Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-29
The Office of Surgeon General.

In. EDWARD arren as Surgeon General OF the State,
an attempt has been made by the Register and 9th,
er enemies Of Gov. Vance, to produce the impres-
sion that such an officer is not needed at this par
ticular time. The act authorizing the appointment
of Surgeon General makes the Executive alone the
judge of the necessity for such an officer and upon
the installation of Gov. Vance, it became his duty
to examine for himself into the propriey of contin.
uing the Office without being biased by the opin-
ions and conduct of any one. After thorough in
vestigation fthe subject the Governor has thought
proper to continue the office, and has appointed
gentleman every way eminently qualified to fill it.
1t will be admitted, even by the most nveterate
partizans that the gallant men who have volun-
eered to fight our battles deserve, at the hands of
the State, all possible consideration and kindness,
especially when Frustrated by disease or wounds
1t is also notorious that though the Confederacy NAV
be disposed to do all in its power for the comfort of
the sick and wounded yet there Is much left to be
done, and which the States can and should do, for
the relief OF their afflicted sons For these reasons
nearly every State has preserved some special medi.
cal organization, having for its object the care of
their sick and wounded Thus South. Carolina,
Georgia Alabama, and Louisiana have established
large and weliregulated hospitals in which their
oacn soldiers are principally received, and supplied
with multitude OF comforts by friends and rela-
tives which otherwise would be denied them Thus
depots have been established to which the vounta-
ry contributions of the philanthropic can be for
warded for distribution according to the wishes of
the charitable donors Thus the battlefield has
been visited by the skilful and the humane acting
under the authority of their respective States, and
the wounded cared for amid the bursting of shells
and the whistling Of bullets. In this way the bed
of the sick and mutated soldier has been visited
| alike in the humble cottage and stately mansion,
and crowded hospital, and soothel by the kindly
minlstratiens of those who feel personal interest
in his welfare.
North-Carollna, we are proud to say, has not
been backward in this noble work She, too, has
her hospitals and her depots and mas sent her best
talent to the field to aid in the preservation of her
bleeding and gallant sons In word, ~ has re-
membered that her soldiers are her children, bound
to her by the most tender and sacred ties, and de-
serving of all the liberaty and Kindness she can
bcstow upon them. Gov Vance was called upon
to decide whether North Carolina, with her large
number o. soldiers in the field should abandon her
medical organization, surrender her hospitals, and
desert her sick and mutlated children when their
necessities were greatest and their appeal for aid
most urgent. lie had to determine whether he
would truckle to certain politicians in the State by
abandoning our hospitals and medical organization
boldly stand by and serve, in their great necessities
of wounds and sickness, the true and brave men who
are stalking their lives in our defence. The
Governor has wisely and humanely determined that
North-Carolina shall not prove faithess to those
whose blood has been shed in her behalf but that
the best medical skill, the warmcst sympathy, and
the most abundant means at his command shall be
devoted to the relief of her sick and wounded SOL
ders. He has, therefore, commissioned DR.. War
rem as Surgeon General-has again secured for the
State the hospitals which his predecessor had turned
over to the Confederate Government and mace ar
rangemeEts for another in the city of Richmond
has constituted of first citizens his general
agent to look after the interests of our suffering
soldiers in Virginia has set himself diligently to
work to collect hospital supplies throughout the
State and to have them promptly forwarded to the
army-has made personal inspection Of some of the
hospitals, and labored to ascertain the condition
and wants of their inmates-has opened depot Of
supplies in Raleigh to which all contributions can
be sent without risk expense-and has sent the
Surgeon General to the army in Virginia, literally
supplied with means and clothing, and with in
structions to give his personal attention, far as
practicable, to every sick and wounded man from
North Carolina
IN view of these facts, and in the name of the
brave but unfortunate men who have illustrated
their patriotism by the exposure of their lives and
expenditure of their BLOOD We appeal to every oya
citizen of the State to know if Gov Vance has moi
acted wisely and well in all he has done for oul
suffering soldiers.