Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-01-20
Governors Message.
[ConeLudedl
RELIEF LAW:


ing in part to the insufficiency of the tax, but
mainly to the largely increased expenses ofliv-
ing. The families of the National Guard made
q considerable drain upon it, during the hum
dred days they were in service. In view Ol
this. appropriated the sum of five thousand
dollars from the Extraordinary Contingent
Fund, to this class Of families, which was dis
bursed by the several county military commit
tees, and accomplished much good. As we
cannot reasonably expect any material reduc-
ton in the prices of living during the next
year, there would seem to be no resort but an
increase of the fund. For this purpose | sug-
gest an increased levy of one mill on the dol
lar.
The workings of the law have not been as
smooth as l expected; and yet do not know
that any amendment or revision would aid in
the accomplishment of its objects. The con-
fiicting constructions of its provisions have, ]
believe, become reconciled. AS general thing
the county officers have performed their duties
under it with reasonable promptitude. Numer-
ous and in some cases serious complaints have
been made against Township Trustees, in regard
to the distribution of the fund. The military
committees have rendered very valuable assis-
tauee in investigating these complaints. In
some cases the omissions were found TO be ac-
cidental; in others they arose from the Insufh-
cheney of the fund to meet the expectation Of
the parties in very few they were found to
be exaggerated and fraudulent and in many,
far too many they were found to be correctly
stated, and properly attributable to the political
hostility of the officers not only to the provis-
ions of tho law, butto the prosecution ofth
war; and the cause of the country. In no case
reported to me did this amount SO absolute re-
fusal to perform the required duties but in
some instances they were tardily performed ;
in Others, women were required to walk long
distances to get signatures to orders; in others,
again. the payments to them were accompanied
with harsh, and in some cases ungentlemanly
language, which in many instances deferred
females from second applications IT rs painful
to be compelled TO record these facts; yet IT
affords me pleasure 10 state that such conduct
has not been generally manifested IN the politi-
cal party opposed to the government These
cases are isolated, and have usually been iOund
connected with ignorance or intense party Bit
terness.
Township officers are under the Immediate
control of the county authorities II is only
when the latter refuse to act. and correct abuses,
that the Executive is authorized tO assume con-
troll of the fund. But one case of this kind has
been reported TO me- The Commissioners were
Immediately notified that the provisions ofthe
law would he enforced upon which the mat
ter was adjusted between them aud the Militia
nv Committee. and further action was thus
avoided.
The reports required by the seventh section
of the law are not made with sufficient prOFnp-
titude. At the present time of writing, reports
have been received from only twenty five
counties and many of these are defective, by
reason ofreports not having been made by trus-
tees TO county officers In number of the
counties reported very considerable balances
of the fund remained on hand. In the remaiD-
der the balances are made, except the counties
of HOLMES and Marion, which have paid out all
the money received Those reports are very
important to the State officers and the Legisla-
ture The neglect or delay of them defeats one
of the Hiost important purposes of the law.
suggest that reasonable penalty he attached
to the neglect to make them, either by town
ship or county officers.
Of the counties reporting Columbiana, Guy
ahoga, Coshocton, Fulton, Guernsey, Huron,
Hamilton, Lawrence, Marion. Perry, Preble,
Stark, Summit Van Vert, and Wood made
county levies in aid of the fund, and to cover
deficiencies in previous years.
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
The militia of the State was put to a severe
test during the year. and / am happy to say
that it passed the ordeal in the most satisfactory
manner. In the month of April, at a confer
ence of the Governors of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa and Wisconsin, it was determined TO offer
to the Government the services of eigbty-five
thousand militia for the term of one hundred
days-the quota of Ohio being fixed at thirty
thousand. The summer campaigns were about
to open in Virginia and Tennessee. Both Of
them must necessarily operate upon continually
lengthening lines of communication, requiring
large forces to protect them. At the same time
it was necessary that the Virginia army should
cover and protect the National Capitol, and
that of Tennessee hold safe the border. In the
previous campaigns we had suffered from this
species of depletion to an extent that seriously
impaired the value of our successes. At the
time of considering this proposition large body
of hardy and veteran troops were engaged in
garrison duty, and guarding lines of commune
cation, which could be as well done by less ex-
perienced men. To relieve these, and throw
them forward, was to give to each of our opera
ting armies large reserve force. The time be-
fore the opening of the campaigns was too short
to admit Of call, with It's attendant of draft,
even if the legislation of Congress, not then
completed, had admitted of such measure
The policy was, therefore, apparent, Of support
ing our active armies by the militia, until leg
islation could be perfected, and an additional
call be made.
The States of Ohio Indiana and Illinois had
another manifest interest in this movement
In order TO save our southern borders from in
cursons and raids, it was evidently sound poll
cy to SO strengthen our main armies as to fur
nish full employment for the rebel forces in
their own territory. In this particular the re-
suit fully justified the wisdom of the movement.
But one raid was attempted during the season,
and that was checked and overwhelmed in Ken
l.. LII.
This offer of the States was promptly accept
ed by the President ON the 26ih of April, and
this fact, (being then in WashingtOn,) | COM
municated by telegraph TO the Adjutant-G Cen
eral He Immediately issued his order for the
assembling of the National Guard at their re-
spective places of rendezvous, ON the I'd day OF
May. Ona very inclement day, amid storm
of snow and rain, there met and reported for
duty nearly forty thousand men, who, without
question or reservation offered their services to
the country in the hour of need. From these
were organized forty-One regiments and one
battalion, with an aggregate strength ot j5,9S2.
Ofthcse, one regiment and the battalion were
reserved at Johnson's Island, one regiment at
Camp Chase, orc at Gallipolis, and two at Camp
Dennison. The remaining thirty six regi-
ments. embracing an aggregate strength Of 81
051 men, were sent out of the State into Virgin-
ia, Maryland aud the District OF Columbia
Six of these regiments went TO the front under
General Butler; two of them were in the battle
Of MonOcacy, where they suffered loss Of four
killed and seven wounded, and a number Of
prisoners one was stationed at AIartinsburg,
Virginia, where it suffered loss of over two
hundred prisoners, who are still in rebel hands;
one regiment was with General Hunter in his
severe march to Lynchburgh aud back, report,
ing the loss of only one man other regiments
were stationed at Baltimore and Washington,
and saw active service in the raid upon the lat
ter city. Ofthe force retained in the State, the
l56th, 16S, and Hist were all thrown into Ken
lucky to meet the raid of Morgan. where they
did good service. In the fight near Cynthiana
the l66th had nineteen wounded of whom two
died. The Colonel aud Lieutenant Colonel
were both included in the list of wounded-the
former very severely. In the surrender by Gen.
Hobson large number of this regiment was in
cluded, but they were afterwards paroled, as
the retreat Of Morgan was necessarily SO expe-
ditious that he could not retain them.
This statement of the services of the Guard,
| am well aware is imperfect, and does not do
Justice to them. Efforts have been made to get
full returns of casualties and record of the SER
vice I anticinatpd thai the Atliutanf- General