Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-05
SIMON CAMERON,
SaorataFu of W.,

trate and systematize the spontaneous beneyo.
lence OF the people, as manifested toward the
army, by furnishing certain aud efficient me
dium for its exerciee; to contribute TO the
health, comfort and security of our brave
troops and prevent sickness and suffering, BY q
faithful administration of the best sanitary
means, TO administer the wants and alleviate
the sufferings of the alex and wounded soldiers
and sailors in our hospitals, by good nursing
and furnishing such food, clothing and delica
ces az are not furnished BY the Government
Our whole people are directly and deeply in
terested In promoting the objects of this Com
mission. For no fact In medical history is bet
ter established than this--that diseases break
ing out among soldiers 10 camp or garrison. for
the want OF prudent sanitary measures, and ex,
tending among them on any considerable scale,
are soon shared BY the community at large.
The mere presence 10 any country of an army
extensively infected, ia q center Of poison to it's
whole people. If pestileIce do not break QUO
(as IL commonly does), ordinary maladies as
sumo q malignant and up manageable type, and
the general ratio of mortality Is heightened 10
fearful degree. -...-. ...
Consider the prospects of 100000 troops.
chiefly volunteers, gathered not only from the
outdoor, but still more from the indoor occu-
pations OF lie; farmers clerks, students, me
| chanics, lawyers, doctors, accustomed, for the
most part, to regularity Of life. and those COM
forts Of home which, above any recorded expe-
rience. bless our own prosperous land and be-
/ ngnant Institutions: consider those men, used
to the tender providence of mothers, wives, and
sisters. to varied and we'll prepared food, sep
arate and commodious homes, moderate toll, TO
careful medical supervision in all their all
ments-consider these men, many of them moi
yet hardened into the bone Of rugged manhood
suddenly precipitsted By unexpected events into
the field of war, at the very season OF the
greatest exposure, transformed to climates to
which they are unwonted, driven to the use OF
food and water to which they are not accustom-
ed, living in crowded barracks and tents, sleep
ing on the bare earth, broken of rest, called on
to bear arms six and eight hours day, to make
rapid and wesrisome marches over rough roads
in the most inclement weather, and carrying
heavy knspsacks on their backs-and what can
bo looked for, but men falling by the dozen in
the ranks from sheer exhaustion, hundreds pros
trated with relaxing disorders, and, finally,
thousands suddenly swept of by camp diseases
the result OF irregulsrity Of life, exposure, 6ltb
cold, and inability to take care Of themselves
under such novel conditions.
i A nobler, manlier, more intelligent, earn
eat, and valuable body of troops was never gath
cred on the earth's surface than those compos
ing our army, But one spirit pervades them
whether in camp or on parade, or in the deadly
strife Of battle--a profound love of country, 8
solemn sense of the necessity OF this war, 9
willingness to die in defense Of the sacred in
: terests at stake, with a most assured sense thR
God was behind and victory before them! Snct
the earliest and best days Of the war of the re
formation no such spirit has stirred soldiers il
the field as that which now animates our troops
/ a. n,ta. g. A,
offered for an end 90 devotedly held to be woFtl
all il can cost. The perils OF the actual battle
field are nothing to such men; the injury thei
. open enemies can do them, almost not wort,
thinking of; but will malaria, fever, pesli
lence--irrational and viewless enemies-be o.
little dangerous2 No! Il Is before these in
glorious but deadly foes that our brave boys vii
J. finch; before their unseen weapons that the
: will fall Their generous and self.devoted Off
: cers are likely to be the first to suffer. The,
. share The hsrdships, thoy more than share th
. labor and exposure Of their commands. The
+. have the beat purposes. But they know not ye
how to control the diet, the personal habits, th
{. ventilation and police Of theis quarters an,
). camps. They are studying war tactics, inten
on making sOldisrs--they rashly assume tina
intelligent men know how to take care Of them
selves-and they are already finding camp dis
eases seizlng their regiments with most threat
ening grasp.
Never before, 10 the history of human benev
\, olence, did gracious Prov .dence vouchsafe O
J opportunity for doing good on such o scale,
}. 30 great q number, in 30 short q time, an
: : with comparatively so little money. OF th
immense array of Eve hundred thousand me
a now 10 Rrmn In our defense-the experience
Q military and medical members of the Sanitar
9 Commission declare that oDe-6fth. II not on'
a fourth, may be saved by proper care, who mus
: otherwise perish. Reducing the results Of Il
% dlvidual action to q form still more pFecis
Is they estimate that every dollar, honestly an
= ljudiciously expended In sanitary measures, wi
save OF least one soldiers life.
Cannot q city like ours find q few thousan
J. dollars, TO save like number Of the sons, th
brothers, the friends, the felloW-countryme
n now gone into batsle2 ~
q. Fellow citizens: We cannot afford that an
ar fone of our brave defenders shall needlessly pG
10 ish All our interests, commercial, fiscal, ?.
OF litlcal and moral, are Crying aloud for speed
&, termination of this great national eonhic!.
d such struggle, IL is madness to waste 81 lg
10 hour, stIll more q single life. Most Of i
Of should We avoid the ruinous delay Of slos osy 7
0. placing in the western camp the te OF tho
Of sands which our neglect may thoug ghtlessly ea'
10 die, almost within our sight
To- Men aud women Of Ohio! we beg you
ke awake TO instant action Death is already
10 the breeze. Disease. insidlous and inevltabl
q, IL now stealing through the camp, on frosl
plain, in midnight damp, meuacing our deare
n treasure the very flower Of the nations yout
or You surely will not permit them thus ingloi
al oualy to perish. 10 The name of humanity aI
10 patrotism-ln the name alike Of justice a
70 manly generosity, bidding US save them VI
cd stake their lives In saving ua-in the name