New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-07

The Sanitary Commission Ia doing work OF great humanity.
and Of direct practical value the nation in this time OF its
ia 1t is entitled to the gratitude and confidence Of the
pie and trusti viii be generously supported There
agency through which voluntary offerings Of patriotism be
more effectively made. A. LINCOLN.
! WrRPJxLD SCoTr.
/ WAsmsGroS September 90 1861.
The glorious prr9s er' Of doing reo! 'srrfes
for ones country lifetime may prsent 'ueh oHofsr
oocaHor.' GOVERNOR sPAGUE, Off. L.
| TO THE LOYAL, WOMEN OF AMERICA.
Treasury BuILDTYG, WAsHIEGrOg,l
October l, 1861.
| CoUsTRrwoNES: You are called upon to help
take care OF our sick and wounded soldiers and
sailors.
II is true that Government undertakes their care
but all experience in every other country well
our own, shows that Government alone cannot COM
petey provide for the humane treatment Of those for
whom the duty of providing, as well as possible, is
acknowledged. Even at 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. at the right
time. No other government has ever provided as
well for its soldiers 30 after the breaking out of
war Of this magnitude, and yet it remains true that
there is much suffering and that death unnecessarily
occurs from the imperfectness OF the Government
arrangements This partly owing TO the ignorance,
uarty TO the incidence and partly to the inhumauity
and knavery Of various agents of Government, as
well as to the organic defects Of the system. But
humanity to the sick must, to a certain extent, be
sacrificed under Government, to the purpose of Sc
curing the utmost possible strength and efficiency to
the military force. -
Whatever aid is to be given from without, must
still be administered systematically, and in perfec!
differentiation 10 the general system of adminstra-
ton of the Government. To hold its agents in any
degree responsible for the duties with which they
are charged Government must protect them from the
interference Of irresponsible persons.
Hence, an Intermediate agency becomes necessary,
which, without taking any Of the duties of the
regular agene Of the Government out of their hands
can nevertheless, offer to them means Of administer.
ing TO the wants Of the sick and wounded much be-
yond what could be obtained within the arbitrary
limits of supply established by Government, and in
strict accordance with the regulations necessary for
maintaining proper accountability TO 1t.
The Sanitary Commission, volunteer and unpaid
bureau Of the War Department Of the Government,
constitutes ssch an agency.
Under its present organization, every camp and
military hospital from the Atlantic TO the Plains is
regularly visited, its wants nscertained, and when
ever il i right proper and broadly mercfu supplied-
directly by the Commission 70 the extent Of s ability.
For the means Of maintaining this organization and
Of exercising, through it, direct influence upon the
officers and men favorablyto prudent guard against
the dangers Of diseaee to which they subject,
which is its iirs, and principal object, the COmmis-
sion il wholly dependent upon voluntary contribn-
tons to il treasury. For the means Of administer
ng to the needs Of the sick and wounded, the Com
mission relies upon g,-oherings OF their own handi
work from he loyal women Of the land. Ii receives
not one dollar from Government.
large proportion Of the gfis Of the people to the
army hitherto have been wasted, or worso than
wasted because directed without knowledge or dis
elimination II is only through the Commission that
such gfis can reach the army with reasonable as-
surance that they will be received where they will
do the mos, good and tae least harm.
The Sanitary Commission has established lie night
10 claim the confidence Of the nation. The Secretary
Of War and Major Gen. Mcclellan have both recent
ly arknoweded in the wArmest terms, the advantages
which have already resulted from s iabors and the
discretion and tkiIl with witch they have been d.
rected. Its advice has been freely taken, and, in
several important PARTICULAR acted upon, fayorably
to the health Of the army by the Government.
There has scarcely been a company OF volunteers IN
the field with regard to which some special defect,
error or negligence, endaDgering health has not been
pointed out by lie agents, and It's removal or abate-
ment Effected There has not been single instar ee
in which lie services or advice offered through all s
various agencies, have been repulsed; not single
complaint las been received Of ts embarrassing my
officer in hs duty or Of its interfering with discipline
in the slightest degree Ia labon have, TO this hme,
been chiefly directed 10 induce precautions against
certain eaFs Of diseases which have soourged almost
every modern European army, which decimated our
army in Mexico, and which, az one time, rendered
nearly half OF one Of armies in the war OF 1877
unit Tor service II isa ground for national grat-
tude that our pre,en. armies have passed through the
mos. irving season of the year wonderfully escaping
III. danger That there are grander for this
than the labors Of the Commission cannot be doubted
but that, among human agencles, large snare OK
credit FOR il should be given TO those laOors, IL is
neither arrogant nor unreasonable to assert In TINS
assurance what contribution that has hitherto been
made 10 the treasury OF the store OF the Commission
I not received back again ten fold in value
More than sixty thousand articles have been re-
ceived by the Commission from their patriotic coun-
trywomen. IL If not known that one cent 10 theh
hss failed 10 reach its des nAton nor has been
received that cannot be accounted for. II ia conf
IDENTIFY believed that there has not boen Of late SIN
Gle case Of serous illness in the army of the Poto-
mac, nor wherever the organization OF the Com
mission has been completely extended IN which some
Of these articles have not administered to the reei
Of suffering
The experience Of the Commission has 60 well ac-
ouainted it with the earnest desre Of the women OF
the North 10 be allowed TO work in the National
cause that it il deemed unnecessary TO do more than
announce that there is a real and immediate occasion
,h1i- h1at ever mud 10 indinate convenient