Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-12-07
An Ontrngeous Outrage.

We took occasion couple of mornings
ago. to state that whoever supposed that
the civil authority is paramount to the mil
itary authority in this State is mistaken. -
We did not speak at random we spoke
from knowledge that an outrage had been
/ perpctrated upon the person of Martin
Baker, of Hartford township, Licking coun.
ty, o., under military authority, at the in
stance of the Abolition Judges of election
of that township. The facts in the case, as
they have been avouchcd to US, are these:
a draft was made on that township on the
4th of October 1864, for fifteen men and
the customary percentage to cover any de.
! ficiency by reason OF failure to report and
incapacity on the part of drafted men for
service. Martin Bakers name was the 25th
drawn out. On the 10Th of that month he
was notified to report at the Provost Mar
shal's office in Newark, which he did not do
thinking, reasonably, that some effort
should be made to get those into service
who had been drafted before him and a
short time subsequently the required quote
was more than filed from the persons whose
names had been drawn out before his-l6
having been obtained. No proceedings were
instituted against him under that call /; he
did not leave the country; at the Presidential
election he voted his vote was not chal-
lcnged but at the late election, the Judges
of Election refused to accept his vote, and
claimed to find authority for its rejection in
their allegation that he was descrter. He
brought suit against them for refusing his
vote. On the 23d of October 1865. he was
arrested by the authority of the Provost
Marshal at Newark, and was sent to Camp
Chase, where he yet remains in confinement.
1 On Monday he was put on trial before a
Court Martial, and what the finding of that
Court Martial has been we do not know.
Governor Anderson was applied to short
time ago to make intcrccssion in his behalf,
at the War Department; but he stated that he
had no influence whatever with that Depart
: ment, and that he would be more likely tc
prejudice Bakers case than serve him
t were he to call the attention of that Depart
y ment to it, When Gen. Cox was applied
= to on Monday, before the trial was com
+ menccd, we understand that he said that i
a Baker wished to get off easily it would no
i, be well for him to persist in his prosecution
e Of the Judges of Election for refusing t.
: receive his vote at the late election.
o On the 18th of October, 1865, the Wa
e Department issued an order interdictin
i the arrest any persons who had failed t.
e respond to their draft summons, and order
!, ing the immediate release Of all person
who had been arrested and were held fo
c trial for having in any manner sought t
!, evadc the service after having been drafte
: into it.
j The question is pertinent wherefore thi
. singing out of Martin Baker? Why ar
d rest him one year after he had been draftc,
VI as a reserve to make good any dcticicnc
: that might result from the failure to sccur
l. or accept any who were drafted to tax
IL precedence of him? Wherefore his con
J. fnemcnt at Camp Chase for one month at
: ter the War Department had issued its OF
t. dcrs forbidding such arrests, and compel
S ing the release of all persons who had bee
: arrested and were held to undergo trial 70
: failing to respond to a draft summons ?
n Wherefore did Governor Anderson not tax
It this matter in hand when he was asked t
C do so, and do something toward asscrtn
r the authority of Ohio over her own citizen,
d in time Of peace, at least? Whcrefor
h did General Cox, the commander of tn
e. Department of Ohio, and the Govcrno
IS elect, intimate that Martin Baker might ge
G. off easily if he would withdraw his sui
r against the Judges Of Election who refuse
id to receive his vote at the late election?
n 1t is scarcely worth while to multipl
IS words about this affair; but it does occu
S. to us as one of the most vindictive and pro
il scriptive outrages that has occurred sine
ie the present party came into power.
Of stands unredeemed by a single paliatin
,e feature or circumstance, and more than II
lr ''slow unmoving finger ofscorn' should /
pointed ut the men who have been part,
to the outrage, when, if ever, the suprem
cy of the civil authority shall have been e
tablishe d. Ohio Statesman.