A. L. Spink to Richard Yates

Paris Aug 24th 1864

Gov Yates:

D'r Sir:

Yours of the 16th and---are at hand. In reply to the former I would inform you that I and other Union men of this vicinity have come to the conclusion to let our portion of the quota of the State be raised by draft instead of by volunteering. We shall, of course do nothing to discourage enlistments, nor do we mean to do anything to encourage them. The draft like the rains of heaven, falls on the just and on the unjust, whereas volunteers are raised almost exclusively from among friends of the government---O.A.K.'s are not likely to offer their services. Further, the Copperheads have been threatening so long to resist the eforcement of the conscription law that I, for one, want to see whether they have the courage to attempt it, not that I doubt their disposition. If the government has not the power to enforce

its laws it is worse than worthless, and the sooner we know the fact the better. C.L. Vallandigham was banished the Country---he returned--- hurled defiance in the very teeth of the administration, and--- he was not molested. Further than that, it has been proved by affidavit to the satisfaction, it would seem, of Old Zack's "all the world and the rest of mankind," that he is the "grand commander" of an order that is oath-bound to treason and murder. he lords it throughout the loyal states with as much impunity as his Satanic Majesty in his own imperial realms of brimstone. We have the Deputy Grand Commander of the O.A.K's for the State of Illinois (I refer to Amos Green) in our County, a man that is under $5000 bounty for his loyalty; he is mustering his subordinates; meetings are held weekly in every township of the County; they are drilling by hundreds in various parts of Edgar and with the avowed intention of resisting the draft. The administration seem to be totally blind to the fact that the government

is resting upon a volcano. Under these circumstances we do not consider it either a matter of duty or of interest to encourage any more Union men to enter the armies, and leave these vile traitors at home to plot treason and murder. When the government has placed its foot upon the neck of this accursed institution then it will not ask in vain for volunteers. Until that time comes let the Conscription law be enforced in all its rigor and compel some of these men to take a musket and fight against their "southern brethren," instead of their eternal enemies, the loyal men of the north. They are so excellently drilled that they would doubtless make good soldiers; they are anxious to fight and had better fight southern rebels than northern patriots. Hoping that these reasons may prove satisfactory to you, I subscribe myself

Your Ob't Servant

S.L. Spink

S. L. Spink

Paris

Referred to Gen Payne with request to return. Mr Spinks is a prominent man and nominee of the Union party for Legislature

Repd by Genl Paine

Attended to

H