The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-08-25
proelama,lon by ono oorernor,
EXECUTIVE DEp'T OF Ono, II
COLUMBUS, Aug %. !


dent for five hundred thousand men,
n draft is ordered to take place on the
9th day of September next, for any
deficit that may then exist in the quota
of troops. assigned to the State ofOhio.
This draft is fixed by the provisions of
the act of Congress, and must follow in
fifty days after the date of the call of
the President. Present indications
are, that portion of the quota of
this State will be deficient, and that
in at least some districts draft must
take place to cover such deficiencies.
This need not, and should not have
been the case, The exertion that has
been made to discourage and prevent
enlistments, if otherwise directed,
would have filled the quotas of those
localities, or left the deficiencies very
light.
However unwilling to believe that
any considerable portion Of the people
of this State would array themselves
in spirit Of factious, if not treasona-
Bile, opposition to the execution of the
laws of the land, there are indications
Of such spirit in the State, which,
as Chief Magistrate, L may not disrc-
gard. In appealing to the people to
discard the counsels of wicked and
unprinciplcd leaders that invite them
to tactious and forcible resistance to
the draft or any other legal require
mcnt Of the Government, l am actua-
ted solely by desire to preserve it
practicable, the peace of the STATE
and the welfare of the crring portion
of our people, and not from any ap-
prchcnsions of either the determine
tion or ability of the Government to
maintain the supremacy of its laws
The man who supposes that either the
National or State Government is un-
advised of, or unprcparcd for, the
threatened emergency, is following the
deception Of his leaders to the cOnse-
qucnccs Of the most serious character
Let me advise you who countenance
this insurrcction, to look carefully at
the civil and military penalties you arc
mourning. The act of Congress APP
proved July 31st, 1864, "1o define
and punish certain con$piracieS," is as
follows:
"Bc Hcadc'cl by NE Senate anil House of Rrprc,cn.
tIiirCs Of Tho UHnoi Sfatcs Of America in Cyaqrea
assembled. That if two or moro persons within any
State Territory Of the United States shall consprc
to oyerthrow or pnt down. or todcsroy by force, the
Government of the United States, or to levy war
aglnStthc United states, or to oppose by force tho
authority ofthc Government Of the United States OF
10y force, prevent, hinder, or delay the execution o
any law of the United States or by force to seize
take or possess any property Of the United States
against the will or contrary to the authority of the
United States; or by fCrcc or intimidanon or threat
prevent any person from accepting or holding any
Office, trust, or place OF confidence, under tho
United States each and every person 30 offending
shall bc guilty Of high crime and upon conviction
thereof in amy district or circuit court Of the Uni
ted States having jurisdiction thereof district ol
supreme court of amy Territory ofthe United States
having jurisdiction thereof, shall he punished by
fine not less than five hundred dollars and not more
than five thousand dollars or by Imprisonment
with or without hard labor, the court shall deter
mine, for n period not less than SIX months MOI
greater than six years, or by both such fine and i'm
prisonmcnt"
This is merely the punishment fol
conspiracy; yet its penalties are moi
light, and should not be thoughtlcssly
incurred This follows, too, mere
combination or agreement of men tC
do an unlawful act, and is complete
without a resort to arms. Resistance
to the law by bodies of armed mer
constitute an overt act Of treason, tho
punishment of which is death. These
are the civil penalties; the military
results are to be found in the power o.
the Government by armed force, tc
deal with every species OF insurrcctior
against the enforcement of its lcga
enactmonts.
1t is unnecessary to urge the duty
of every citizen to yield obedience tC
the laws constitutionaIly enacted, a.
long as they remain in force. If mer
| may take up arms to resist laws il
the policy or effect Of which they dc
not concur, then all government is a
an cnd-and VIC arc resolved into an
archy. A Government may as wei
perish in bold and vigorous effort t
maintain its integrity, as to suffer al
insurrection to ncutralizo its laws anC
defy its power.
Most earnestly do 1 appeal to tho
people of the State, not to engage il
this forciblo resistance to the laws tC
which evil councillors and bad men ar,
leading them. 1t cannot and will moi
succeed. Its triumph, if it achieve any
must be OF q mere temporary charac
ter. The Government is not weak. /
is strong and powerful. 1t cannot anC
it will not, permit an armed insurrec.
ton TO impeach its strength, or impai
its power, while contcnding with The
Southern rebellion. / do not say thi
to you in any spirit of intimidation, OF
in any threatening tonc. | speak il
to you as n warning, and with an i'm
ploring voice to hear and heed it.
know what the determination of you
Government is, and | fully comprc
hcnd tho power at hand to enforce it,
What can you, who contemplate
armed resistance, reasonably eXpcc
to gain by such movement? Yov
cannot eilcctually or permanently pre-
vent the enforcement of the laws
You cannot in any wise improve you
own condition in the present, an,
must seriously injuro it in the future
JudiCious and conservative men, VIII
look to the supremacy Of Governmcn
for the protection and safety of thci
persons and property, will not sympa
thizc or cooperate with you. Yo,
may commit crime; you may she,
blood; you may destroy property yol