The Republican journal., 1869-10-14
THE SACRIFICES OF A PATRIOT.

THE SACRIFICES OF A PATRIOT.
Seldom have we been so mcXpresslbly al
l fectcd as in reading the letter of Alanson B.
Farwell to the editor of the Portland Adver-
tiser. The writer is by courtesy called Col
, onel-though in what forgotten wars he
} earned military distinction in the field it is
now impossible to say. The Colonel has been
elected to the Legislature from Augusta, and
talked of for Speaker. His reputation is being
damaged, he says, by the pestferous news
: papers and 'a class of men, Remembering
the wise saw of Iago-
Good name, my lord, in man or woman.
Is the immediate jewel of the SOUL
Alanson proceeds to polish up as much of
the jewel as hcipossesses by the friction of the
press. And he isn't bashful about the busi-
ness either but goes straight to the mark,
5 and tells lis why he rushcs into print, thus
Allow me to say that We're I not the ''Represen-
atve elect from Augusta and candidate for
Speaker. baslng my aspirations on my own charac
crand the confidence and attachment of my friends,
: | would claim no place in Your journal now.
That's frank, to be sure-and frankncss
combined with pluck will work wonders. 1t
is to be regretted that the Colonel has not in
formed the country how much of his aspra-
ton he bases on his character and how much
on the attachment of friends. In case he had,
we could Judge whether the foundation is
likely to sustain a structure that aspires so
high as the Speakers chair. 1t is evident
from his statement of the ease that neither
viii sustain it alone. He probably bears in
mind the case mentioned in Scripture of the
ndiscreet man who built on the sand.
; The arrow which wounded Alanson so
sorely and which, like the Spartan boy, he
has hitherto kept covered with his cloak, is
the accusation of having made money out of
the sale of paper credits, Or the sale of army
substitutes that never had an existence The
Colonel feels his honor grip. He proposes an
= explanation of the matter, and opens it thus:
In 1864 draft was pending. that threatened to
be more trying to the towns OF this State than any
: which had preceded it, Ii threatened disaster to
+ the administration party, and many towns We're
' Agents of many of these towns came to Augusta.
d the Headquarters of the r. NJ. General, to see if
anything could be done to avoid this draft de.ar
ing that unless it was avoided or postponed it
- would result in political defeat in their Rcprescn-
0 tative districts They would pay literally in boun-
ties for men outside of their towns, but that the
u towns themselves could not furnish the men I'M
der any pressure whatever.
II We said at the outset that we were affect
! ed by this statement. This is the section that
= did it, Here is the pathos. This is the rri-
). gated portion, where the tears come in Dis
I, aster was threatened to the administration
:, party! Alarm was felt for the result of the
l. September election! Representatives were
: liable to be defeated The towns would pay
l. literally to save a draft!
And Alanson rushed to TIE rescue, They
V would pay literally, and Farwcll beamed on
1t them like the angel Of hope
a There have been told a great many tales
!. Of hcroism to the wondering ears of men.
g We have all read of Farragut< lashcd in the
|, shrouds of his shp-of Crockett at the Alamo
L with bowie-knfe in hand, a smile on his lips,
j.. and ring of dead MeXicans around him-of
$ the Erie pilot who burned to death at the
f, wheel that his living freight might be saved
: of the boy that ''stood on the burning dcck''
:, >, of &. Washington who freed his country
i and scorned to take q penny of salary-ofthe
= selt-sacriicing and well dressed young gen
l. tleman who went into the chasm at Rome
u and Macaulay has told US in mclodious
verse
Is ''How well Horatius kept the bridge
a In the brave days of od''
= But how these all pale before the heroism
:. of Farwell, who plunged into sea of green
d backs to save some representative elections
in the perilous year 1864. II was an act OF
J. great daring. How fortunate it will be fol
IS the country if, in future wars, the Colonel
survives to repeat his patriotic risks. Let us
hope he may be spared. Alanson thus pro
e ceeds with the history Of his sufferngs-
e had just left the service of the State as its MILF
|. tary and Sanitary Agent at Washington, and as
If was publicly and generally known to have occupi
q ed and recently vacated that position agents O.
towns presumed that l acquainted with the
mode of proceeding in enlisting and reensting mpr
u in the V. r. and other Corps, and assigning then
e to whatever town they chose and also the enlist
!, ment OF colored men in the District of Coumbi.
le ana the revolving States, then just authorized b,
Congress- Accordingly town agents with leading
4. men of the State supporting them, called on me
j. and urgently pressed me to aid them, in avertina
ii the calamity which threatened their nominees
m knowing that recruits could be obtained in tbo,
~ section, and anxious to help these cmbarra sseG
=, " towns consented to make the trial. Being fur
y r
enlist men for towns in Maine, repaired TO Wash
:. ington. Before proceeding to canvass for men
:, there, committee, consisting of ofEX-Governor Col
y. by Of New Hampshire Newell of New Jersey, and
y myself. appointed to confer with the Secrc.
c tary of War, and ascertain definitely that our bnsi
re ness met the approval of his department. These
T. [men were there on the same business as myself
N We were informed by Mr.. Stanton, that we had his
entire consent. Before proceeding to this interview
with the Secretary, Col. James M. Stone of Kenne.
he bunk, was added to the committee because of his
N with NJ,
ID Stanton. Thus equipped succeeded in obtaining
II some sixty or seventy men for, and to whom paid
IL from five hundred dollars to seven hundred each
The money was paid directly to the men as enlisted
K and in all cases think, by Col b. A. Kinds, then
the eticentiM Military Agent for Maine at Washing.
" ton, with whom, as conclusive evidence of good
/ faith, the money to pay the bounties had been de-
a. posted.
NJ The reader will observe that there is not a
e. word said about The necessity of strengthening
the army, or overthrowing the rebellion Il