Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-02-11

municipalities. until near the close of the
war, and then only in the few instances,
comparatively, OF officers for the new
organizations, we have not allowed such
names for reimbursement except the class
last named.
Another class Of names found on the
claims Of many cities and towns, i, that
Of men who were drafted in the summer
of 1868, and pail commutation. Many
towns refunded to commuters the 800
dollars paid by each, either by cash Mt the
time or by note to be paid subsequently.
And having so assumed the burden of that
expenditure, have made claim for re-im-
bursement. Such claims have been dis
allowed by us in Ill cases, as a matter OF
course
To the argument persistently urged 10y
some municipal officers that the Govern
mont gave the drafted man his election to
enter the service for three years or pay $500
and therefore the payment of the money
was equivalent % the furnishing Of n man
we could only make the reply, that the
law under which we act provides re i'm
bursomcnt 'Jor men furnished" And
though money is very excellent COM
modify, and an important material ofwar,
it is not for us to ovcrrule the language
of the law and audit claim for money
paid. where we are only authorized to
audit for "men furnished
A very considerable proportion of the
claims presented have had upon them
greater or less numberof names that may
be best classed as naval commisson men"
From the commencement OF the late wal
in April. 1861, many men enlisted in the
naval service from the maritime States,
who were enrolled or liable 10 be enrolled
in the city or town of their residence.
These men had enlisted without bounty
or expectation of bounty. They had not
been furnished by any municipality. nor
credited upon any quota. Early in 1864,
with view TO the equalization of quotas
between the East and the West, in &C.
cordance with an act Of Congress, APP
proved February "a. 1864, the Govern
ment directed he credit 10 municipaIi-
ties OF their citizens, liable to enrolment,
WHO were serving in the navy or marine
corps, or had been by due enlistment, at
any time since the commencement OF the
war, though deceased or discharged there
from prior to the passage Of said act
To the State of Maine the General
! Government assigned certain number ol
these men, generally understood to be
two thousand five hundred; but whether
! lust this number or II considerable larger
number. wo are not able TO state Tor
reasons which will appear hereafter. ro
make proper distribution OF these men
or names to the municipalities. the War
Department appointed Commission.
I consisting uf the then Governor OF Maine,
and Major J. W. T. Gardiner, L. ).
Amy, then Acting Assistant Provost
| Marshal General Of Maine. This Com
mission sent properly prepared blanks to
the municipal officers OF all the cities, and
towns and plantations in the State, re-
questing and directing the return thereon
of the name of every man known TO bo
serving in the navy or marine corps. or
who had so served at any time during the
war, with the date and place OF his enlist
ment. and the aamc of the vessel on
which he was or had been serving, so far
rs such date could be given. And the
quota of each municipality under the then
! existing call was 10 be reduced To the
extent of the number OF names SO re-
turned and folnd to be correct. IL will
| be seen ut oLce that men 50 returned by
municipal officers, though allowed to
reduce quotas then called for, were not
Furnished on quotas on or after July ,.
1862 By the very terms of the law and
the order under which the proceedings
were had, the names might be OF men
who had enlisted in 1861, and who had
deceased or been discharged long before
! the names were so gathered up ana cred
tied. They had not enlisted on or ior
any quota, of any city or town-had not
been paid any bounty, and, il alive, were
not expecting any bounty. In section six
of the act under which Reimbursement
is made, 1t is expressly provided that "no
money or bonds shall be paid 20 any
city. town or plantation, for men, when
il is in evidence that said credit was grant
ed by the State as gratuiiy for which
thew have paid no consideration. We
could not see that any discretion was lett
with us whether TO allow or disallow
these men or names. Ii seemed TO us
that both the letter and spirit of the law
excluded them.
The foregoing remarks in relation to
naval commission men" are intended TO
allude only to those who seem to have
been regularly and properly returned to
the Naval Commissioners by municIpai
officers. On many claims presented Tor
our consideration and allowance, we have
found names (against which large bountles
were set) that we could find no where in
the records, until we turned, as u last re-
sort To the list of men allowed by the
Naval Commissioners. Municipal officers
t..,. Z, forppI by us that such names