Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-29
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SANITARY Commission. =
Once Of the Sanitarr Cnr,,nni |, sina


Treasury Building, Washington, J.ly %, 1861 {
AT "a meeting Of the Commission held this day,
the following resolutions Were passed, unani-
mously, and ordered to be printed; which editors
OF papers throngh out the loyal States will please
copy. FRED. Law OLMsrRD, Rec Sec,
Resolutions passed by Sanitary Co,n,ujtt,. in s,,
SION Monday, July 29. and ordered 10 be sent to
the PTsStd'nt. heads Of the Departnls MIS- and to
both Houses Of Congress.
RsSoIUsd, That the Sanitary Commission in
their endeavors to promote temperance clranli-
illness and comfort among the troops have he
come convinced that the first sanitary law in Camp
and among soldiers is MILITARY discipline; and
that unless this Is vigorously asserted ard en-
forced ii Is useless to attempt and Ipossi BILE to
effect, by any secondary means, the great end they
propose-which Is the health and happiness Of
the army.
RsSOLred, That looking only to the health and
comfort Of the troops, II is our profound convic-
ton that any special relaxation of military discip
line In favor of volunteer troops based either up
on their supposed unwillngneSs or inability 10
endure 1t, or upon the alleged expectation of the
public, Is fallacious policy, and fraus ht with
peril to the lives of the and the success of the
national cause; and that, speaking in the name of
the families and the communities from which the
volunteers come, and in the name of humanity
and religion, we implore that the most thoroug b
system Of military discipline be carried out with
the officers and men Of the volunteer force as the
first and essential condition of their health, COM
fort, and morality.
RsSoLred, That the health and comfort and Ell :
cheney of the men is mainly dependent on the un-
interrupted presence, the personal watchfulness
and the rigid authority OF the regimpntal and
company officers; and that all the great defects
whether in the COmnssarat or in the police Of
camps, radically due 10 the absence Of officers
from their posts and 10 the laXty Of the discipline
TO which they are thems, Ives accustomed-a lax
ity which would never be tolerated among reglI-
lars, which, while tolerated among our soldiers,
Will make our force a crowd Of armed men rather
than an army.
ReSolred, That IL is the public conviction Of
this commission, that the soldiers themselves ia
then painful experience Of the cant or leaders and
protectors, would heartily welcome rigid dsci-
pine exerted over their officers aud themselves
that the public would hail with Joy the inaugura-
ton of decisive, prompt, and rigid rule extend
ed alike 10 Officers and men; and that any lis
pOndehcy or DOUBT connected with our military
and national prospects, or with the health and ST.
curity Of our troops, would disappear with the
nrst indications of rigid order enforced with i'm
partial authority throughout the whole Army.
RsSOEred, Thattne Sanitary Commission assure
Major Gen Mcclellan in advance, OF all the moral
support and sympathy of their numerous constit-
uents, and beg him to believe that the humane,
the intelligent, the religiO the patriotic. will
uphold his hands in every endeavor to communal
cate spirit OF sub0rdinatiOn, fidelity, and obed-
ence TO the troops, even by resort II found neces-
sary, to the utmost igor of military law believing
that the health, comfort. and efficiency Of the
army are all united in their dependence strict
uniform, and all-peFvading military discipline.