Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-02-10
The Quotas and the Draft.

L 1kc 0ttlOUctS S~44SA OOC III StA Gs
We gave in our last issue, the quotas in
this county, as determined by the Board of
Enrolment. These quotas are arrived at,
after giving all proper credits, of all kinds
to the several sub-districts in the county.
We presume, that after all the time taken,
they are as near accurate and right as it is
possible to make them, though we have no
other means of knowing this to be the
fact, than has the reader. We hold no
official position with the Board, and have
not for more than three months. We
visited the Headquarters of the District
last week to gain such information as we
thought might be useful and important to
our readers, and on our own expense: and
writing from Belfast, supposed we gave at
the time all the information we could, and
all that was necessary for those inmedi-
ately interested to know But within a
few DAYS we have received number of
letters asking for explanations and further
light. &C., &c. The questions most fire.
quently asked,
LIST. Are these numbers, called quotas,
to be so many men, OF so many years of
service
ID. Why are those towns that have al
ways been prompt in filling all quotas,now
doomed to furnish most OF the men under
this last call
81. Have the towns had all their cred
its or are credits to be deducted from the
published quotas
To all these questions we will answer as
well as we can, and as briefly as possible.
LIST. We understand that the President,
General Frye, and the Secretary of War,
mean to raise 100000, as the .call" says,
and therefore these numbers called quotas
mean so many men. But these men can
be put in for one, two, or three years, as
it best suits the towns. If put in for more
than one year, then the town will have
credit for the excess Of years on another
call.
ed. This question is difficult one to
answer, and we don't know as we can
throw any light upon it. We offer the
best reasons we can think of now, for this
seeming or real inequality. The basis
upon which quotas were first assigned was
population. This has been changed, and
quotas are now based on the enrolment
The enrolmcnts are constantly changing,
and from variety of causes. The Gov
eminent ordered revision but it is fair
to presume that this revision would result
in lessening the enrolment to about the
same extent in each district and gubdis
trict. But the greatest cause of 'seliange
of base can be traced to the way of fill
ing quotas in the call of July OF last year.
Some towns filled their quotas by getting
volunteers for one year. These volunteers
did not reduce the enrolment, and they DO
not assist to reduce the quota of this last
call, as they would if put in for two or
three years. Then again, those towns
that had been negligent and continued so,
and suffered q draft to come upon them,
stand the best now and why! First,
twice the number of men were drafted,
that constituted their quota. So many
men, therefore, are taken from the enroll
ment, or what is equivalent, quotas are
not based upon this number of names, this
time. If the men drafted obtained substi-
tutes for three gears, the towns gain a
double advantage, because time counts now
instead of men, in making up the quotas
this time.
The government commenced by requir-
ing men to enlist for three years. The
men drafted in August '63, were drafted
for three years. Now the service is re-
dueed to one years time, for enlisted or
drafted men. One more change is neces-
sary to equalize this last call on the sub
districts, and that is to give the towns or
sub-districts the privilege of calling their
quotas years Of service, instead of men
for instance, if q town has quota Of 80,
let it put in 10 men for 3 years, or 30 men
for year. If this will not furnish men
enough continue the draft until the whole
number Of men are obtained.
Sd. The order of the Provost Marshal
General says that all credits are given up
to Dee. 3lst, 1894, therefore all the cred
| its which towns are entitled to. are those
which have accrued since Jan. LIST, 1865.
In all we have said it has been taken
for granted that DO errors have occurred
nor blunders been committed in making
up the quotas. 1t is barely possible that
some mistakes have been made, but of this
we know nothing.
Tho Cizyfl, TooA,7y,