, 1863-01-06

been made. Almost every Village anu neigh
borhood have been the theatre Of these efforts:
money and stores Of various kinds, while no:
ble:seuled women have piled their busy fin
gers In preparing garments and such articles
Of food as were deemed Indispensable. Sol
dicrs' afd societies have been formed In every.
part Of the State, md their agents have ever
balances, and supplying the hospitals with:
beds, bandages, aud Ill needed appliances for
sick and wounded soldiers. Among thcse hui
manc agencies, it will not be considered a dis.
paragement Of any other, 10 name, with pro-:
found respect, the Sanitary Commission, Of
Chicago, under the direction of able, faith
fn1, and most efficient Presiuent. The opera
tions Of this commission haye been upon q
scale Of the largest usefulness, drawing its
supplies not alone from the citizens OF Chi
cago, whose contributions have been on a
scale Of muniflcercc unexccllcd by any city
in the Union, but also from every portion Of
I deem 1t my duty to. refer more particular.
" to this subject, because, notwithstanding
80 much had been done xnd was doing In this
great work, yet So large was our army, SO.
laIge was the number Of our wounded In our.
numerous aud bloody battles, so extensive
were the rayages Of disease and death conse-
qucnt upon exposure, new modes Of living,
unhealthy localities, etc, and so utterly una->
bic was the United States Government to-
supply 20 many ut the right time, that con
stant appeals for relief from the nrmy, and
from the agents already In the field, came to
me constantly. The appeals. were made to
nc as Governor of the State, and I deemed it
my duty to lend the aid Of the State: soefar as
it was in my power, by sending suceor}hnd
comfort to the brave men who had gone forth
from. their kindred and homes, and periled
health, property life, andall for their country.
On the Mtl Of; August, 1862, / established
an agency, In the nature Of State Sanitary
Bureau, and directed the State Commissary
whom nll Communications and packages
, should be addressed. I nlso despatched m
agent to Cairo, to receive, and forward from
there, all packages sent to his care. then
addressed a circular to the people Of the State
Of Illinois, soliciting them to forward their
spone Of the people, both III money and need
cd stores, I refer you to the very interesting
report Of the Commis5ary General,
In connection with the foregoing, desire
TO call your attention 10 the important con
sidcration, that while the war lusts, thcneces-
! TO exist. ] have no hesitation in saying that
this great sanitary enterprise should receive
the strong encouragement Of t.1e General As
semDly, and he made, to some extent, the sub
ject Of legislative action.
"s SANITARY BUREAU. ::
Should this General Assembly continue the
Bureau now established, with proper safe
guards md checks, it would be the means OF
immense relief to our sick and wounded, and
would, in some small way, pay the debt we
owe them for their great sacrifices. It would
at least be well mtrited token ofregard from
the people Of great state to their brave sons.
It would add but comparatively little to their
burfhens. An agent could be most uscfully
employed In occomponying every regiment,
burying the dead, marking the spot Of burial,
and corresponding with the friends and the
government at home, as to the sanitary wants
Of the troops; and I call your attention to i
cory Of resolution, herewith submitted, Of
the Board Of Supervisors Of Vermillion coun-
ty, requesting the appointment Of a sanitary
agent, to transmit stores to the Varions armies
end hospitals where soldiers from that county
may be located. 1t has been suggested that
each county should have an agent appointed
by the state to report periodically to the head
ct q State Bureau. have addressed q letter
to the various chaplains, :, urging, the import
1ccfB md the soldiers, in many instances, no
doubt, give such attention as their various du-
tics will allow; but 1t Is evident that very
much in addition could be done BY q person
charged with the special responsibilities Of
these duties. It would perhaps be difficult in
any. law to provide for the iunume merable modes
cd; and, It is, therefore, that make the rec
ommendatfon, as above, and that a sufficient
suls be placed under the control of the head
of that bureau, for the purpose Of carrying
out these sacred objects.
In connection with this subject, must a1so
refer to the very interesting reports of state
sanitary agents, who have been visiting yari-
Gus hospitals, and other places where large
numbers ofour sick and wounded are confined:
These suggestions are Of the deepest interest
to all concerned in the wclfarc Of the soldiers.
The greatest benefit has cnsucd from their L.
bors In visiting the hospitals, cheering the SOL
diels, writing letters for them, supplying them
with comforts Of apparel and food, and point
Ing ont my abuses which, In most cases, were
promptly Tcmcdicd. =.
SURGEON eESERAL.
Many Of the States have created the Office of
Surgeon General, giving such an officer super
vision Of the medical corps Of the State and
superintendent Of the supplies of proper
medicines. for the government hospitals, etc.
Such an officer might act In conjunction with
the sanitary bureau, and be authorized to en-
care Of the sick and wounded, providing for
transportation of supplies OF tile sanitary de-
partment, procuring discharges, passes and
transportation Of sick, furloughs for wounded
and other needed assistance.
SOLDIERS HOME.
After the most careful reflection an led to
recommend to the fiencr,l A,scn1hly the GREG.
tfon # ~ 1,osn,tai or snld;ars, Snme n snch
mn institntion. o1,r sicE nnfl wounded conld hc
within fire ronff7 of their friends M hornn
whose anyietv and y1rilance xnnId sect,rn III
them from the United States officers in charge
comfortable lodging, food, clothing and proper
medical attendance.
| fonn1 m nvcrnowerit,o 1es;re nmonr fhcn fc
liz tatan fo thcir o1x,, Sfste ,rharn .fau Won1J
| He within reach of fh.;f friends fnnna thc
dr;no n1so hrcofhinp ont Tie sain vial
lint thcv nisht he allowed to draw
ti,a;r % ,ast hrcaI}5 ,non tho ao;1 ~ tho stata
witch had thc f;rst claim mon thefr off;sc
| Hons and far which tl,eV wera then ,av;no
Sown th"ir lives "ete 'AS1 A' A's
thereforr recommend t1,at the State of TIL
| mis- raaEo .ro,.feion for = s.idiore1 hon,o :,
1 tna siata ~ ha srsl,;maa - mreas;oab'a =, 4,
fhe onneTai rorcromnnt Rntf :, anv aSani ~
recommend The Establishment Of # such 5 an in
.t;tnf;oI. af ea,ns oecnss;b1a ,,o,nt ir nn-atota
Nn.h;n co,1d 1nas, in.m;rs p4. 1ta arat;t5n -,
stimulate fle nj atrini;sm ~ onr nv 9111ant cs;nn
frv,ncn IN the fsc1I or nrnvc - 111iaT ,ronn
| ment nf fhc States noternal rcpard far he
iovoi sons than s,lch al, institution rs thi..
no1,rvs
oosii.s'
OF the General Assembly to the subject Q
bouniies; believe the State Of Illinois shoni'
be behind no other III the liberal remuneration
Of It's troops.
They have surely deserved rs much In thi
j regard as those, Of any other State, Yer
many Of them are poor, aud have large an'
helpless families. Those in more prosperou
circumstances have sacrificed much in happi
ness and loss Of business aud property, in 20
ing to the war: In the event that the Genera
Assembly shall provide for such bounty,
would, it seems to me, be e1nlnently proPe