The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-31

report, [ would respectfully say that per-
maps in no other rural district in the whole
North were there more and greater obsta-
cles, threatened and real, to overcome in
securing a correct enrolment than in this
one. In making this assertion, it is not
my intention thereby TO impugn the 10y
atty or do injustice to the law-abiding
spirit OF the great majority of our people,
far from it out this Congressional dis
trict, located in the very center of that
portion of Pennsylvania so Justly celebra-
ted for its mineral wealth, has its vast
mines of coal and ore populated with for
eigners of every nationality, whose inter-
ests in their own estimation, it would
seem, are ever inim;cal to the genius of
our institutions and hostile to any meas
| uTe having for its object their improve
ment and pcrpetuation.
The great majority of these miners are
aliens, some of whom have been in this
country for many years, but who never
| sought to be citizens, because the right
! imposed some duties as we'll as granted
privileges They were, however, enrolled,
and afterwards permitted to establish the
fact of their aIienage by good and sufficient
proof, either before or after draft. It
would seem that by the manner In which
they cohstrue their relations to this coun-
try and its government, the advantages
are all with themselves and while they
cannot be required to perform the duties
of an American soldier in time of war,
they yet assume or presume to exercise
some interest in the direction of affairs by
| influencing and controlling as far as possi-
bic the actions of those among them who
have become citizens. They in this man
ner easily become the tools of political
! intrigue, and though few of their number
figure as leaders, they are all devoted and
uncompromising vassals. Their prejudi-
! ces are of such nature as naturally to
enlist them in any measure which has for
! its object the em Embarrassment OF the Gov
ernment, and the exigency which made
cOnscriptiou necessary was peculiarly ia
BILE for their nefariOus purposes. 1t
gave them an opportunity, under the
tei@ued pretext of protection to themselves
and their naturalized brethren from what
! they denOminated tyranny and an uni ust
oppression, to manifest their inherent ami
mostly against the policy and measures of
the Government; and it was not, there
fore, matter OF surprise to find this con-
trolling sentiment among them taking
upon itself form and organization, and az
times precIpitating its adherents into open
if not reasonable demonstrations of oppo-
sitiOn TO the enforcement OF law. Accor-
DINGHY on several occasions aud in different
localities In this Congressional district,
the officers appointed to make the enroll
meut were abused, maltreated, threatened
with the destruction o! their property, and
even death, if they did not at oGce desist
from the further prosecution of their OBJ
noxious undertaking actually suf-
fering in person and possessions while
carrying out the provisions Of the law.
QUOTAS.
Before entering In detail on the subject
of drafting, it would not perhaps be inap-
propriate in this connection to advert for
a few moments to that other topic upon
the discussion and adjustment Of which
the people always seemed to feel so lively
an interest, that IS, the establishment,
distribution, aud correction Of quotas.
No other subject connected with con-
scription had power aud an influence
like this In attracting the attention of the
people and impeling them to action
Here was where, if at all, the oppression
and injustice of enforced military service
were felt, and it was where the Govern
ernment, while seeing and acknowledging
this oppression and these hardships, was
! poWerless to remove or mitigate them
without imposing Others as severe. 1t
was one Of those cases in which the mi
nority are called upon to make concessions
ard sacrifices, because that generous rule
in political ethics, ''the greatest good to
the greatest number" did not include all,
but only majority.
1t could not reasonably be expected
that there would be no discord In the
workings of the multifarious machinery
necessary to carry out the provisions OF
the Act of March Sd, 1868. Such
system, and one of so vast magnitude,
had never before been introduced into our
country. 1t was an experiment thrust by
necessity upon the people in the very
midst of a terrible civil war, and In any
other form of government, where the pre-
dominant feeling and sentiment was moi
one of patriotism, its results might have
been disastrous in ours, they were bene
fetal
Of the manner in which quotas were
, established and announced while this othce
was under the supervision of my prede
cessor, 1 am unable to speak, as the rec
ords In my possession for that time do no
furnish any data from which this lntor
nation can be obtained
Since my induction into office, Feby 4
, 1864, 1t has been the uniform practice t.