The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1864-01-28

er in their local municipal corporations,
and, in the various ways which seemed
best to them, have raised the money
to enable them to offer such bounties
as seemed sufficient to induce the en-
listment OF the requisite number of men
to fill the quota and escape the draft.
AS general thing they have aimed at
levying the amount raised, finally, by a
uniform tax, in order that all those who
ought TO contribute to it, should be
made to do so, however unwilling any
might be; and to this there seems to
be no solid objection. II any interest
is more indebted than another for pro-
lection 10 the maintenance of stable
government, 1t is the property upon
which the taxation will fall. And in
asmuch as the war is waged for the
preservation of such government, it
may Justly demand that the property
of the country shall contribute, by fair
assessment, to its success in every
proper way. What more effectual way
than by filing the ranks of the army
under the immediate action of the peo-
pie themselves?
In many instances, county, township
and city bonds, and other evidences of
debt, have been issued, which lack the
necessary statutory sanction, and do
not therefore possess, in the hands of
the holderer their proper and legiti-
mate value.
These obligations have been entered
into in good faith, and and in good
faith received, presuming upon the pat
riotism and justice of the Legislature.
They have been incurred for the most
patriotic object, and have accomplished
most honorable and beneficial results,
both to the State and the nation.
/ have no hesitation, therefore, in
Recommending thatthelegislative sane
tion be given to the action of the peo-
pie in the raising of money for the pay.
ment of bounties TO volunteers since
the passage of the act of 1868, under
such guards and restrictions as may be
thought necessary for protection against
frauds and pretended claims.
In this connection, / wish also to call
the attention of the Legislature to the
question of the propriety of providing,
by law, uniform rule, by virtue of
which bounties may hereafter be raised
without the irregularities which have
heretofore occurred, and without the
necessity of another resort TO an extra
session.
1t is extremely desirable that when.
ever bounties are offered, they should
be uniform throughout the State, in or
der that different localities may be pre-
vented from heated competition and
bidding against each other, in a man.
ner alike disastrous to themselves and
the service, resulting in too many cases
in downright deception and fraud, both
upon the volunteers themselves and the
towns and cities from which they enlist.
For this purpose, it has been thought
best by many patriotic persons that
bounties should be afforded only by
the State, and that the smaller munich
pal corporations should be entirely for
hidden to do so. In this opinion / do
not concur. After considerable obser-
walton and experience am convinced
that no coptrivance has yet been
adopted which can compare in efficien.
cy with the local bounty for procuring
enlistments into the military service.
The same amount of money offered in
any other way, either by the State or
General Government, will not begin to
equal it, and the reason is obvious.
When the people of town, or ward
of a city, are called together to. con-
slider the propriety of raising a bounty
to fill the quota of that town or ward,
very great interest is awakened in
the question at the very first step, and
when it is finally determined TO do so,
and to assess the amount in some way
upon the little community, the interest
is SO greatly enhanced that every indi-
vidual of that community feels
thoroughly committed to the project,
and lends bis utmost influence to ac-
eomplish il. This influence is worth
even more the money itself. Few will
enlist from a cold, lifeless community,
no matter for the money that may be
offered. But let the whole people raise
up TO cheer on those who enter the SER
vice of their country, offering generous
bounties, not to buy an unwilling SOL
dier, but as an earnest and hearty good
will towards a gallant defender of a