Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-04-17
From the Brattleboro Phoenix
Vermont Congressional Delegation aud
Disabled Soldiers.

' Vermont congressional Delegation ana
Disabled Soldiers.
-Hr E4Hor:
When the national existence is threat
enel and repestel calls from the President come
to ms. sskinC mon snd means to defend the na-
tioual capital snd, in response. from every hill
and slope the sols Of Vermont rally in mas. one
would eEpe,; tina. those who represent the State
in Congress you'll exhibit something Of the same
spirt-tlat they would AT least recognize the
scEsacri6cing patriotism of the people they pre-
tend to represent. even II they did not encourage
it as the nob,st Of virtues. kindred to that spirit
Of liberty indigenous among their native noun
tain-.
Nearly two s,ls Of the terrible conflict has
passed.. anil There is hardly a family in the State
that does not ugmbcro one or more Of its members
among the greet crowd Of victims. MANNED for
life or fallen never to rise again The rebellion
having sustained itself - long an grown to such
magnitude AMI strength, the least Observing
must feel the necessity OF rtllying every arm to
the nations san11rl. or d.s-rlcclul submission
Ia traitors VIII be the result
What, then, shall be sail Of our Representa-
tives. who for the warm patriotism and blood Of
their constituents return collness and neglect p
Soldiers in the FIELD aud those who have returned
home crippled for life have little TO hope at their
hands. a. their action in the following matter
shows In the enrolment Of the national forces
under the recent act of Congress, it became nee
essary for the Government to make a large num-
Der Of appointments Of a military character,-in
this State, nine. The delegation. according 10
custom, took the matter in hand and nominate
to the President persons, who, in their judgment
should resolve the appointment To these nom
inationt invite a careful attention. Let it
he remembered that hundreds Of soldiers have re-
turned home crippled in their limbs, or in ruin
ID health. 10 spend the balance Of their shortened
lives in greatly impaired usefulness. They are
covered with honorable sc4rs, and their record
with that Of their brave companions, Is the pride
and glory Of the State. These men ruined their
business 10 enter the service Of their country,
and, to II ruinel. they return. To whom could
the patronage Of the Government be given with
% much prupriety and Justice as to them But
10 whom has II been Siven7 In the second Con-
yressional District, the Delegation nominsted
Mr.. Gilman Henry, Of Woodstock, Vt. for Pro
vost Marshal Mr.. H. is and mas been the greater
portion Of his life tavern keeper, AMI though
sble bodied snd doubtless uerv patriotic, has
rsrsistently neglected and refused thus far dur
ing the war, to serve his country in any other
capacity.
For second on the bosrl they Nominated the
Rev. D. H. Ranney Of Brattleboro. Vt, who,
though be my have done good service in the
field Of the Lord, has done nothing in tbs hald
Of battle. The third on the beard is Dr. ---
Durant Of D4n7iIle, Vt. who has hal no
experience at home or in the field to commend
him 10 this position, and can know nothing Of
the physical requirements or a soldier IN the
field In the THRU district the same rule has
been followed Mr. Rolla Gleason Of Richmond,
an old man and political hack, a warm support
or and friend Of the honorable member from
that District received the nomination for Pro
vost Marshal. Mr.. 6. is a man Of property, and
during the war has not neglected his business
that We are aware Of except to buttonhole his
honorable friend for some appointment Elisha
White, of Barton, received the second place on
the board and DR.. Chandler, Of st Albans, the
third
In the first District there Is a partial honora-
he exception to the rule followed in the second
aud third Capt. Crane, a brave and efficient
officer Of the 9TH Regt Vt Vols, disabled in the
service and houorably discharged, received the
u..-uriii.n tor Provost Marshal Lieut. Colonel
brown or t'i" 18th Regt. Vt '. NJ, still in the
fell. seq 81 the second position on the hoard,
suI Or. Morgan Of Bennington, the third. The
prep iety of isking an officer Of the rank Of 1t.
Col fIu'u active service in the field and placing
him SECOND On the board is hardly observable.
Il's pride and ambition as an officer must be On
a par with The good sense Of the Delegation in
nominating. him in preference TO soldiers whose
honorable wounds had driven them from the
frli From the foregoing it is seen that the
Delegation have with A single exception. ignored
utterly the hundreds Of disabled soldiers re-
turnel from the field, ruined IN business and
ni,imei for life and given preference TO men
Who have sacrificed nothing, perillcl nothing,
sui deserved nothing.
Before leaving this subject, we beg pardon for
giving a single example Of the many Of the mark
II. -
anil soldier, whose conduct on the field Of battle
won the applause of his commanding officer
Capt. D. T. Corbin, graduate Of Dartmouth
College, of Wells River, Vt, at the commence
ment of the war abandoned a fattering and
growing practice in the law, recruited CON-
panv, Of which he was unanimously chosen
captain, and went into service in the 3rd Regt.
VI Vols. He served with credit to himself and
Regiment, till the memorable ''scvcn days fight
in front of Richmond, on the fourth day Of which
he was severely wounded and taken prisoner
Alter several weeks Of imprisonment at Rich
mond. Va. he was released and sent to Bllti-
more, Nd, where during two months he receiv-
Cd medical treatment. lie was finally discharg-
ed on the Recommendation Of a medical board as
being permanently disabled for service in the
field Soon after his return home, Gov. Hol-
brook nominated bin rs Provost Marshal for the
State, under the General Order of the War De-
partment, and he was Immediately commissioned
as such By the Secretary Of War. He faithfully
discharged the duties Of this Office till March,
1858, receiving the communication Of the State
Authorities, Major w. Austine, Z. S. \ Military
Commander, and Simeon Draper, Provost I
Marshal General, all of whom were officially I
oosnirsnt Of his conduct.
The bill for enrolling the national forces was
the fret set of Congress recognizing Provost
Marshsls for States, and this provided for one in
each Congressionl District instead Of one for the
State. For one Of these in the second Congress
ional District Capt Corbin applied. seconded IN
the strongest language by Gov Holbrcok, United
States Military and Disbursing Officer. Adjt. and
Inspector Gen. Washburn, ouartermaster Gen.
Davis. Ex-Governor Fairbanks, Chief Justice
Poland, Col Asa T. Blunt Of the 18th. Col Red
icld Proctor Of the 18th, Col. W. g. Neascy Of
he 10th Rrgt. Vt. Vols, Mr.. Simeon Draper.
'royost Marshal Gen. Judge \, Underwood.
nj q number OF Mss fsll5w t,wnsmen; bat the
delegation passed his application in silence, pre-
erring Mr. Henry of Woodstock, rhe self-sseri-
icing tavern keeper.
What more can the Delegation do-what metr