The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1865-01-19
EBENsBURG:
THURSDA ANUARY 49,
About the Draft.

lature appointed to confer with the War
Department with reference to the quota
OF Pennsylvania under the approach
ing draft, the excessive quota of 6,999
assigned the State has been set aside, and
the Provost Marshal General gives notice
that new and lighter quota will be as
signed her forthwith. This is gratifying,
but no more gratifying than just. We
have Governor Curtins word for it that
during the year 1864, no less than 1,704
soldiers from Pennsylvania entered the u
S. service, and that since the war broke
out, 336,444 Penusylvanians have es.
poused the cause of Union and Freedom.
1t is customary, We know, to "whip the
horse that pulls the most" but to thrash
Pennsylvania, after all she has done, to
the extent of requiring her to furnish
nearly one fourth of all the men called for
under the draft, is rather running the
thing into the ground. Better at once
give Pennsylvania the contract of putting
down the rebellion. Besides the burden
attaching to that undertaking, she would
| then have the honor resulting in It's ac-
complishment.
That wonderfully celebrated individual,
Provost Marshal General Fry, who has
committed more plumbers probably since
his accession to the position he holds
than any man since the days of the origi-
nal Adam, On the I'd inst, issued an order
stating that quotas assigned districts and
sub-districts under the late call 'must not
be reduced except by actual e1alsstnsents in
the army, navy, and marine corps since
the 18th December" In other words.
that credits for excess of volunteers under
previous calls would not be allowed on the
present call. When we state that Ebens-
burg has now an excess of SiE men over
all former quotas, costing in the neighbor-
hood of $4,000, it will readily be seen how
unjust and burdensome is that decision
which thus seeks to rob US of the fruits of
our eminent loyalty and patriotism. Such
decision, in effect, were to break faith
with the good and true people of the ma
ton, and to offer premium on apathy
and halt ltheartedness. We now have tho
assurance that this order will be revoked,
and that credits will be allowed for all ex-
cess of volunteers existing prior to 10Th
| December
We cannot resist the temptation of say
| ing here, that the unwillingness to volun-
teer apparent everywhere throughout the
country is the legitimate result of the
official yaticiDations of Provost Marshal
General Fry. His decisions touching
this and other drafts have been multila-
rious and complicated, oppressive and un-
just, absurd and illogical. They seem to
be governed neither by common sense nor
honesty Of purpose. His rulings are the
wonder of the common herd, and the
laughing-stock of the intelligent. That
they are worthy of this distinction is evi-
dent from the fact that each separate de-
| cision can never stand the test of more
than two weeks time before the force Of
public opinion necessitates its reversal
1t is owing to this reason-to the reason
that the people are unwilling to be hood
winked and humbugged by a vapid,
fighty, weatherNock oficial-that apathy
prevails with respect to the filing of the
quota. Put in another man as Provost
Marshall man distinguished for the
possession of qualities exactly the reverse
Of those characterizing the present incum-
bent-and the state of affairs will be graf
ifyingly different.
The terms Of the Presidents proclama-
ton set forth that the call for 100000
more men is made to provide for an ell
legged "defcie,,cy" of 25O, ,000 men existing
under the drai; for 10000 men ordered
July Is, 1864. From this, the inference
is taken that no draft will be had in such
districts as filed their quotas under the
aforesaid call Of July l8, 1864. This
appears to be a mistake. We are told by
those who lay claim to superior knowledge
on the subject that no such Interpretation
is given the call at Provost Marshal Gen
eral headquarters, but, on the contrary,