Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
On August 4, 1862, Abraham Lincoln called for a draft of 300,000 draftees to fill state militia quotas. These men were to serve as nine-month militiamen. The order never went into effect, but his call exposed a practice of corruption of allowing towns to barter out, to highest bidder, their quota requirement. Offered here is an gubernatorial proclamation, 1p. 4to., printed with a finely engraved seal of the State of Rhode Island, August 20, 1862, Providence, Rhode Island, governor's proclamation issued by Governor William Sprague calling for the assembly of his state's legislature to enact laws to regulate an "overbidding by each town… to relieve itself from a draft", in part: "PROCLAMATION, By His Excellency, WILLIAM SPRAGUE, Governor of the State of Rhode Island…whereas…the large bounties given by several cities and towns in this State for volunteers, for the purpose of obviating a draft is producing dissatisfaction among the troops of the State, now in the field…this system of overbidding by each town in its haste to relieve itself from a draft…is creating a large debt…unequally divided among the people of the State, when the cause for which…is that…the preservation of their common country, and…undue haste has…been manifested by some people…to render themselves exempt under the law, from doing military duty. Under these circumstances, and to…comply with the call of the President to furnish our quota of tropes, I have deemed it my duty to convene the General Assembly…therefore, I, WILLIAM SPRAGUE, Governor of the State of Rhode Island …do issue this proclamation convening the General Assembly…to meet at the State House…Monday, the 25th day of August…and do hereby call upon the members of both House thereof , to assemble themselves…at the time and place aforesaid…William Sprague." Near fine.
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