The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-09-20

EVIL Communications corrupt good
manners" They arc exceedingly afraid
that in some way have been contami-
mated by association with my neigh.
bors who are alleged to have becn in q
state of revolt in tho year 1SGl
THE MILK IN THE COCoANUT.
They discourse upon this subject with
the obvious purpose of drawing of pub
lie attention from the true Issues Of the
canvass, and directing debate to matters
wholly irrelevant and misleading. In
point Of fact, there was no insurrectlOn
in Columbia county, in 1864, nor any
resistance, actual or attempted, to the
execution of the laws OF the United
States, and although that county was
occupied by troops their presence there
was entirely Unnecessary and unjustili-
able.
Now, once for all, 1 shall state Il few
leading facts which will dispose of this
irrelevant topic, and rcfuto the calum.
nies directed against hepcoplo ofny ma
tive county, than whom there arc none
more orderly and law abiding Within
the limits of the commonwealth. But
in the first place permit mo few words
as TO my own relation, or absence ofre-
lation, with those troubles Of 1861.
WHAT GEN. COUCH HAD TO DO WITH
/ was absent from homo at Washing
ton from the beginning of December
1868, to about tho end Of July 1864, con-
gress having adjourned on the fourth Of
the latter month. Shortly after my re-
turn / was waited upon al my residence
by General Couch, who was then in
command H the department of the
Susquehanns, with his headquarters at
Chambershurg, He Informed me Of the
reports which had reached him in re-
gard Ia resistance to the draft at the
upper end Of Columbia county, and of
All alleged combination TO prevent its
enforcement. / answered that l had no
infurmation upon the subject beyond
rUmors; that | thought the facts had
been exaggerated, and proposed to him
that we should obtain conveyance and
visit the section of the county where the
disorders were said to exist that al
though I had intended to leave the
following morning on ajourney,I would
postpone ii and accompany him. He
excused himself from accepting this
proposition on the ground of want of
time, but at his request 1 accompanied
him into the town Of Bloomsburg,
half mile distant, where we saw other
persons, and further con ferred togeth-
er. He proposed to send word to the
drafted men and their friends, that if
the former would report within rea-
sonable time, All proceedings against
them would be dropped and / recon-
mended that Col. Freeze, register and
rocorde er.ofthe county, should berequCst-
ed to convey this information and adj
wise the drafted mon, as far as he could
reach them directly or through their
ncighbors, to report. This proposition
was settled upon, and General Couch
gave a written communication to Col
onel Freeze, containing the substance
of his proposition in regard to the draft
|
August 16, 1864, and has been in print
for seven or eight years. Col. Freeze,
though reluctant to undertake this
mission, at my urgent request, made In
conjunction with Mr.. Paxton, lead.
ing republican business man of the
town, was induced to go, and did &C
!. upon this mission. / left homo the next
,, morning with my wife upon the jour.
ney contemplated, and absolutely, what
[ have mentioned is all the connection
| ever had with or relation 10 the trou-
b!eS in Columbia county and its occupa
ton by troops prior 20 tho arrest of citi
zens, which took place at the end Of Au
! gust.
In lcttor to me from General Couch
dated at Chambcrsbug, the Goth of Sep
tembcr, 1864, and which has been il
1 print for years, he alludes TO the fore
= going transaction in the following
words:
| 81 was very glad to receive your let
f ter rccollecting with pleasure our inter
= view in August last and the assistance
yOu tAtcuUSu nlc al lndJ llIue.
= NOBODY HURT AFTER ALL.
t That concludes all, and perhaps NOR
l than Is necessary, in regard to my pei
{ sOnal connection with the difficulties O
k 1861. But, III Vindication of the citizen
# OF my county, / will add: that no Office
@ Of the United States, civil or military
G was ever opposed, resisted, threatene
g or even insultod IN Columbia county
o that the number of non-reporting draft
t ed men there was not unusual as com
It pared with other sections, and that til
t. pretense5 upon which the county wa
t. occupied by troops were wholly grounC
d less Those pretonseS Were that ther
y was an actual instruction, I'll
l. insurgents occupying fOrtihcatio
e tions with cannon and with armed me
: to defend them; and next, Though
< subsequent preteXO that secret societi,
10 were organized and existed there, I'll
l. members of which were sworn to resi-
Is the draft. These reports constituted IL
y excuse Of the military authoriti,
}. for sending troops to the county, BIT
TO they were completely exposed afterWal
K, and shown to have no foundation
ar fact. First the pretenso Of fJrtldcatior
Y. and armed defenders Of them was c,
ploded by a military examination of Il
tv region in question, while the preten:
ID of secret societies to oppose the dra
20 was thoroughly disproved upon lu
". trial before military commission
in Harrisburg. The acquittal of DAM
7 McIIenry Zone Of the arrested citizen
no by the unanimous vote of the milital
20 commission which tried him, hearti
". concurred in by the judge advoca
who conducted the prosecution, ,broug
N. the whole question OF the COlumb
o. county troubles to an end, and book
ty it for history to be judged of hereaft
Nv as stupendous blunder or grievo
a | mrnuO Annlnusa