Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-05

Will be Accomplishments 80 as to do Justice to
our people. would still recommend the
enrolment, even though it may not become
necessary in the future. 'H Eurd IEfF
Public opinion demands that some meas
ures be adopted to prevent or to punish the
voluntary absenteeism' Of persons'iiablesto
military service from the State, on the ap-
proach or during the tendency ORA draft.
1t is estimated that the number of men who
fled from the State as. the recent draft ap-
preached, and during its execution, exceed
ed twenty thousand. Those whoswere not
drawn of course returned when the quotas
of their districts were filed; those who
were drafted remained away, with few eS-
ceptions, where substitutes were procured.
A large number left during the ten days al
lowed by law between draft and notilica-
tion. Tomeet all these deficiencies supple
mentary drafts became necessary; and then
the same process went on until, in some
cases, there were not men enough left in the
townships to fill the quotas. Many. men
drafted in one section of the State are, no
doubt skuling, or openly residing in other
portions of it; many have gone into other
States and the Territories; and not few
have fled to Canada.
This is a serious evil, and yet the remedy
may not be unattended with difficulties. The
supplementary draft does not releasethe
refugees who occasioned it from military
service. As to these, you may be able to
adopt some measures to arrest and hold
them to service, where they will aid in re-
ducing subsequent quotas. The class
equally guilty-whOd deserted the State that
has protected them, in the hour when their
services were required for her defense. itis
| possible can not be punished for the past
0ffenso; but it is clearly in your power to
| provide punishment for such transgressions
in the future. A large portion of them can
| M hn nnfnntnallxr raonhn1 hu fin ar,1
penalties. Is it not, therefore, legitimateto
impose upon the oflense forfeiture of civil
or political rights? do not find any inter-
diction; while there is moral If not legal
force in the argument that the man who ig-
ANONYMOUSLY fees from the call of his coun-
try in the hour of peril, should not be per-
mitted to quietly return when the danger is
past or the service has been imposed upon
another, to mingle in shaping the policy of
that country, and choosing its rulers. 1t is
not sufficient reply that such man is po-
! litically opposed to the policy of the war;
or the manner of conducting it, "Freedom
of speech and of the press in criticising,
or even denouncing the policy of the gov
ernment, is one thing: but the refusal to
obey the call to service of that government,
when legally and consttutionally enforced.
is decidedly another. The one may be toll
Grated and even maintained as incidental to
natural right; the other is an act not only
of disobedience to, but of insurrcction
against the laws of the land; and he who
commits this offense may well be heldto
have forfeited the protection of the govern
ment he contemns, and the privileges con-
! firmcd by the laws he delies. - 'i'7
You may be able to devise remedies less
severe and more effcctual against this evil
in the State. | trust it may be so, for am
satisfied our loyal people will require some
definite action of the Legislative body on
this important subject. 4AH sHifi19i4b
THE REBELLION. An p To
In the emphatic language of the Presi-
dent 1.-THE war continues" The great
col test for the life of this nation is notyet
terminated. The year just closed has been
marked by decided progress; and we are
nearer the end, not only by the lapse of
time, but by the material change in the p0-
sition Of parties, and the aspect of afsairs-
Our strength in all the elements of contest
is increased, while that of the rebellion is
| diminished. The mass of our people are
firm and determined, while the adversaryis
becoming broken and dispirited. We may
! yet have reverses in store for us; but the
eventful triumph of the government,
though it may be delayed, cannot possibly
be prevented. A review of past events so
familiar to the country, would not now
prove interesting or valuable; while those
OF the future are 50 oleaIly foreshadowed
as to tax only our patience in awafti5 g.
their development.
The recent action of the people In sus-
tanning by so overwhelming majority,
the administration and the cause of the
county, not only constitutes an element
of immense strength and value to ourselves,
but it affirms serious and important truths,
which the people of the South may well
take into careful consideration. Insteadof
voting this war "a future" and command
ing "a cessation Of hostilitieS," the people
have declared it a success thus far in its
progress, and required its continuance I'M
til the rebellion is suppressed and their
government restored to its original power
and usefulness. They have counted its
cost and measured its sacriiices-they have
voted to themselves heavy taxation, and if
necessity requires it. more calls upon them
to fill up the ranks of their armies-they
have left their authorities no discretion;
have forbidden them to take any backward
step, but to press onward with energy and
vigor, calling for and using all the resources
Of the nation, until the rebel power is
broken, and the peace and unity Of the
country is restored. They have gone fur
ther, and declared with clear, and unmis-
taxable emphasis, that with the conquest of
this rebellion must perish its most potent
element, as well as one ofits exciting causes;
and that when peace sheds its blessings
again upon our people, this shall be, what
God and our fathers designed it-A LAND oE-
HUMAN FREEDOM. ~ ''''' 't neilifOa
From the commencement Of this great
contest the State of Ohio has occupied no
doubtful or hesitating POSITION Our peo-
pie have assumed their burthens with alac-
rity, and borne them with cheerfulness,-
They have responded with promptitu1e to
every call that has been made upon them;
and without passing the bounds Of becom-
ing modesty, they may point with emo-
tions of pride to the record which her sons
have made for the State in the council and
in the field. Ohio officers have commanded
with distinction and honor in nearly every
department of the service; and Ohio SOL
diers have battled with exalted courage and
patriotism upon nearly every field Of the
war, and marched over portions of every
State that the reasonable leaders took into
rebellion. At all times, and at all places they
have nobly done their duty; achieving for
themselves and rejecting upon their State
the highest honor True, there have been
grievous sacrifices; there has been mourn-
ing at many hearthstones; and we have of
ten been called upon to pause In our exul-
tation over the noble conduct Of our living
heroes, to lament our gheroes dead;r-but
even the eye ibedimmed with tears has
caught glance of the future, and the
strickened heart has found consolation In
a,