Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-10
To the Legal womeu Of America.
TRrAsuRY ButtDNs, Washington, I
g4s.i,.... 1 - foar

srnment alone cannot completely pFoVlue iOI
Inc humane treatment Of those tor whom
tbs sutv Of providing, as well as possible, is
oclsnowled ed. Even at this period Of the
v,sr and with q much smaller proportion OF
sick and wounded than is TO bs expected,
there Is much suffering, and dear lives are
daily lost because Government cannot put
the right thing in the right place ct the right
time No other Government has ever pro
vided as well for its soldi rs so soon after tue
out OF a war OF this magnitude, and
yet il remains true that there is much suffer-
inp, and that death unnecessarily occurs from
the impefiectness of the Government ar
rangements. This is partly owing to the
ignorance, and partly to the inhumanity and
knAvery OF various sgenIs Of Government
IS well as 70 the organic defects Of the sys-
TEN. But humanity to the sick must, to a
certain extent, be sacrificed, under Govern
ment, to the purpose Of securing the utmost
nossible strength and efficiency 70 the militia
~ force.
N natever 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 les agents in any degree responsible
for the duties with which they are charged,
Government must protect them from the in
reference Of irresponsible persons.
Hence, an intermediate agency becomes
necessary, which, without taking any Of the
duties Of the regular agents Of Government
out of their hands, can, nevertheless, offer to
them means of administering to the wants OF
the sick and wounded much beyond what
could be obtaiued within the arbitrary limits
of supply established by Government and in
strict accordance with the regulations neces-
sary for maintaining a proper accountability
TO it.
Ths Sanitary Commission, volunteer and
unpaid buresu Of the War Department Of the
Government, constitutes such an agency.
Under its present organization every camp
and military hospital, from the Atlantic to
'he plains, is regularly and frequently visit
ID. its wants ascertained, anticipated as far
as possible, and whenever it is right, proper,
and broadly merciful, supplied directly by
he Commission to the extent OF its ability.
For the means Of maintaining this organiza-
tion, and of exercising, through it, direct
influence upon the officers and men favorable
70 q prudent guard against the dangers OF
disease 10 which they are subject, w4ich Is
It's first and principal object the Commission
is wholly dependent upon voluntary contri-
buttons 10 its treasury. For the means OF
administering to the needs of the sick and
wounded, the Commission relies upon gift
offerings of their own handiwork from the
loyal women of the land, 1t receives not
one dollar from Government.
A large proportion OF the gifts of the peo-
pie to the army hitherto have been wasted,
or worse than wasted, because directed with
out knowledge or discrimination. 1t is only
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
tion. The Secretary of War and Major
General Mcclellan have both recently ac-
kuowledged, in the warmest terms, the ad
vantages which have already resulted from
its labors, and the discretion and skill with
which they have been hitherto directed. Its
advice has been freely taken, and in several
important particulars acted upon, favorable
to the health of the army, by the Govern
uent. There has scarcely been a company
Of volunteers in the field wherein some de-
lect, error OF negligence, endsngering health
has not been pointed out by its agents, and
its removal or abatement effected. There
mas not been a single instance in which its
services or advice, offered through all its va
rious agencies, have been repulsed; not a
single complaint has been received Of its en-
0arrassing any officer in his duty, or of its
ebao eli do
gree. It's labors have been chiefly directed
TO ind1ce precautions sgainst certain class
of diseases which have scourged almest every
modern European army, which decimated our
army in Mexico, and which, at one time,
rendered nearly half Of Que of our armies in
the war of 1912 unfit for service. 1t is a
ground for national gratitude that our pres
ent armies have passed through the most
rying season of the year wonderfully es-
aping this danger. That there are grander
3auses for this than the labOzs of the Com-
mission cannot be doubted, but that among
human agencies, a large share of credit for
It should be given to those labors, tits neither
arrogant nor unreasonable to assert. In this
assurance, what contribution that has hith-
erto been made to the treasury or to the
store of the Commission is not received back
fn-fold in value2
More than fifty thousand articles have
oeen received by the Commission from their
patriotic countrywomen. It is not known
that one sent TO them has failed to reach its
destination, nor is there one that Cannot be
accounted for. Il is confidently believed
that that there has not been of late single
case of severe illness in the army of the Po-
tomac, nor wherever the organization of the
Commission has been completely extended,
IN which some of these articles have not ad-
ministered to the relief OF our suffering.
After an intimate and confidential confer
ence with the Secretary Of War, the cOmman-
Ter of the army of the Potomac and the
Quartermaster-General,t there is reason to So
Icit with urgency large increase of the re-
sources at 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 80
well acquainted it with the earnest wish OF
he women of the North to be allowed to
work in the national cause, that it is deemed
unnecessary to do more than announce that
there is a real and immediate occasion for
their best exertions, and to indicate conve-
nient arrangements tor the end in view.
1t 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, as
0orcas Societies, Sewing Societies, Reading
Clubs and Soeiables, devote themselves, for
time, TO the sacred service of their country
that energetic and respectable committees be
appointed 10 call from house to house, ard
store to store, to obtain contributions in ma.
terials suitable to be made up, or money for
the purchase OF such materials; that collec-
tons be made in churches and schools and
factories and shops, for the same purpose;
that contribution boxes be placed in post
offices, newspaper Offices, railroad and lele-
graph offices, public houses, steamboats, and
ferry boats, and in all other suitable places,
labelled sFor II sick and wounded !" and
all loyal women meet at such Convenient