Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-11-13

RlDA L NOV EM ID Il
The Sanitary Convention "G DE.
/ 81 slOimes.
Mr.. MAHIN AS much has appeared in
your columns urging attendance on this con
vent'on, will you permit who doubts its
utility, and the proper spirit of some Of its
originators, little space in your paper? 1t
seems to me that much of the confusion
complained Of and especially marifest in the
last two articles, arises from confounding
sanitary goods with donations for particular
companies or regiments. While Col. Comp
ton ard myself were in ST. Louis last Spring,
in charge of the seventeen tons of sanitary
'ods for Muscatine soldiers, an order came
from Washington TO pay the freight on no
more articles sent to particular soldiers. COM
| p 'nies or regiments. As our goods had start
ed before the order had arrived the Govern
ment let them go free. Government still
transports free Of charge all articles for the
81 in all the various grades of hospitals ex.
c,pt, perhaps, those for officers. This being
the case, all that returned officers and SOL
diers " and others say about the aoeW Iowa
soldiers not getting potatoes, is simply nom
sense. If Muscatine wishes her noble sons
to have that thousand bushels of potatoes,
she has only to pay the freight send some
one in charge, and they will all go to Musca-
tine soldiers, but all Muscatine boys may no.
taste Of them. 1t would be noble act. and
greatly encourage those fighting our battles.
A moments reflection will convince any reas-
enable nan or woman that the Government
cannot and ought not to pay the freight on
all goods loving friends m'grt wish to send
to the WELL The potatoes tn It would be sent
from Maine, Minnesota and all the loyal States
would make it necessary to charter as many
boats as float on the Mississippi Those
having r.ch friends would live like fighting
cocks.
As to sending Iowa sani ary goods exclu-
sively to Iowa soldie S, it is simply impossible.
They are 10 be found in every hospital in the
land. Would you have Iowa agents to Wis
all our hospitals and minister only to Iowa
soldiers? 1t would take small army of them.
Is it not better to repose little confidence in
agents from other S,atesp l venture the as
sertion that no man or woman, at all fit for
the post, would act as agent in this contract
ed way. TO IN mister to the wants Of two or
three in room, and pass some poor stranger
p, rhaps suff ring far more-by in cold
neglect, would b. inyidous and shameful
Our generous soldiers would themselves rebel
ag inst any such distinction. What then,
the use of Iowa agents? Simply, if we have
any no lie IN ghting ,les," to join in and do
our whole duty, and es .eciay to visit hospi-
tails where our own soldiers are confined
Some men aud women want "m"re per-
f, ct organ "a 'ion," and some an Iowa depot
If Davcnpor', Keokuk or Ft. Dodge wish to
STOW their solid sympathy for our suffering
ldiers, Government will pay the freight
from their own doors, and they may consign
1t to the United States or Northwestern SAM
tary Commission, or to the care of the much
abused, vet faithful, Mrs. Witt -nmeyer.
What more could the numerous respec ab e
names apl.nd d to the call for an oppo ition
convention desire! A depot in Iowa would
be worse than useless. Davenport would
likely be the favored city. Then goods from
our city or Burlington, would make haste
slowly 10 our sick by travel ing up the river
to Davenp RI, t1at some "experie" ced bu>i-
nes, man" mi hit properly label and direct
them to the tender mercy Of some Reverend
gentleman that loves to keep his boots dry.
All, but Keokuk is the proper place for an
Iowa depot. After the river coses, lius0-
tine mi ;ht wish to speedily send del cacies t.
some Southern hospital. Would It be right
to make Government pay for ri Tag trans
por alton, instead of sending direct 10 Louis
vile, Caro- or Davenpo t, as the case might
be? Would it heright 70 squander the money
raised by widows mites in paying an
"experienc bu mess mn" for needle~sly
and cruelty st piping and d laying our sani a.
~ offerings at Keokuk? We need no ge eral
depot or agency north Of our large no pi'als.
Part idg & Co., of st Louis. noble men as
hey a:e, act for Iowa free Of charge. AS to
Mrs. Wittenmeyer, never had The pl 'asure
Of her >cquaintance, and, Of course, have no
nteres. in having her act as agent, except
| tht know her to be faithful servant
Governor Kirkwood has been untiring IN
looking aft r our sick and woun]ed soldiers,
and he has unlimited confidence in her fidel-
| ity, capac ty and DEVOTION to her work. l
know the SICK soldiers have. Officers may
not. met an unworthy son of E>culapius,
last spri g, who tried to conv nee me that
she had sold some Of the sanitary goods to
him for his hospital. After worming ont the
whole truth, it turned out that she sold HIN
some eggs that another officer had given her
money to buy FIR his hospital.
| With the facilities for m:nistering to the
wants Of our suff ring soldiers already pos
se-sed, it really seems that no further organ
ization is necessary. If a convention meets
at Dss Moines the only good they can accom-
plish will be to "stir up each others pure
mind by way of remembrance" and sti'nu.
late each other to good works. They cannot
change the channel by which the various
societies send their contributions. If more
agents are needed let the Governor and Leg
stature appoint them. If he must be an ex-
perienced business man, let him also be
'e' ly imbued with the spirit of Howard.
Wriggle as we may 1--WE Lords Of creation"
must ever yield the palm to woman in the
sick room. j. S. HORTON.
THx SMALL CHANaE.-There is prevail
ing disposition among small dealers. indeed,
among business men generally, to repudiate
| all the small postal currency that have pieces
tarn off of them, or have been torn ard mend
ed. They i'm 'gine that such notes will not
be redeemed by the Secretary of the Treasu-
~. They are in error A Treasury order,
issued sometime since, did substantially an.