The Portland daily press., 1865-01-06
Terms IS a year, in advance.

osate, passing through Bangor, the terminus
ol railroad transportation In that diIection
rendered necessary the adoption oil measuIe e.
10 lake care OF those arriving at that point OF
distribution. The Mayor and citizens OF Thai
city, with the energy aud hberallry so pecu-
nariy ana honoraoiy its characteristic, imme-
uialeiy by private contribution, undertook 10
supply tne neeo. After time it became evil
dent that 1t was too heavy a tax upon their
charities, and by order OF the Executive Conn
cii, the samo was assumed by the State. / at
once entered into correspondence with the
Medical Department OF the United States, up
on the snbiect OF this Soldiers Rest, to procure
lts adoption by the general government, in
which was successful, except that the rent
Oh tne necessary buildings is paid by the State.
Immediately after the insguration Of active
nostliitles, gentlemen resident in the city OF
washington, formerly citizens of Maine, and
the members OF congress from this Slale, es-
tablished the Maine Soldiers Relief Associa-
tion, supporting 1t by their own Contributions.
My Immediate predecessor arranged with this
Association to provide for the Necessities of
our soldiers In that quarter, paying monthly
stipend oftwo hundred dollars and discontinI a.
ed other existing agencies. This was found to
be economical and effective. The advance in
the cost Of every article of consumption, to-
gether with the largely increased number OF
soldiers requiring its care and attention, rem
dered it both jdst and necessary TO enlarge
the compensation allowed and it has been rails
ed to three hundred dollars per month. au
The rooms occupied rs the headquarters of
this society are Immediately sought out by
our soldiers arriving at Washington, needing
aid of whatever kind, and they are at once at
tended to. lis employees also are In active
personal communication with the army, for
warding packages to soldiers and furnishing
from its own sources, such aid as it may be
able to afford. ntsaal foar sfu JisfIf ~
l do not hesitate to commend this Associa-
ton to the charities of our people, with the
assurance that. whatever may be givento it,
will be distributed with fidelity, and whatever
is sent to its care for any particular orgaDiza-
ton or individual, will be forwarded with
punctuality and despatch. From its constant
contact with our soldiers, their particular me-
cessities are better understood at this agency
than elsewhere. The support heretofore ex-
tended to it from the treasury should An my
judgment, be continued, and trust it may be
fostered by the contributions of the people,
as one of the most direct channels through
which they will reach their objects. oi1.l7a
The agencies which have existed since the
hrstyear ofthe war, at thecities of New York
and Philadelphia, rendered necessary by the
large number of sick and disabled soldiers pas
sing through those great thorougbfaTes and
arriving at the extensive hospitals in the vi
einity of those cities, have been continued at
moderate expense take pleasure in bear
ing witness to the fidelity with which Col. <.
E. Howe. at the former, aud COL Robert r.
Corson, at the latter place, have executed
their responsible trusts. ...sr .-.I fa.,.I
In this connection, it would ba improper to
pass in silence the Sanitary and Christian Com
missions. The former has been the recipient
OF the most stupendous charities the world ev-
er witnessed and right nobly has 1t executed
its trust, as is known to every soldier in the
army and / cheerfully bear my own testimony
to its readiness to meet any demand made up
on 1.-THE Christian Commission bas perlor.
med the labor its name implies, dispensing
bodily comforts and spiritual ministrations,
Its uncompensated agents have faithfully per.
formed their sell imposed duties, many of them
at the expense OF ruined constitutions, and the
grave folds in its embrace others who have
sacrificed their lives in its service. / trust
that the people will not shorten their charities
or Withhold their support to these most merito-
rious instrumentahties. ..s...,f ....r...h
And, In conclusion, it is with pride and
pleasure that l acknowledge the whole-souled
and christian generosity with which the people
Of Maine. in every locality, have responded to
the numerous and urgent appeals in behalf of
the soldier. q rfa1.hI-,a r.-.T- .....n.rl hm.
AH FUerrIvEs FROM THE DRAFT. uDll
To fill the armies OF the Union as rapidly
as the exigencias demanded. il became neces-
sary for the government to enforce o-I~rr
providing for draft. To the credit If our
people as body, it is but just TO say that
ready obedience was rendered, ard in most
localities every effort was made by municipal
authorities and citizens to comply with the re-
QUESTIONS Of the government, and the quotas
we're largely filed by volunteers. Excep ions,
however, l am mortified 10 say, in some quar-
ters arose. la one instance, 4 person Ia the
employ Of the Provost Marshal Of the Fifth
District, in the discharge OF public duty, was
brutally murdered. A-A
In numerous instances, individuals drafted
have expatriated themselves to avoid render
ing service to their country. 1t is an oftre-
peated truism that every able-bodied citizen Of
the legal age owes military service 10 his coun-
try. Inasmuch as no general military organi
zation exists In the country nom which the
men needed to reinforce armies in the field
can be detailed, 1t is impossible to provide any
system which shall levy its burdens more fair
ly than that created by the laws OF the uni
ted States, "for enrolling and calling out the
national forces" These laws were enacted to
provide for the contingency Of the failure Of
volunteers to supply the required recruits, up
on whom the country, in the commencement
of the war, relied. Under them, who shall
be called upon to flll the ranks is determined
by lot stt
COAST AND HARBoR DEFENcEs. a
At an early day after my accession to the
Chief Magistracy, my attention was attracted
to the condition OF the coast deiences OF the
stale. The government OF the United States,
the previous year, had constructed earthworks
for batteries, and mounted cannon at various
points, but there were neither soldiers in
In this condition OF affairs, the batteries were
worse than useless, as a small force coul, have
captured them and turned the guns upon the
towns they were designed TO defend. In view
of this state of facts, l addressed the War De-
partment, upon the subject. Authority was
granted for raising several companies Of coast
guards to be mustered into the service Of the
United States and subject to be ordered where
ever the exigencies OF the country might re-
quire. Three companies were accordingly re-
,cruited, two of which, soon after entering the
service, were ordered on duty in the defences
near Washington. the third being distributed to
the several batteries constituting the nucleus
of a garrison which could readily be reinforced
in time of need. Barracks, convenient and of
adequate capacity, have also been erected
rendering these defences all that could be de-
sired. What mischief may have been averted
by these preparations, It is Impossible to say,
but without them almost our entire coast was
an inviting field for pulder and destruction,
which single cruiser could have visited, laid
under contribution and escaped before capture
was possible. ~ ~, n.
Incidents which have occurred indicate
very clearly what might have happened but
for timely precaution. As early as July, in
timations we're received that an attempt was
to be made by confederates coming from the
Province ofNew Brunswick, to commit depre-
dations upon the city Of Calais. Having time
ly notice, due preparation was made for their
reception and capture. Three only OF the
miscreants made their appearance, at mid day,
for the purpose of robbing the bank OF that
place, There is evidence that the original
party was much larger. Those who made the
demonstration were disappointed in not being
Joined by their comrades. and were instantly
arrested by the authorities, have been tried,
convicted and sentenced, and are now suffer-
ing the penalty awarded their crime, with the
exception OF one, who escaped from the State
Prison. The leader Of this band avowed him-
self an officer in the confederate service, and
r l.