The National tribune., 1906-01-25
THE DRAFTED MEN.
Where They Were Badly Used by State
and Government.

Editor National Tribune: In re-
cent issue Of The National Tribune you
state that a rumor was prevalent in
Washington that the drafted men of
the civil war had asked, or were about
to ask, the United States Government
to reimburse them for the $500 paid
by them under the draft of 1853. 1t
seems strange that there are men liv-
ing in these days who should think
that the United States Government had
anything to do with the drafted men of
the civil war, or Of any other war. The
matter of furnishing soldiers in the
civil war was a matter solely of the
State Governments. When the United
States Government wanted soldiers
they made call or draft upon the
States, according to population, and the
States did the rest. OF course. the Gen
eral Government determined whether
such soldiers were acceptable or not.
The grievance of the drafted men is
purely a matter between them and the
States in which they resided, and if adj
justed at all. must be adjusted by the
States. You also speak somewhat dis
paragingly of the drafted men and their
effort to secure justice. Permit me a
brief space to state the position taken
by them in the matter referred to. In
1853 the General Government called
upon the States for a certain number.
Of men for service. The States made
call upon the various towns of the
State and a certain number Of men
were drawn. This, I think, was really
the only draft or drawing from the box
or wheel. The going price for soldiers
at that time was $500, and SO the OPP
ton was granted to those. drawn to
either serve or pay $500. Many of
these men paid the $500, but large
| number went into the field and served
some until the close Of the war. They
were assigned to fighting regiments
whose numbers had been depleted at
Gettysburg and I'm other campaigns
during the early Summer OF 1853. When
the next call of the Government upon
the States for more soldiers was made,
the States called upon the towns again,
but instead Of the towns drafting these
| men and requiring them to pay GER
tain sum from their own pockets, or
else serve, the towns voted to bond
and raise money and go into the mar
ket and hire their quota Of men. 1t
will readily be seen that this worked
| an injustice to the drafted men of 1853,
who had paid for their exemption out
OF their own pockets, or had gone into
the field. For instance, Mr.. Smith, who
was drafted in 1863, was the owner of
a farm. He paid his $500 out OF his
money to hire soldiers to fill subse-
quent drafts Mr.. Smith had to help
pay that money. Or Mr.. Brown, who
was drafted in 1863, was the owner of
a farm, and he left it and went into
the field and served. He also had to
help pay for the exemption of his
| neighbOrs in the subsequent drafts
| This was gross wrong, and this is one
of the complaints Of the drafted men Of
| 1868. But their complaint is against
States Government. The Government
| treated these men all right, for they
| received just such treatment as the vol
unteers or hired soldiers received; no
better, no worse; and the Government
to-day. in the granting Of pensions,
Just before the close of the war the
State OF New York raised, l think 1t
was, 100000 for the purpose of
aiding the towns in hiring soldiers. The
war closed, and what to do with that
money was question; and it was final
" determined to distribute it among
the towns according to the number of
years Of service furnished, and when
the towns made out their bills against
the State they every one counted in
the years of service furnished, individ-
/ ually, by the drafted men of 1863 and
received the money and applied 1t on
their general Indebtedness. These men
OF 1853 claim that this was a further
injustice to them, and that their pro-
portionate share of that money should
have been paid to them when received
by the town. About half Of the towns
Of the State recognized this claim, and
paid the money to the men to whom It
Justly belonged. Afterward the Legis-
lature passed an act permitting the
various towns that had not returned
this money to its rightful owners to do
so IL the owners OF two-thirds Of the
taxable property of the town agreed to
1t. A taxpayer in the eastern part of
the State claimed this act Of the Leg
islature was unconstitutional and the
Court OF Appeals held with him. So
there the matter stands. The towns
have required a certain portion Of their
citizens, viz, the drafted men of 1863
To pay for their own exemption from
service, and have also required them
to help pay for the exemption of their
lneighbors under subsequent drafts
They have required them. IL they did
not choose to pay the $500. to go into
the field and give their service to the
Government, and IL they were owners
o. property to also help pay for the
O. cmption Of their neighbors: and &c
> cap the climax OF injustice have peck
!, etcd the money which came from the
state. and which was justly due them
and there appears to be no redress
These are the grievances of the drafted
men. but the controversy is wholly be.
: tween them and the towns. Many III
, them also have a complaint against the
General Government. but 1t is OF diff