Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-08-24
The National Guard.

. q
considerable attention. principally on ac-
count of its being justly regarded as one
Of the most useless Institutions ofthe day.
That there never existed any actual ne
esssity for the organization, time and
events have proven to every rejecting
man. In this opinion many Of the
"Guard" concur. -
The organization is the natural of
spring Of the many base and wanton po-
litical prejudices which have been lostercd
and cultivated, to the largest extent, by
the Aboilonists against Democrats du-
ring tho war. We remember. when
playing soldier " at Camp Miami, in
1868, that the regular militia was dubbed
g the fat-foots,' and with whom tho
Guards would hardly doign to associate,
or even join in the exercises Of the drill.
"IWho would be a Aat-ioot ?'' was the
ieering sarcasm of the camp.
From sentiments of this character-the
prospect OF being exempted from con-
scription--the desire to be seen d" dressed
in blue" and the notion that it was de
grading to "loyalists Ito be placed along
side of +" Butternuts," (who made mp the
rank and file of the regulars) arose the
National Guard.
When the Eaton Guards, composed
entirely OF Democrats, were fully organ
lied, the officers sent to Governor Tod for
their commissions; but the Governor had
previously obtained reliable informa-
ton of their "disloyalty," and SO
withheld the commissions and ordered the
companies to dsband Immediately. Al
ter schooling the militia" Of the State
for one season, and expending half a mil
lion of dollars therefor, the Legislature
disban,led the /" flat-fools," and provided
alone for the guards, who were thus left
in the lurch, like the monkey with his foot
in stee-trap.
Then followed the passage of the four
dbliar communication tax, which every man
between the ayes of eighteen and forty
five years, who will not "play soldier"
is obliged to pay each year, four dollars
as poll-tax, to remunerate those who do
"play soldier" Should any one neglect
OF refuse, he is liable for this amount and
one dollar and twenty cents penalty, and
the costs of collection. Should execution
issue against him, not even the bed he
sleeps on can be held exempt, as in ordi-
nary cases of debt Such system is Of
course felt to be grievous and oppressive.
That the "Guard was organized to
prevent outbreaks and insurrection by the
I" knights of the Golden Circle Or any
other alleged secret organization, is sim
ply nonsensical pretense. Nobody be-
lieves word of it. That story is OF n
piece with the tales of ghosts and witches
that used to be told to frighten the weak
minded and superstitious. ~
Members of the "Guard" themselves---
as many of them have told us---as well as
great majority of the people, are seri-
ously considering this matter, and there is
very general disposition not to be bored
any longer with this silly and useless mil
itary humbug-the expenses of which
have to be borne by the hard earnings OF
the labonng classes-people who, of all
others, are the least able to bear them.
Retrenchment in this branch of the pub
lie expenditures is imperiously demanded,
and it is confidently expected that the next
Legislature of Ohio will promptly take
the matter in hand. The best way to
dispose of it is to wipe out the whole
thing from the Statute Book of the State
The people, in the approaching election,
should make this an issue, and carefully
ascertain the sentiments of those who may
ask their suffrages rs candidates Tor Rep.
resentatives in regard to it.
"Brick, OF the La Crosse Democrat has
the following ilom concerning couple ofhis