The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-10-18
To the Loyal Women Of America,
Treasury BurLDrso, WASHINGTON, ;

II is true that government undertakes their
care, but oil experience in every Other coun-
try as we'll rs our own, shows that Govern
ment alone cannot completely provide Tor
the humane treatment Of those for whom the
duty OF providing. as well as possible, is ac-
knowledged. Even ut this period OF the war
and with much smaller proportion OF sick
and wounded than is to be expected, there is
much suffering and dear lives are daily lost
because Government cannot put the right
thing, in the right place, and ut the right
time. No other government rs ever provid-
ed ~ well for its soldiers, - soon alter the
breaking out OF u war with this magnitude,
and vet il remains true that there is much
suffering, and that deaths unnecessarily 90
ours from the imperiectness OF the govern
ment arrangements. This is partly owing
to the ignorance, partly to the Incidence. and
partly to the nhumanity and knayery OF var
ious agnets Of government, us well as the or
ganic defects Of the system. But humanity
To the sick must, TO a certain extent, hc sac
ri6ccd, under government to the purpose OF
securing the utmost possible strength and ct-
fciency to the military iorco. .
Whatever aid is to be given from without,
must still be administered systematically, and
in perfect subordinatiOn to the general system
Of administration of the government. To
hold its agents in any degrees responsible for
the duties with which they. are charged. gov
eminent must protect them from tho inter.
ference Of irresponsible persons. 80
Hence, an intermediate agency becomes
necessary, which without taking any Of the
duties OF the regular agents of the govern
ment out Of their hands, can, nevertheless,
oder to them the means Of administering to
the wants of the sick aud wounded much be-
yond what could be obtained within the ar
bitrary limits Of supply established by gov
eminent, and in strict accordance with the
regulations necessary for maintaining prop
or accountability to it.
The Sanitary Commission, volunteer and
unpaid bureau of the War Department OF
the Government, constitutes such an agency.
Under its present organization, every camp
and ilitary hospital, from the Atlantic to
the Plains, is regularly visited, its wants rs.
certained. and whenever it is right, proper.
and broadly merciinl, Ssupplied directly by
the Commission to the extent OF its ability.
For the means of obtaining this organization
and Of exercising through II, direct inau-
ence upon the officers and men fayorably to a
prudent guard against the dangers of disease
10 which they are subject, which is its first
and principal object the Commission is who'll
ly dependent upon voluntary contributions
to its treasury. For the means of admins.
tering to the needs Of the sick and wounded,
the Commission relies upon gift-oilerings OF
their own handiwork from the loyal women
of the land. Ii receives not one dollar from
| Government.
A large proportion of the gifts of the people
TO the army hitherto have been wasted, or
worse than wasted, because directed without
knowledge or discrimination. Ii is Gully
through the Commission that such gifts can
reach the army with reasonable assurance
that they will be received where they will do
the most good and the least harm.
The Sanitary Commission has established
its right to claim the confidence of the ma
ton. The Secretary Of war and Major Gen.
Mcclellan have both recently acknowledged
in the warmest terms. the advantages which
have already resulted from its labors and the
discretion and skill with which they have
been directed. Its advice have been freely
taken, and, in several important particulars,
acted upon, iavorably to the health OF the ar
nv, by the Government. There has scarcely
been company of volunteers in the field,
with regard to which some special defect, err
ror. or negligence, endangering health, has
not been pointed out by its agents, and its
removal and abatement effected. There has
not been single instance in which its services
or advice, offered through all its various
agencies. have been repulsed; not single
complaint has been received of its embarris-
ing any officer in his duty, or of Its interior
ing with discipline in the slightest degree
Its labors have. to this time been chiefly di-
rectcd to induce precautions against u certain
class Of diseases which have scourged almost
every modern European arire, which decima-
ted our army in Mexico, and which, at one
time half of one OF our armies in the war OF
1912 unfit for service. Ii is q ground for
national gratitude that our present armies
have passed through the most trying season
Of the year wonderfully escaping this dan.
ger. That there are grander causes for
this than the labors OF the Commission can
not be doubted. bnt that among human agen
cies a large share Of credit for 1t should be
given to these labors, it is neither arrogant
nor unreasonable to assert. In this assur-
ance, what contribution that has hitherto
been made to the treasury or the store OF the
Commission is not received back again ten
fold in value? .
More than 10000 articles have been re.
ceiyed by the Commission from their patri-
otto countrywomen. Ii is not known that
one sent to them has failed to reach its dcs-
tination, nor is there one that cannot be ac-
counted for. 1t is confidently believed that
there has not been of late single case ofse-
we're illness in tho army OF the Potomac,
nor wherever tho organization Of the Com
mission has been completely extended, in
which some Of these articles have not ad-
ministered to the relief Of suffering.
After an intimate and confidential confer
enco with the Secretary Of War, the COM
mander of the army of the Potomac and the
Quartermaster General, there is reason to
solicit with urgency large increase OF the
resources ut the command OF the Commission
especially of that class Of its resources upon
which it must chiefly draw for the relief OF
the sick and wounded.
The experience Of the Commission has so
Ntll " NiNh '"uNcs "'Sh W
the women of the North to be allowed to
work in the national cause that it is deemsl
unnecessary to do more than announce that
there is real and immediate occasion for
their best exertiops, and to indicate convent
ent arrangements for the end in view.
II Is, therefore, suggested that societies be
at once formed in every neighborhood. where
they are not already established, and that
existing societies Of suitable organization. us
Dorcas Societies. Sewing Societies, Reading
Clubs and Sociable, devote themselves, for a
time, to the sacred service Of their country
that energetic and respectable committees DO
appointed to call from house to house and
store to store to obtain contributions in ma
terials suitable to be made up, or money for
the purpose Of such materials; that eollec,,
tions be made in churches and schools and