Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-07-25

The following letter, addressed TO the
President Of the Indies Aid Society OF
Springfield, Ohio, by we'll known physi-
clan, Of that city will not be inappropriate
lv presented for the encouragement of
other Aid Societies here and elsewhere:
THE WORK OF THE SANITARY cOMNIsIOS.
President SOLDIERS AID SOCIETY,
SpRINaFIELD, ONO: MADAME; 1t has
been suggested, by some of your active
members, that few lines from me, in re-
lation to the work in which you are en-.
gagged, might be of some service at thepre
sent time trip to the vicinity Of Vicks-
burg, and back, upon the steamer, sent
down by our State Authorities, 70 look
after Ohio's sick and wounded soldiers, in
this terrible epoch of our nation . history,
could not be made without gaining some
new ideas, both as to the magnitude Of the
contest in which we are engaged, and as to
the best method of aiding our Government
in this hour OF need, or of allevia,iug the
sufferings OF our brave soldiers who are
sick and wounded, and languishing in hos
pitals. Il is n plausible idea, and one which
readily enlists our waTmest sympath:es,
that whatever we do, had better be
done for the soldiers from our own
county and State and hence, that
our contributions should be sent direct
ly to them and through agents Of our
own appointment. 1 have been led
TO conclude, from my observation Of the
machinery, by whish, our vast national
army is worked, that we can best subssrve
the interests Of our own loved ones by
! throwing our contributions into the regu-
larIy organized Sanitary Commission.
When we consider the magnitude Of the
work, and recognize the fact, that the
whole army is our own, and that, in order
to be efficient in the work for which 1t is
| in the field, it must be under national, and
not State or local control, and when we
come to know that the United States San
| itary Commission is admirably constituted
to meet the wants of the suffering soldier,
| and can do the work fa- more economically
and expeditiously, than can any State or
local authority, it seems plain that our aid
societies are just in the line Of duty, when
| they are content to throw all their contri-
buttons cheerfully into the care of this
wonderful organization. Wherever our
army goes, there the Sanitary Commission
| has its agents and supplies, ready and
willing to aid the Medical Department OF
the army in all its requirements. And
after the soldier has become part Of the
| National army, it seems to me that the
good order of the army requires that he
should be t. eated just as well, and no bet
| ter than those around him. We want our
army all to be well cared for, and this can
only be accomplished in the regularly or
ganized way. It cannot have good in
fuence in the army for States to interfere
| officially in the management Of their own
sick and wounded The Government has
better hospitals and hospital bosts,
and better organized corps of sur
geons and nurses than any that can be
extemporized, by the spasmodic efforts of
| individuals and States, and as q general
rule, the lives and safety of the sick and
wounded are safer in the care of the regu-
lar authority than they can be ifsent away
- ~ ;q,odas of on demapdad hv outsiders,
The ladies of the Union have accomplished
wonders in alleviating the suffering Of our
soldiers in the field and in the hospital,
and their efforts are as much needed now,
as ever. Let them go on in their beneVo-
lent work as only women can, having
confidence that the result of their labor is
being used for the best interest of the army,
and, let them, as far as may be, discredit
the reports, so often circulated, to shake
our trust in the honesty and patriotism of
our noble army. There may be, and uR-
doubtedly is, much waste and some cor
ruptiOn, but, in the main, our army is bet
ter cared for than was ever an army before
in the history of the world. And it is
greatly owing to the willing and systema-
tic aid you ladies have extended TO the
Sanitary Commission. And in order to
accomplish any very considerable work in
alleviating the suffering in such an army,
you must continue to work systematically.
This can only be done through the regu-
larly organized Sanitary Commission.
Continue then, simply in your sphere of
I" The Ladies' Soldiers Aid Society,"" and
you will accomplish ;he greatest good with
the least expenditure and God will bless
you, and the gratitude of the brave soldier
will reward you. E. NJ. BUoKINdHAM
We are compelled to again omit the re-