Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-03-01
FOR TIE AMERICAN.1

Editor American: ''Observer," in the Milton
ian OF l4th February, takes occasion to reflect
OF tue depicted military org lnzttnns so-ralcd
OF u" COZ! 'gi1n.' He ai>O rcIrci- somewhat
severely on the "Militury Board who draw or
ders on the Treasurer for their own Use in max
Ing grand marches, glorious campaigns, &C."
70 the first charge W. ask leave to plead mot
gni ty," though arr;ignei by so important IL per-
souagr a. "Observcr." The military cnmplnie,
of the coal region are by no means depicted but
on the contrary have much above the maximum
nlmhcr in their ranks. As to ther condition.
we prefer the report Of Aliutlnt General Rus
sell to any criticism Of "Oh~crvcr.' or any other
OF that genus. The Military Board can only uu-
dit slcl claims 4 arH jHst ana issue th.r orders
acc lrtlngiy. As to th"sc raers inuriuL ~ thrir
own benefit, II must strike an' Observer thit as
all the military recognized a> sucn At present IN
Northumberland county are in the coal region.
there is not So much iuiu in tho action at
the Military Board as "Oh~eTveTn would like To
make Ii appear. The item Of 50, 753 II which
he reports as having been collected, il apt to mis-
lead, as "Observer,' should he look carefully
will see that the amount collected was 81 ,O1S o.
Tho militia tax, were it al collected for 1872,
would not aggregate So, 153 II, as the amount
assessed did not, | think reach quite s., OlD
This we are willing to believe was an error, but
none the less calculated to misleud. The mill
tary companies Of the coal region have been in
existence for three years, and the pIltTy amount
so far paid them has barely suillced to ply rent,
before any amount can be awarded to the mem
bcrs of a company. As one, at least. Of the COM
pauics so Kindly mentioned by "Obsrrver," has
II civil as well as military organization, and as
all the officers of the other companies are men
above reproach, it is not probable hat the i'm
De1tSs dmo'Dlt disbursed has been misapplied.
That the present law is "nquitous" is drawing
the bow rather strongly; that il is very lame We
will agree; and one Of its lamcst features is that
il allows the tax to be collected and disbursed
through county officials. Appropriations for
the support of the National Guard should be
made the same rs other appropriations for State
purposes are made, and some of the officers aim
ed at in "Observer's" letter were active in hav-
ing new law drafted last winter which should
embody this provision, and then do away with
the "iniquitous' law complained of by our OBJ
serving friend. The military companies of the
coal region are fully able to take care of them
| selves, and should "Ohservcr'' happen among us
some fine evening, he will observe good armory.
first-class guns and, think, ZONE good fellows
who wsrs on GLORIOUS -ampaigns," who will
try and make 1t pleasant for him, although he
has done what we would like to believe he did
not do ointenhonGHy-stoupt to personalities.
We conclude by observing To "Observer" that
no matter what he may observe in future, wc
won't answer him, but 20 On in oug own way.
! trying to keep up the prestige of the soldiers
| (without dispaIaging Others) # the coal region
won on many fields; in campaigns whose re-
hown mas passed Into history. SOLDIER.