Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-02-13
MARINE HOSPITAL.

MARINE HOSPITAL. -.-.
If there is one feature for which we admire
the South more than another, it is that she is
seldom found seeking favors at the hands of
the general government. Indeed, We some
times think she carries this chivalrous indie
pendent spirit to fault. Year after year,
session after session of Congress. we see hun
dreds Of thousands, yea, millions, Of the ma.
tonal funds appropriated by Congress, for
works of various kinds in the North and in
the West, whilst to the South comparatively
nothing is given. To appropriating the ma
tional funds to any purpose, save that which
the Constitution warrants and authorizes, the
South has been and is opposed. This may
account for the smallness of the appropriations
which we have received in this section of the
Union. But there are some objects for ma
tional expenditure which legitimately lie
within the power of Congress, and which, We
think, only require to be placed in a proper
light before that body, in order to secure for
them the aid which it is the imperative duty
of Congress to extend TO them. A MARINE
HOSPITAL is one Of them. Thatit is the duty
of Congress to provide proper treatment and
suitable asylum for the sick and destitute
seaman when in a strange port, is clear, be-
yond cavil. Else why he compelled to pay
hospital money! Every one knows that each
sailor is compelled by law to pay twenty cents
month, WI ether he is sick or well, the real
object of which tax is to procure for him med
| ical aid and suitahle comforts when he is sick.
To this end, sums of money have been appro-
priated, from time to time by Congress, for
the purpose Of erecting Marine Hospitals in
the various seaports Of the Union. Physi-
clans are employed and paid, it is true, very
small compensation for attending these hos
+ pitfalls. For years, an institution of this kind
has been much needed in Wilmington, and
We cannot but think that we would have had
ono here long ago, had the facts been properly
presented 10 Congress. Other places, where
not one-half the amount of shipping arrives
during the twelve months, have their Hospi-
tails built by Government, and we cannot see
any good reason why Wilmington should not
meet with the same consideration at the hands
of Congress, unless we account for it in the
Y supneness Of those whose duty it is 10 attend
to these matters.
a What is the state of the case as regards this
D place. Here we have upwards of six hun
: dred vessels arriving annually, consisting o.
y barques, briggs. and schooners, and bringing
? to the port during the same period, upwards
+ of four Thousand seamen; and still there i:
literally no accommodation for one of these
+ four thousand seamen if he happens to come
}, TO Wilmington in a sick state. Suppose ont
= of these poor sailors comes to this port from
long voyage, Frustrated with fever or som,
other malignant disease, is there an Hospta
to which he can be Immediately conveyed
= and where he will receive that care and atlen
: ton which he has a right to expect, and which
8 his sickness demands ? No. There is NJ
!, snch thing in Wilmington. What is don
o with him Why, poor fellow, he's packe'
y off TO some sailor tavern, where his sick ear i
= RECALLED with the midnight revelings Of hi
O unsick companions, or mayhap he is mare 70,
IS tunate, and finds an asylum in the hut c
some negro woman, where, at least, his fe
!, = vered brain will not be racked with the clanl
>. ing of gill measures and beer pots. What
o the nature of the attendance which he receive
II in these places Why such as is by no mean
- adapted to his situation. And how can this
u rcmedied1 Without an Hospital, there is II
Id means. When the sailor comes here sick, thel
In is no place to send him, save such as We hav
=, alludedto. The Collector must provide som
ID place for him; he does his best under the circun
mt stances, but that best is an outrage on human
to IT,. There is not man in this whole comm
We ty who is at all acquainted with the bushes
r. of the place, who will not bear US out in ii
ID statement which We have made of the uDju
mt tifable hardshiPs which the poor sick sail
'd' has to encounter in the port of Wilmingto
h. Nor is there man Of any party who will n
h. agree with US. that justice, humanity. and pc
'e- icy. call loudly for the erection, by Cover
o- ment. of suitable building for the purpose
- obyiating these hardships. During the ye
ls45, there were collected at the Custo
House in Wilmington, nsarly $1,000 in He
t pital money. This sum. was there suitat
The building where all the sick seamen could
Jay together, would procure them ample and pl
YES per aitendance-such as their siination mie
~ require. But as the matter now stands, frs
necessity, this fund Is squandered wi.he
producing any Of the good results for viii