The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-03-24

ty.seven men on the present call. Hence. In
stead OF having our quota more than null, %
was Mt 6rst supposed, 1.-THE forty seven thrce
years. men being equal TO one hundred ana
thirty.one one year men, and our quota being
but one hundred and twenty-eight), We now
find that We have still got 10 furnish the full
number Of one hundred and twenty.eight men.
will not, with my feeble mathematical powers,
attempt the Herculean task OF showing you oy
the same formula Of figuring used, how this dc.
cision has been arrived at by the Government
officials but as nearly as Il Is possible for me
10 ascertain in the time. 1t appears that credits
have been given only to districts and not direct
ly to towns so that when demand was made
upon this district for certain number OF men
under the December call now pending, the fact
that We, or any other town or city, had put In
q surplus Of men over other calls, only went
just 30 far to reduce the quota Of the whole dis
trict. Thus II. for instance, after the July call
We had put In surplus OF, say 1900 men, there
would have been no call upon the district ut oil ,
and no other town In Il would have had to put
do now, the benefit OF our surplus men without
pay ing dollar. I do not present this rs the
true theory Of the matter. but simply oil can
ascertain about Il. Neither do theories avail US
anything We know the facts. ard that de.
mand Is now made for one hundred and twenty
eight men. BY this decision, and by the action
Of the Legislature, the city has lost 5000 State
bounty, and nil Of .the $3.50 city bounty on
each OF these men, amounting to S2l 100 In oil.
II we should finally lose the other Sl00 on each
Of them, by the State. II would amount to S4..
100 more, or S25 800 This sum, however,
does not represent the true amount OF loss, 40
We havo really lost surplus OF eiGhty-four
years al from 1917 which should count Us rs
SO many one year men ; and We also lose by the
greatly increased price OF recruits now over
what they were last year, which taken altogeth-
err will make difference to the city Of more
than $5o.O00. When these things are consider
ed in connection with the fact that probably
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars worth OF
unassigned men" have been sold or disposed
of by somebody, and Of which We should have
received our proportional part, but for which
BufiefDrd, and no other town or city, have ever
received any credit, we may we'll stop and ask
what we are comm to. or rather, with more
propriety, seriously consider to what we have
already arrived. think that with proper ex-
ertion In the right direction we shall undonbt-
eddy receive our just dues from Governmt mt,
and get credit for our excess of men now In the
service, though perhaps not on this call but
we should consider ourselves treated with extra
ordinary lenity IL the State does not In some
way cheat US out OF twice the amount she al.
You do well to ask what shall be done. can
only advise. A floating debt under any crcum-
stances is pernicious In its tendency, and should
always be regarded with the mos: jealous eau
ton and distrust Where the affairs Of the city
with each succeeding year may fall into new, and
frequently INSCRIPTIONS hands. such debt Is
liable to be made sort Of financial reservoir
or depository into which all small matters con-
nectcl with the treasury may be conveniently
thrown, to be afterwards swept out of the reach
of investigation by permanent loans. would
therefore recommend that the Treasurer receive
imme late authority and instruction 10 fund the
whole Of this debl as rapidly rs possible by the
issue Of bonds bearing six per cent interest, and
on long term of years, the bonds TO be ex.
changed for the outstanding city notes whenev
or the same can be done to advantage, and
where this cannot be accomplished satisfactorily
let the bonds be sold in open market and the
notes taken up Based ON over 81 900 900 Of
property, the money lender will find no better
or safer investment than Bi,lleforl City Bonds,
and do not In the least participate in any fears
which may be entertained that they would not
fn,l ready sale ut high rates. Governments
and States when they rcpudiate leavet' ecreditrr
with no remedy; but towns and cities can never
repudiate.
but rs bonds can only be issued to fund debts
already incurred Mt the time Ut such issue, and |
As you have seen that 5000 900 should be pro |
vided for the present year, know OF but one |
way to meet the balance and that 10 by tax,
ton. Therefore u but SIS 900 of our debt |
sho I'D be funded during the year, S223 900 |
would still remain to be raised By taxation or
otherwise provided for, In or,ler to meet the
demands pressing upon US; and
This without taking into the calculations, what
may be required to fill future calls for recruits.
But ~ the quota OF the city under the present
,all will probably hsveto be 6llel by the means
,f u temporary loan. Il would be good policy
10 cancel that also BY bonds, which would re-
Or somewhat les.. do not believe II good pol.
cy, or safe u raise less than that sum, In view
If future calls for soldiers, and the uncertain
y respecting the amount ut the city debt,
which can be funded. | am aware that taxa
ion always presses most heavily upon the poor
nan; but now more than ever will he feel 1t,
or II should not be forgotten that, while the
Itch man can invest his money In Government
and avoid all taxation. the poor man
whose little property cannot be covered up In
uch manner, must be taxed to the utmost
arthing Therefore. while no pusillanimity
houll mark your actions In providing what
$ actually necessary for the welfare Of the
hty; and while the plain path which duty
marks out for you will require always and ut
II times cordial support Of government ut
THAT, yer sacr ice, let no prodgality be mani.
but rather the strctest and most rigid
conomy be xsrcised In Nil things. I do not
'elieve In furnishing dollar which shall In any
ray OF man Ter operate to deprive the country
4 the men she 30 much needs In this hour OF
Ter peril; but do believe II to be our duty, by
furnishing money for that purpose. to place Il
sthin the power Of every man called upon to
20 to this war. to elect whether he will 90 him ,
ELF or send some one else, and am willing to
hare my property with the enrolled man for
hat purpose.
I,u, the matter Is In your hands. You stand I
etween the tax payer on one side, and the SOL Z
Ter tn the other; between living men and the {
nsatiate nav Of war; between flesh and blood I
nd money. Let your acts, II possible be just
o all. II
In relation to the educational interests of the q
ity, I am not aware that there Is anything uu- .
sual presenting itself, or which will demand
4 you more than the ordinary amount Of at
ention bestowed upon this department.
Deprive through poverty OF the advantages I
{ even common, to say nothing OF q liberal
I have always through lie moro G
eenly felt, perhaps, than many others, the Q
rcat disparity existing between the educated 9
md the uneducated man, and have been wont
0 regard those, more fortunate In this respect Z
han myself. with degree OF envy which
ope IA not altogether objectionable under the 9
Therefore trust shall not be i
onsidered q, attempting to give undue impor- 8
ancc to the matter when state that consider Q
he subject Of eiucstion secondary to no other I
Ihateyer, and the very highest trust which a
ould possible he committed to Us. But while I
he necessity Of sustaining In vigorous opera Q
ion our system OF free schools. must, I pre-. b
ume, be entirely beyond question with you, 1t !
, ~ A r. al sl~l s.-L~- - IL
Z all education Is the formation Of right char. 9
eter and that no amount Of money which We i