The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-04-23

Editor Sitter: In the consideration OF
this question, which should sink down in
to the heart of every citizen who believes
in equal justice to all, it is, perhaps, un
necessary to carry the reader over those
years of carnage, the years of war, as
they have time after time been told of by
historians and the thrilling scenes repro
duced on canvas by illustrious artists,
Nevertheless, to gain clear under
standing, let us first glance at the United
States as it was in 1868. A fratriuidal foe
had arisen to break down the bonds that
held us under one head of government.
The smoke of battle was curling from
Southern battlefelds. The fire of patriot
ism was burning on Northern plains
The war was costing money, millions of
dollars every month. National resources
were fast being exhausted. The critical
point was fast approaching, and to meet
it was out the power of modern states
manship. The "couscript act' was pass
ed, and by its provisions every man be-
tween the ages of Is and 45 was subject to
military duty, if called upon by the gov
ernment.
Heretofore the ranks had been filled by
volunteers. Now they must be filed by
drafted men, who either must serve or
forfeit three hundred dollars to the feder-
al treasury.
The first draft came in 1868, and was
made on the basis of an enrolment previ-
ously made up. Some went forth to do
military duty, while others differently sit
uated paid the sum required and remain
ed at home, standing as three years
men" in the service. The war went on
and three subsequent quotas were called
for by the federal government and drafts
ordered, out these drafts were presented
by the towns stepping to the front and
spending large sums of money to get vol
unteers, or more properly substitutes for
those who were liable to draft in those
towns.
Now right here is the point. Those
who were held under the first draft were
left to provide personally for the quota
of their towns, while the other three sue
of the towns and cities. Moreover, those
who were held under the first draft have
never been recompensed in any way shape
or manner for the money they paid to Sc
cure their substitutes. Is this in line
with the doctrine of ''equal justice to
all ?" Furthermore, after they had fur
nished their own substitutes, they were
compelled as tax payers to help pay for
the substitutes of all their neighbors.
No fair minded person would believe
that after our town compelled the men in
the first draft to fill that quota unaided,
that the same nea would be compelled to
help pay the thousands of dollars to get
substitutes for their neighbors. Yet this
was actually done. They were the only
class upon whom military service was
made compulsory.
Our grateful government has assumed
the functions OF healing the wounds of
the war and restoring to us the rights
and privileges we filled for her good in
the time of distress. Millions OF dollars
have been distributed among the veterans
who withstood the fiery odeal of battle
The direct tax has been refunded. The
government vies with it's subjects in doing
honor to the men who stood firmly by it
until right triumphed and the would be
usurpers of national peace and prosperity
were ground down under the virtuous
weight of Justice. 1t has done all this,
vet it has not made move to restore, the
money so unjustly taken from the men
who were held under the first draft. We
have men in our town, who today, are
paying interest upon the three hundred
dollars they borrowed to pay for their
substitutes. Is it justice to withhold it
Is it anything but the rankest injustice to
withhold this money longer Thousands
of towns and cities throughout the coun-
try, seeing that the national government
is Indifferent as torestoring of this money,
have generously paid it from their own
treasures, being unwilling that the scar
should longer remain to blot the records
of civilized country. If the govern
ment fails to do its duty, let our town
emulate those that have already restored
this money, and place all once more upor
an equal footing. As far as | know, nc
one has ever yet justified this discrimina
ton. Nine-tenths of the people, if they
only understood the situation, would bt
favorable to return of this money, witt
six years interest The drafted men ash
for nothing but justice, and that they
should have.
E. w. G.
Londonderry, VT, April Ii, 1891.
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