American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-19
Truth and Error.

We uuu III lHG Iurdi NUluLlu, du dItlClS
under the following caption. "-4n Instance
Of Petty Tyranny and It's Results" and
lest we should be accused of garbling the
language and misrepresenting the modest
Editor of that truthful sheet, we insert
the article entire, in order that those who
read may judge of the modesty and low
ing spirit of the writer:
In another column we publish the
obituary of Mr.. Thomas Layton, late of
Allegheny township. Mr.. LayCon was
drafted last fall, and although he right
fully expected to be exempted on account
of diseased body and bad teeth, yet he
took with him to Allegheny City. where
the Provost MarshaPs ofic was located,
person who was willing to go as his sub
stitute if it should come to that. When
Mr.. j.. came to be examined, he was pro-
nounced fit for the service. Whether he
was so declared through the petty tyran-
ny, partizan tigotry, or both, or the work
ings OF the worst passions to which evil
minds are prone, we shall let our readers
judge, and the treatment which he after
wards received at the hands of the at
taches Of the Marshal's Office may assist
the mind in forming Il correct opinion in
the matter. Upon being pronounced fit
for service, he asked to be allowed to 90
out for his substitute, who was in the city
and but few squares off. 1t was Gus
t,,, lnl,a,ra 10 G., ln,,rt
furlough to accepted men, in order to give
them time to procure substitutes, or to
make ready to 90 into the service. lie
was not permitted, however, to leave the
Office, but was shortly after placed in irons
and soon sent to camp. He returned to
his home on the 7th of June, and died on
the Sd instant. He was patriot in the
fullest significance of the word, and in
his death the county has lost good cit-
zen. We rejoice exceedingly that such
opportunities for the exhibition of tyran-
ny and outrage have been taken from the
palTy officials who so freely used and
abused them"
Now, all that is true in this article, can
be stated in few words Mr.. Layton
was drafted, reported, was examined, pass
ed aud put into the service, and after
serving his country for certain length
of time was discharged on account Of dis
ability, died aud was buried. And We
may say, that we sincerely hope that "He
rGs true patriot, good citizen" and a
christian. We have not an unkind word
to say of the deceased we desire to treat
the memory of the departed with respect,
and speak truthfully of the living.
1t is stated in the article referred to,
that although Mr.. Layton rightfully ox-
pected to be exempted on account of a
diseased body and bad teeth, he took with
him a person who was willing to become
his substitute, if it should come to that"
We do not pretend to know what he right
fully expected, but we do knoD that he
had no substitute with him; and we also
know the fact that time was given him
after he first reported and before he was
examined, to procure a substitute, and
we know that at the end of the time spec
fled, he reported, stated that although he
had had two or three persons in tow, that
he could not procure any of them, he was
then examined by the Surgeon, and in
his judgment, pronounced fit for service ;
he was then placed in the back part of the
building with others, and while there pre-
yious to being clothed, jumped down over
wall some twelve feet in height and was
afterwards arrested in the street and pla-
ced for a short time under guard "not
in irons" as is enormously stated by the
Editor of the Herdd.i
Petty tyranny, partisan bigotry or
both, or the workings of TIE worst pas
sions to which evil minds are prone, were
no part of the machinery belonging to the
Provost Marshal sofice, but were exercised
by persons outside of the same who were
opposed to the government and the pros
ecution of the war, and it is generally
known, and as generally believed, that the
writer Of the above scurrilous article had
full share of stock invested in the ma
ligning company that opposed the Gov
ernment in its efforts to crush out wick
ed and causeless rebellion, and restore a
lasting peace to ourselves and Rosterity.
1t is fact, patent to every unprejudiced
mind, that the opposition to the Govern
ment caused by the course pursued by its
opposers in their foul aspersions against
its officers and acts, kept thousands of
men out of the army, and thus prolonged
the war, and caused the sacrifice cf thou
sands of patriotic and valuable lives
Now, that the war is over, these pseudo
patriots have become very patriotic and
sympathizing,-the parns friends Of the
sofdier--athough they formerly fought
against the government, and cause for
which these brave men were periling their