Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-26
PUBaEo ABUSES.

EDITORS. .AFPEAL: There are certain grievances Of
these most grievous times which particularly effects
our army and which perhaps legislation would speedily
remove win attempt in this letter TO point these
baytsnt abuses and susges. tbs remedy BY publishing
It you win give voice the unanimous sentiments OF
cur brave in the field and their just complaints
are needed by Law makers and voters immense good
will be done the country-our army VIII be reunited,
and from its broken ranks viii arise shout Of eul ant
enthusiasm such ass not been heard in this sad since
the days Of the first Manassas.
1he evils to which call attention Ist Subst.
tuies ID Commissaries, ouartermssterz provost mar
shals etc. and their add, assistants aud clerks Sd The
maintsnaoe in the service of skeleton regiments com
panies etc.
lss Substituting. From my own observations am
certain that net in IN 6ve hundred has the
working Of the law authorizing substitutes been either
beneficial to the country or just to the army
Does the country get q fair equivalent when a base
mercenary who has no interest the government, who
will not erlist from patriotism sense Of duty but
~ uureIv enters the army risks kis life for paltrv
nav takes the place in the ranks Of young nsu Of
wealth aud edacation who has everything at stake and
- sb7,7sd NOT 10 Do his dEtv willie ne remains in The
srTnv but who yet shrnks from its badships and is
tempted to escape by the opportunity which the law
gives hint Or IS the country benefited whena cunning
turned loose upon society to depreelste our currency
sxagrsrae the price oal commodities and g ad our peo
the egFthf ct, every instance kiese are Ae
two classes who avail themselves Of this law.
Nor does the evil stop here 1t was the boast Il our
array at first creation, that it composed Of the
best material that was ever IntlsfeT n tne soild pha
lanx ofwar That the scion Of wealth and distinction
stood shoulder shoulder with the honest Of toll
To this fact has been attrbgted much of our brilliant
can hope for ts continuance n view Of the deter
orstion which going on The flowers OF our army
are fast disappearing before the subbe. In vain
many Of finest do you ask for tbe en- Of
character who out privates Their places may
be filed the ranks but their example Is wanted ppon
thsbatle field and the report comes not back of their
brave deeds Aud more, ne man who proeuresA sub
sttute iECites dozen by his example % do the same
Now, many OF our companies are st composed Of gen
temen- They entered the service 81 Prvates and are
proud of the position Bat they dreamed Of being
compelled 10 associate with men whom they se3rued-
W vh0 were not their equalE-pOt reduce
them 20 the level Yet substitutes being in
troduced among them they take the pace Of the
they relieve ard gentlemen must eat and sleep
with ihem-cresture with whom they IA 'e not feel
ing in common. The government is guilty Of a breach
OF good faith in authorizing the degradation ad gen
tlemen rather than submit viii abaBdon he army pro-
curing substitutes when pOssibie-7Then rot, leaving
boldly without them Such men cannot be regarded or
treated as oeserters Their influence brought on the
war; they have enough 70 disband the army when It
becomes intolersble 10 them.
ID Commissaries, artermaEtera Provost Marshsisl
I etc. their aids, assistants ofsrils, etc
The uoinitiated DO not understand the mania which
What is it 50 attractive to the comisssry in the issu
ing Of bread and beef hungry soliersi Is it thar he
gOats upon the sight Of food being scarce article in
Does the quartsrmsser itch to handle the CeDfeder-
ste notes Hgy thev are, with which TO buy mules
aud hor-es and pay off the men3
Why should most Of the provost halls swell With
ambition to lord lS ike second Caesar, some VIII
] lage Of women dogs ani chilirsnG
The government has discovered the secret from the
thousands of applications which made every day
for these positions Coionels, majors and captains leave
their commands to receive these appointments Lieu
tenants sergeant pFivaes and subjects 70 conscpton
generally eagerly seek 70 be detailed assstets etc
Il is thus our bays scrmbie to escape from their duty in
tho field.
A thousand tines have heard the question asked
with indign stion, why that The government in its
anxiety recruit the army had drained the not
ri0us reservoirs which receive into their fou herums
half the skulkers in the eouptry, and give 70 guard
lines % enrenchments and TO the field twenty five
thousand ableboded recruits acquainted with tAe dsi
Is i that he tnsel god lace which dee5rstss the
officer makes him too sac ed to be ved though bis
ssrv ces are more nee dsd in anoi ner caPseiiy9
Susey, the sp endia unifo-m ef the b-eaI cspts
the gallant heariug Of The quarter or 2gonnsA ter the
proud strut CT he provost srshal all which may
impose upon the unsOphsti,a'ed mai Of the eOun
tr5 does overawe the very power which erea'ed
4 snd adorned these charscteiA
And it that he government vinks at every Of
the importance Il ost iIAtable having his son de-
tailed as ad, crk, assistant 10 get hin 0ut g The
| dTnv9 II so unsor by thu government hat 80 tan
with the interests o. tho country and ths require
Vaeaie these pos tio7s d how wsH and bonorably
| they can be Il edi They rsguirs 90 manual labor
men detailed aseCaliy 10 lift every faek Of meal
every quarter Of beef pi'eh every ten'--do 81 work
ANY intelligent one armed one legged, eyed man.
Is well qualified the most imposing incumbent in
the Con ede sey Ien let7uI 7seund d aud re overed
vstersn. who have split ths blood upon battle.
fields have the emglumeus ana konofs II te them it
would be h1norsbe) of taese posii0aE They deserve
It and the sold Of the army deuaad Sc for her
raies who ave BEEN Lutilated by tnei side and wh'
i the Government l.as tfrezn as(e e as worthless
see Mess Edi ors, that this eer viii be drewn o
to great length IL touch upon tbs third cause Of
compliant 70 the amy But if you WI lepd me the
# your columns, viii enoeayOr N fnture article
60 show up the PeFneious effects Of our pre- ent rIay
/ organization. Q5TDIP U S0BDATf