The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-07-20
The Cecil Wing.
ELKTON, JULY %. 1867.
The Militia Outrage.


edge that the rebel party in power were con
templating another resistance to the will Of
the people of the country, and were pre-
pairing for contest with the United States.
The extremity of their despair seemed to
warrant no such idea. Bnt the conviction
of this State, by the aid of the militia law,
mean to array Maryland in armed hostility
10 Congress, and resist its laws. We have
no doubt but that they are determined TO ere
ate further trouble in oar midst, and nau.
surate condition Of affairs which would
lead to the devastation of our State. Look
at the facts. Almost every appointed officer
was either Of the late rebel army, or is no
torious Copperhead. No Union officer, or
soldier, has any position Of influence or
power. All the controlling Offices are in
disloyal hands. The few Republicans who
have been appointed orelcctcd, arc powcrlcss
| because of subordinate rank. Unrcpcntant
| traitors from the rebel army have been APP
pointed enrolling officers, and, were it not
Tor other facts, one might imagine this system
was designed to furnish employment to bro
ken down rebels. Why were these men
| chosen to do this work? 1t was intended to
humliate our soldiers, and to degrade our
loyal men by placing rebels in authority
over them. 1t completely shows the spirit
that animates the rebel party, and gives Re
publcans foretaste OF the fare to be set
before them in the future. 1t is to be seen
whether they will partakc Of ii humbly.
But there is deeper motive than that
The rebels cunningly imagine that by the
appointment Of obnoxious men as officers,
our loyal citizens will be so disguised that
they will not participate in the organization
of the military, but will pay the exemp-
ton fee to escape. This is a deep aid plan
to compel loyalists to support the rebel mil.
itary force that is to be in readiness to crush
them at any moment. The idea is excellent.
They will be at no expense the bills for arms
and ammunition will be settled by their OPP.
ponents. Then all the military power OF
the State beng in their hands, they can
trample upon us with iron heels, and be
ready to resist the laws Of Congress when
ever their leaders give the word. This pros.
pect of civil war is not pleasant contem-
plation for loyal men, but il is picture Of
what is imminent and threatening. and which
will devour us unless we escape from the
tolls. There are escapes, ready and reliant;
and which will so completely battle these
consprators that their vasy attempt to rebel
~, - 4
progress will cover them with shame and
ridicule, becansa Of their contemplate
failure. We have only TO fight them with
their own wcapons--the devil with ire--and
The day is ours. And this Is the .ay to do
it.:
The enrolment has barely begun in this
county, and we can now do what few
months later will be impossible. Let every
loyal man be enrolled, or JON some loyal
volunteer company now forming BY en-
rUllmcnt We may introduce So large por-
ton OF Republicans into the ranks as will
seriously impair the efficiency OF the organi,
.alion should il ever be attempted to use it
for disloyal purposes. They do not want ms
among them, and hope for our absence, but
we want to " there. We can nowhere else
so well protect ourselves and the interests
If the whole country. We do not mind the
society. bittercr doses than that are often
taken for worthy ends. After few corn,
stalk drills, if the matters we advise are
acted upon, the whole thing will fall to
pieces, and we will be rid of q miserable
pest. Let us pay no money for exemptions,
for we do not want to be exempted, and we
do not desire our hard earned money to en-
rich rebel officers engaged in undertakings
reasonably designed. The expenses of this
enrolment and the salaries of all the officers
are expected to be paid out of the cxemp.
ton fund; for the law has provided no other
mode OF payment. Consequently if there
should be no exemption fund these salaries
cannot be paid. 1t is our part to see that
there is no such fund, and the way to do
that is for all to be enrolled in the National
Guard, not in the Reserve Militia. There
is no other course so easy and sure.
TO show how anxious they arc for all the
Republicans to get exempted, we cite the
letter of" Inspector Genera" Jcfrcs to
the enrolling officer Of this district, received
last week. In that letter the 'lnspector
General is seriously alarmed at the scarcity
of exemptions and the low state of the
funds, On! tells the officer that he must not
enroll everybody but make ali the excmp.
tons possible, tat least two.thrds of al! en-.
rolled men,, and counseled the officer that
money vas wanted, and that his own salary
depended ON the exemptions ii. bis district.
He complains Of the large enrolment and
few exemptions in other counties and de.
sires Cecil to do better. OF course there
was an implication that exemption should
be forced on Republicans, and accordingly
the officer of this district has been going
around for several days past and actually
demanding of Republicans the two dollars
exemption fee. We have not heard of many
fees SO far being paid, and hope there may
be fewer in the future, as the officer has not
shadow Of right to require any one to be
exempted against his consent. Exemp.
ton is a personal privilege, and docs not
depend on strangers will.
There is another escape from this political
CONSUMPTION which we will forbcar to notice