Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-31
HOMO % Whom Honor Is pue.

The Clarion Banner under the caption
Hon. S. Newton Pettis,n has the follow
ing which we copy:
The press of this Congressional Dis
trict has not done Judge Pettis the justice
he richly deserves. When the last draft
was made, and hundreds of the citizens of
the different counties of the State were
called upon 10 60 into the army and moth
ing appears TO relieve them but procuring
substitutes, the gentleman whose name
heads this article, without solicitation, or
hope of reward of any kind, generously
undertook the task of relieving the whole
district. After vast amount OF time
and labor had been spent as well as the
free use of his means in travelling
from point TO point to consummste
his object, he finally arranged with the
Government at Washington to accept as
substitutes number of rebel prisoners
then at Rock Island, in Illinois. In avery
short time after he had perfected his plan,
the drafted men were required to pay the
sum Of 500 each to the substitutes, instead
of $500, or perhaps $1,000 to other sub
stiLutes, and they were permitted to re-
main at home and attend to their several
callings. The amount thus raised, was
paid over to the men who had taken the
oath ofallegiance and are now engaged in
fighting the battles of that very govern
ment which they at FIRST had taken up
arms against.
Judge Pettis, by his disinterested action
in this matter, has won the warm graft
tude ofevery drafted man in the district,
| and he will not be forgotten by them.
/ Such generosity will meet IFS reward from
a grateful people, and we shall be glsd
when the time comes W nIHlk5 II g50oa
The Sharon Herald, in commenting up
on the above, says:
If the press has been unjust, we trust the
people have fully appreciated the services
of Judge PeGtis in their behalf. Our peo-
pls will remembar the anxiety, and even
the dependency, that was felt here last
| fall when the draft was approaching and
| we could see no means Of raising our quo.
! ia, and the relief that was felt when it WAS
/ ascertained that through the Judges infu-
encs it could be filed by volunteers at the
small sum of 500 per man. Of course, at
| that rate the money was soon raised and
| deposited, SIS substitutes were ranging at
! that time at from $500 TO $500, and there
was no exemption except by buying q sub
stitute. The result was that gambling
stock in the substitute business in Meadville
went below par, and the substitute brokers
caved. Our readers can easily calculate
| the amount Of money saved in county
| that had been called upon to raise between
! five and six hundred men. They cannot
SO easily compute the amount of suffering
! saved in community where many would
hsvs been unable to hire substitutes, or
provide for their families during their ab-
sence.
We are informed that many of our peo-
ple desired the Judge 10 take more, some
$50, others $500 per man, but all such
propositions were rejected, as our people
themselves can attest.
Scme of the sub districts were drafted
before arrangements could be completed,
but upon forwarding the money to the
Judge 1t Rock Island. The .voluntees
were put in, esch man receiving 500 and
those drafted were not required TO report
The result was that, after month or so OF
hard labor by Judge P, without charge
for time or expense en- his part the entire
Quota Of the county was filed, and We
| escaped the draft altogether. While
most of he sub-districts have,
upon being satisfied that they were
relieved, left him money 10 cover
the actual expenses, some, we are sorry to
learn have failed to do so, or even to make
up the amount actually advanced BY the
| l.. la,o. Cor he rriyileee ~ of saving theiE
people themselves viii Ii -
last.
The Greenville Argus and Conneautville
Record, also published articles in regard to
this matter last week, and there seems to
/ be q general determination among the
people Of the District to award to Judge
Pettis due credit for his efforts and success
in relieving them from the operations Of
the draft last fall. We cheerfully make
what reparation we can, by giving place
\ TO the above eztracts-Cha1gfoTd Mead
UiIie) Journal.
We would suggest to some Of our Ward
Bounty Committees to employ the Judge
will bet our pile he can get our trem'
bling city out of the draft any msr
| can.