Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-04-01

can only be accounted TOT on INC SrouHu eha'
they guessed at, instead OF examining for facts,
The General Government never "assigned, y
never contemplated assigning, and never had
authority TO ''assign" a single one of "these
men, to Maine. e4sss
Let me tell the gentleman from Chcrryfield,
and the Commissioner" with whom he is as
sociated in business, of the modus ope,anda
of ascertaining who went into the Naval SER
vice from Maine, and how the credits and
assignments" were made. think when
am done that he will conclude the statement
of the Commissioner, his law partner, (for
he is the author of this report so unjust to
many towns in Maine), and his own. as to
these three thousand assignments, are but the
pulpy suggestions of the widest fancy.
These credits came to Maine by and under
the authority of law of Congress approved
July 4, 1864, and promulgated by 'General
Order" No. 81, July 6, two days after APPROX
al. 1t may not be uninteresting TO TINS House
to haze me briefly state the reasons when
seemed to control Congress in the enactment
of this Statute. fit is not interesting, it can
not fail to help them to better understand the
matter February "a, 1864, the President is
sued proclamation calling for ''ive hundred
thousand men," Those men were largely
wanted in the western armies, and especially
to join Sherman in his magnificent campaigns,
resulting in the unparalleled march to the sea-
Those jealousies which have been perceptibly
growing up between the East and the West
for years, grew conspicuous and animating
after this call The Western States declared
that there was deficit existing on former
calls in New England and the Central States,
of more than one hundred thousand men, and
that until these balances were made good they
would furnish no more. That was the sec
ton where men were most needed--this was
a crisis in the nation. In reply to this claim
of the positive and ovcrbearing West, New
York. Pennsylvania and New England claim
ed that II they could be permitted to go to the
Naval Records, they could show that no de-
felt existed that in fact the cnlistmeats in
the naval and marine service from those sec
tons were more than sufficient to balance ac-
counts. These classes of men had never been
considered subjects of credit up to this time,
as the navy was considered pleasant way out
of danger. But as these calls for men re-
pealcd, the necessity of their being credited
becaue apparent to every fair mind. Enlist
ments in the naval service as rapidly reduced
the number Of men liable to service as they
did in the army, without in any manner tend
ing to reduce the number of men called for.
The injustice became apparent, rs said be-
fore on July 4, 1864. Congress passed a law
of which Section reads as follows;
5ts 49, Fa =
'tAnd be 1t further enacted, mat all persons
in the naval service of the United States, who
have entered said service during the present
rebellion, who have not been credited to the
quota of any town, district, ward, or State,
by reason of their being in said service and
not enrolled prior to February twcnty-fourth,
,igbteen hundred and sixty four, shall be en-
rolled and credited to the quotas OF the town,
ward, district, or State, in which they respec-
lively reside, upon satisfactory proof of their
residence made to the Secretary of War
The next thing TO be done was to ascertain
who were in the. naval service-from what
state city, town or plantation, and for how
long term Of service. On the 18th of July,
1854, was issued the following letter.
'.War Department, p. NJ. G. Bureau,
Washington, d. c., July 7, 1864 !
Hrs ExcELLEScr, SAMUEL Cosy,
Governor of Maine, Augusta, Maine.
Sir, Section S of the act approved July 4.
1864, further to regulate and provide for the
enrolling and calling ont the national forces
and for other purposes, Is as follows;
And be it further enacted, That all persons
in the naval service of the United States, who
have entered said service during the present
rebellion, who have not been credited to the
quota of any town, district, ward, or State, by
reason of their being in said service and not
enrolled prior TO February twenty fourth, |
eighteen hundred and sixty-iour, shall be en-
rolled and credited to the quotas of the town,
ward, district, or State, in which they respec-
lively reside, upon satisfactory proof of their
residence made to the Secretary of War
'The Secretary of War hereby appoints
Your Excellency and Major J. W. I. Gard |
ner, A. A. Pro. Mar. Gen. for the State of
Maine, commission to ascertain ichat credits
the State of Maine and the different sub-di-
risioHs Of the State are entitled to under the
lac giusa ADORE. eF
In determining this question, the Secretary
thinks it will be fair TO assume that the State
in which Naval Enlistmcnts have been made,
is entitled to credit for the enlistments, unless
il shall appear by more direct evidence that the |
credits belong elsewhere. The points of law to
be observed in applying the act quoted, will
readily be perceived by the commission.
Mayor ]. W. T. Gardiner, Actg Pro. Mar.
Gen. of Maine will carry into immediate cf-
feet all the credits allowed by the commission,
unless they shall specially require reference
TO the Secretary of War.
am Sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES b. Fry,
Provost Marshal General.
lHeY, ihe LOHihIisSfoHeFs. Hs?e 10 ascertain
sehat credits the State Of Maine and the dif-
fereat subdivisions of the STATE re'e entitled
to-" No assignment was made, but we must
ascertain our rights. Clothed with this au
thority the commission went at once to its
labors, and from somewhat careful examin-
alton of their plans, | feel bound to declare
that the system or plan which Governor Cony
and Major Gardiner adopted for attaining the
names, residences, &C., of the men from
Maine in the naval service, was the most pru
dent, the most careful and the most certain
that could possibly be devised.
After considerate counsel and reflection,
the commission determined to have suitable
blanks prepared to be forwarded to the NUM-
cipal officers of all the cities, towns and plan
tatons in the State. This was done. Ac-
companying the blanks were explanatory
notices directing the municipal officers-from
personal kne=iesss,a 0T oii iiiiYuestioneti proof
Ito return to the commission the names,
residences, and length of service of all per-
sons who had gone from their respective mu-
nicipalities into the naval service of the
United States. This examination by towns