East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-11-30

given 10 the commission, and compare
it with the quantity of material actu-
ally delivered to the "poor soldiers"
Dividing the one by the other, we be-
lieve we are within the mark when
we state that everything so delivered
cost four timos MS much as it was
worth, and four times what it would
the government for the self same ar
ticles and while the donors have been
satisfied with the elaborate reports OF
the commission, showing the immense
amount received for the benefit Of the
soldier, they have not investigated
fully the wastefulness of the expendi-
ture. The letters published by the
commission, from few regiments, a
few hospitals, or few generals, show
ing gratitude for what they did get
are no evidence against the general
statement we have made. Indeed,
they would have been most migrate
full not to have so written. But after
all, they only prove that all of the
money was not thrown away. In our
opinion, there was justice in the satire
of the man who sent half-dime for
the soldiers to the commission, and
enclosed a dollar to get it to them.
In all this we have abstained from
rejecting on anything but the judg-
ment Of those engaged, although 1t
should not be forgotten that this COM
mission is not responsible to any pow
er for the faithful and honest discharge
of its undertakings. 1t will not be
forgotten that they were chiefly in
strumental in placing DIR. Hammond
at tho head of the Medical Depart
ment as Surgeon General, and used
every effort to retain him there after
he was arrested on the grossest charges
Of corruption, and Of which he was
proved guilty and ANONYMOUSLY dis
missed from the service of the United
States. Grant that the motives of all
the men engaged in this commission
may be good, and their zeal and in
dustry unparalleled, and their honesty
above suspicion, it does not prove that
the charity is not wasteful, and to a
great extent unnecessary and hurtful.
Just so far as it undertakes duties
which belong to the government; just
so far as it interferes with the action
of government officers, it is positively
wrong, for it leaves our soldiers to de-
pend upon the ch. rites of the people
for such care and attention and neces-
saries as they are entitled to of right,
and which it is the bounden duty of
the government to furnish them. 1t
would take too much space for us to
recount all the facts and statistics to
prove these statements, and our duty
is accomplished If by bringing tlroru
to the public notice, we induce them
to investigate fully, and see if every
charge or suggestion against the poll
cy or expediency of continuing to feed
these commissions is not correct.
And while they are engaged in this
investigation would it not be well for
the public to ascertain whether it is
quite just to the government or quite
in accordance with truth, to represent
that our soldiers are objects of chari-
ty. Does not the government feed
them, clothe them, and pay them
well? Do not the States, and coun-
ties and cities give them large boun-
ties? DO not communities every
where support the necessitous wives
and children, and do not their friends
at home stint themselves in order to
send them the best they have? And
sive, irresponsible commission agents
necessary? And might it not be well
for every one to inquire, if, i'll their
own neighborhoods, there are not
many objects of charity, far less cared
for and more destitute? If this is
done faithfully, we believe that it will
be found that with one-half Of the
labor and zealexpended to place means
in the hands of the Sanitary Commits
sion, they would relieve hundred
fold more objects of misery, who now,
in addition to their physical necessi-
ties, are suffering and starving for
sympathy and relief.