The Portland daily press., 1865-01-06
n.,n., ,ha occurrenca Of aciual rniachisf. re.

csiyIno the cooperation OF the War Depart
ment. 0ver-caution is better than neglect.
Every aole-bodied citizen owing service,
pm whom the lot falls, is bound oy every
principle OF patriotism, every incentive OF
honor, every obligation OF the law, TO come
forward and go into Inc ranks or turnisn |
substitute. Dlsregarding all these considera-
tlons, men have been found so unpatrlotlc, |
base and cowardly, as to seek In flight to |
foreign country, an escape from the perform
auce of the duty they owed Their own, the
benefit and blessings OF whose Institutions they |
have njoyed, worthless poltroons aud traitors
as they have proved themselves to be. II tne
exhibition of personal unworthiness was the
end OF such conduct, would pass II over In
silence Tor the credit of the State, which is dis
graced such citizsns. But 1t rests not here.
The quota of each town must be filed, and
the desertion OF any of the number drawn COM
pels the renewal of the draft until it is. The
consequence is that the burden is cast upon
the loyal and Union loving men, and they are
= required TO stand not only in their own but in
the lot of those base fugutives.
IL is true that they are liable under the laws
of the United States for desertion; it is true
that they briog upon themselves the scorn ana
detestation of every patriotic citizsn, wnicn
would be punishment enough for any SOU
sensitive to the promptings OF an nonorapie
emotion, but men who are guilty OF sucn gross
derelction Of duty as is implied IN the failure
to respond to the call Of their country, pur-
posely patriatiug themselves at time when
their services we're urgently needed, compell-
ing their manly and loyal neighbors to meet
their obligations, morally forfeit the right to
American citizenship. sa ea y
man who thus wantonly repudates the
claims of his government at such crisis, de-
serves the withdrawal of its blessings and pro-
lection forever; and submit whether 1t Is
not duty devOlving upon you 10 behalf of the
loyal citizens of Maine, to devise some mode
by which this class of persons shall be perpet-
ually DISTINGUISHED and cease to be citizens of
this State. Eulsf.o5t b stss
While the defenseless condition of our
shores excited apprehension, similar fears
were entertained for the safety Of our coasting
commerce. In the month of Nav last, having
beea placed 10 possession of evidence tending
strongly to show that the rebels designed to
visit the coast with destructive purposes, l
forwarded 1t to the authorities at Washington,
coupled with request that patrol of gum
boats should be established aud maintained for
the protection ofour property by seaand land
Thatthere was good reason for asking the adop.
tion of this precautionary measure, the ear
~ subsequent destruction OF numbers of YES
sells just outside Penobscot Bay, and in sight
OF land, clearly demonstrated. The routes of
our coasters upon the ocean are as well-defned
as highways and railroads upon the land.
These traversed by gunboats, with suitable
coaling stations Ia our harbors, so as to avoid
the necessity oftemporary withdrawal, would
etfsctually protect that interest and secure the
exposed aud otherwise defenseless towns stu
ate Ia close proximity to the sea, from hostile
attack. The extensive demands upon the Ma
Wy Department for blockadiag purposes have
hitherto perhaps prevented due attention to
this matter, but is certainly to be desired that
In future, something more than an occasional
visit by gnnboat may be ordered along the
coast. idea6 SIS s
e SOLDIERS VOTE. ras a
The Resolves providing for an amendment
OF the Constitution to allow soldiers absent
from the State TO vote for Governor, Senators.
Representatives and County officers" passed
BY The last Legislature. having been duly sub
mitted 10 the people for approval, were sane
TONED by larger vote and more emphatic
maj )rity than ever attended any other propo-
sitlon changing the organic law of the State
On the sixth day OF October / issued
proclamation as required, announcing their
adoption. That so simple an act OF justice
should be accorded 20 our fellow citizens, VINO
have, In the spirit of the loftiest patriotism,
encountered voluntarily the deadiiest perils in
behalf OF our common country, was Co have
been expected, and IL is only matter of sur
prise that IL should not have been done by an
entirely unanimous popular expression. The
amendment could hardly be said to confer any
new right, but simply afforded the soldier, I'm
able by reason of his duty and position to re-
turn to his home, an opportunity to exercise
the most precious privilege attaching to the
American freeman. The spirit which would
deny this opportunity is not far removed from
that which would disfranchise people. The
laws in regard to voting for the Electors of
President and Vice President OF the United
States, aud for members of Congress and va
rious State officers created by law, were modi-
fed to inset the new condition OF affairs, and
allow tue absent soldier TO participate with
the citizen at home 10 the selection of those
who should be called to hold the helm OF
State la thnes- tr0uUfous Tunes.
10 carry out these new provisions, | ap-
pointed Commissioners to repair to the vari-
Gus military Departments in which Maine
soldiers were serving, taking with them all
necessary blanks and ballots tor the candidates
for Presidential electors aud State officers
nominated by each political party, with IN
structions to them to furnish the same to ev-
cry military organization. detachment or squad
belonging to the State, that the soldiers might
have entire freedom in the selection of such
as they might choose to cast have every
reason to believe that these instructions were
faithfully observed. ~ 1900
Th' whole number Of votes thrown by the
iootAAOAS vas iCuF LuOuSduu INNS uuuQreQ and
fifteen, of which due return was made, accom-
panied by certified poll lists showing the name
OF each person voting.
Io meet the allegation that fraud might be
pracuced, by the same persons voting at home
10 SsPLe nber aud at camp in November, as well
as TO detect any false return, caused a circu-
lar to be addressed to the various cities. towns
aud plantations requesting them to forward TO
the Secretary OF State certified copy OF the
HAT aaA in ho fsrr<, ole
thereon every person who voted at either
FIom the comparison OF these with the poll
lists OF the soldiers, it is very clear that the
returns of the soldiers votes were free from
any suspicion OF wrong. ~, ss,.-
THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.
The legislature of 1854 appropriated the
sum OF $500 as the supposed proportion Of
this State for improving the grounds and
erecting monument 10 the National Gene
terry. dedicated as the last resting place OF the
soldiers who were slain at the battle of Gettys-
burg.
circumstances well understood, have caused
the cost to be very much increased beyond the
estimates, chiefly growing out of The large ad
vance In prices, or more properly speaking,
the depreciation OF our currency. The associ-
alton having this patriotic labor in charge,
have voted to apply to Congress for an appro
priation to complete it. Should this prove
cuScoselui, ~ iureuer eau WIN DC maue upon
the States; failing this, quite number of the
States have already indicated willingness to
contribute their proportion to finish it, sub
NIT that you take such action as the dignity
and honor OF this State requires in the prem
ises. The report OF the Commissioner will be
submitted to you.
venture to renew the recommendation,
submitted last year, that some provision be
made, by which the names ami memories OF our
fallen soldiers shall be preserved Monuments
nave, IN some few instances, been erected by
private contribution If law should he en-
acted authorizing all our municipalities TO
erect these monuments to their own soldiers,
70 % paid for from their respective treasures,
the object would be effsctually Accommodated
as i would not thea be left 10 the accident Of |
individual liberality. $3.50 '-0 ''0''''-' y
II MILITIA
In the address had the how. A. ...t..A. |