Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-25
. Destructive Heartlsssness.

The Registsr not only finds fault With the Legis.
ature for approprating money for the of our
sick and wounded soldiers and to prevent tie spread
Of small pox, but it objects to the number entertain
cd and cared far at the .Waysidc Hospital st this
place. and especially to the lact that this Hospital
affords lodging and shelter occasionally to thewses
and relatives Of soldiers who detained for anight
at this place their *ay to ard from the army 1t
sneers at the "tasern hospital" italls it andis
'indignapt.that women and children" should crowd
the cars to such an extent as to drive the Editor OF
that Journal when he travels on the RAILROADS., to
"betake himself to the baggage car" Some Of these
same women, it seems, hsve staid all night At the
Wayside Hospital with their sick and wounded
friends; and this fact has given special point to the
indignation Of our neighbor. The Progses' having
stated that in many instances ladies without the
means to procure food and lodging at the hotels at
the present exorbitant charges, and compefied to
spend night here waiting for the train, have been
taken from the depot to this hospital and cared for,
the Register sneers contemptuously at the idea that
"lades are thus entertained by Inserting the word
ladies in quotation, marks, and endeavors to leave
the impression that the Surgeon General, who has
the control of the Hospital has gone into the bus-
ness Of keeping tavern for all sorts of people
Now, the "women and children referred to by
the Register as travelling on the cars, and coming
between the wind and his nobility" are for the most
part the an6 children Of soldiers; and the Ia
dies mentioned by the Progeess are the wives and
sisters of soldiers, who travelling on errands Of
kindness and mercy to and from camp. Many Of
them not able to pay the enormous hotel bills at
this place and elsewhere; and the Surgeon General,
rather than see them remain out in the rains and
osts all night at the depot has invited them to &C
-cept lodgings at the Hospital near by. Who would
reflect upon the character of these women merely
because they are poor? Who blames the Surgeon
General or the Surgeon Immediately 10 charge, DR..
Roberts, for this act Of humanity towards the wives
and sisters of our brave soldiers? No one will do
it who has the heart Of human being in his bosom.
TAs pttance which is thus expended will never be
felt by the State and if it should, what Of it! Our
first duty is to the soldiers and their families and
those who able to pay taxes must expect to pa!
to the last dollar if necessary, for their support
The Register represents certain class who must
! expect to pay heavily in this way. They have been
and are doing. but little else for the war. If they
wilLnot fight they must at least pay.
Dr.. Warren has the power under the law to es-
tablish other Wayside Hospitals besides the one at
Raleigh, and we trust he will exercise this power
and establish them wherever necessary. Let the
soldiers be cared for. Let the "wouien and chill
dren" ride on the Railroads.&c. often and as far as
they choose. Let the wives and sisters of oufsol-
diers who may be in tbe neighborhood Of Waysiae
Hospitals, and who have no means with which to
pay their hotel bills, be given nights lodging and
thus be shielded from the wind and cold. Many OF
them are poor, but they are not dumb beasts Thei,
poverty, in many cases. has been occasioned BY the
war. They are doing more for the country than
those vino sneer at them; and they are better per-
sons in every respect: than the cold hearted and ma
lcious individual who complains and scolds because
they are treated by the Surgeon General with hu
manity and kindness