Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-05

and record OF the service. anticipated
that the Adiutant General would be able to
present such statement in his annual re-
port; but he is not prepared to do so. In
process of time / hope this record will be
completed. In every position the conduct
of the force was highly creditable, and the
entire success of the movement reflected
honor upon the men and the State.
This large force was called out, organized
into regiments, mustered, armed, equipped,
and placed at the disposal of the Govern
ment in the short period of sixteen days
For this extraordinary dispatch much credit
is due to the Adjutant General and his chief
clerk, who labored with great energy and
assiduity. 1t is also very satisfactory eX-
cmplification not onlyof the militia system
of the State, but also of the promptitude
and patriotism that animated the body Of
men composing the Guard. do not Intend
to say that these men are entitled to any
more commendation rs soldiers, or patriotic
citizens, than the thousands of brave men
who make UP the volunteer forces of our
State; but the circumstances under which
they responded to the call certainly entitle
them to honorable mention. From the ma
ture of their organization it was entirely
unexpected to them. They had compare
lively no notice and but few hours to ar
range their home affairs. They left farms
and stores, and offices, and mechanical pur-
suits, many of them without ability, and all
| of them without time or opportunity, to
make provision for their families, or arrange
| for the protection of their industrial inter
| ests during their absence. This they did
| not only without murmur, but with zeal
and enthusiasm. This fact, which so ma
terially enhances their credit should not be
withheld.
The Guard was returned home as speedily
Ia IA nf =
time; but owing to unavoidable delays in
transportation, payment and muster, the
average term of service was about one hun
| dred and twenty days.
As the force was to be delivered to tho
| Government ready for the field, there were
| expenses that must necessarily be incurred
in the organization. These were met, and
paid, so far as they have been presented,
from the million appropriation made last
winter for the defense of the State. The
amount of this expenditure estimating that
not yet presented for payment) will beabout
as follows:
For transportation .S52, ,553 81
For payment of officers before muster... 1918 81
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .Sl0G, ,6j2 4G
| The two first of these items have been as
sumed by the War Department, and an
order given for their repayment to the State.
| The third is under consideration, and | see
no good reason why it should not also be
allowed.
This movement of the National Guard has
| demonstrated its value and Importance as
an arm of State defense-even if no other
| duties are again required of it; and it be-
comes the duty of the Legislature, at least
during the continuance of the war, to adopt
| all necessary measures to strengthen it, and
| p iyot I'm rin M n
of the men acquired in their late brief term
of service, will be of great value, not only
\ to themselves, but to the State. In the event
| of raid or invasion you have something
better than an inexperienced and unor-
ganized militia to rely upon; aud in pro-
portion as you foster and encourage it, you
will strengthen the power of the State to
resist any danger that may threaten it. To
this end / call your attention to the sug-
| gestions made by the Adjutant General in
his report. They commend themselves to
my own judgment, and limited experience /;
and L therefore recommend them to your
careful consideration.
The influence of this organization was
very happily illustrated on its return to the
| State. As the time approached for the
| commencement of the draft, in September,
there were strong manifestations of spirit
of finsubortlination. if not of open resistance
/ TO the laws. In several counties men pos
sessing high standing in the political party
| that has arrayed itself against the Govern
ment, openly denounced the call for troops,
| with the draft that must follow to enforce
| it,-and counseled resistance by force, il
necessary, to both measures. So faras their
influence extended, short of the commission
of acts that would bring themselves within
| hepenaltyOf the laws, they strove to edu-
cate their followers to the point of armed
rebellion; "a position which, it may be adj
mitted, they never intended to occupy
themselves. A secret organization styled
the Sons of Liberty, had established its
lodges all over the State. In many sections
considerable portion of the members of
this institution were drilled at night in
military maneuvers,-and measures were
secretly instituted to procure arms and am
munition for as large a number rs practic-
able AS they acquired strength they be-
came more open and defiant. Threats were
freely uttered offorcible resistance, which
their leaders and presses more covertly
counseled. Secrecy was no longer observed,
and the organization openly boasted of its
power and strength. The National Guard
was absent, and the State was regarded as
deienseless. While they publicly de-
nounced the Governor for calling the Guard
to the common defense of the country they
secretly rejoiced at its absence, and eXulted
over the opportunity which they supposed
it afforded them to carry their plans into
execution, with but comparatively feeble
resistance. Our people in nearly every
section of the State became very much
alarmed at these demonstrations and
seriously apprehended domestic insurrec-
tion. He iT s4Itt .J
On the 23d of August l issued a Procla-
nation, counseling these parties against
their course of conduct; and temporarily,
but firmly, assuring them of its consequent
ces, and of the entire ability of the State
and National Governments to protect them
selves against any such insurrection. About
that time the National Guard was coming in
to the State. Iclaim very little credit for my
own counselS-but as regiment after 1regi-
ment was discharged from the camps, and
went to their homes with arms in their
hands, and well-known loyalty in their
hearts, the wave of rebellion very rapidly
subsidized; and the conspirators who had
been the boldest in their demonstrations of
resistance to the laws, were among the first
to hurry substitutes into the ranks of the
army, or relieve the State of their presence
i'm order to avoid the service they had OPEN
ly threatened could not be imposed. The
draft went forward promptly, and in the
most peaceable manner. The persecution
and abuse of Union citizens ceased at once.
Law and order were again in the ascendant;
and no doubt or fear was entertained as to
the perfect ability of the State to maintain
them. Andyet no force was used;--no con-
siderable body of men kept under arms in
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