
o. sustained by the people, leave the mat
!, ter IN their hands with confidence.
u SIMON.
R. PosrPosED.-The yendue of VIM. II