East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-11-30
4" OUR CHARITIES---THE SAM
TARY COMMISSION"

B'ffSS lcmalhS, On9 Oh conSiucruOio
"delicacy to touch upon" but we be-
lieve it is the Imperative duty of tho
people, in view of the extraordinary
calls which have been and are likely
still 70 be made upon their liberality,
to investigate thoroughly and fearless
ly the merits of every institution pre-
sonting its claims, and of the press to
aid to tho extent of its power in
this investigation, regardless of preju-
dice, interested abuse, or clap trap.
1t is a fair proposition that a gov
eminent as intelligent as ours is claim
cd to be, having the facilities for pro
curing the best of articles in every
limo, tho most experienced agents, and
having absolute control of all trans
portation, ought to be better able to
furnish everything necessary for its SOL
diers in health or sickness, and that with
greater certainty,at far moro cconom-
zeal rats, and upon moro intelligent
and systematic plan than any second
AIRY organization, having all the COM
plications Of the government in this
sphere without corresponding allow
ance of intelligence or n reasonable
fraction of its resources.
IF investigation develops the fact
that these "wheels within wheel
multiply agents, complicate move
ments, tend to embarrass the action
of the proper and Legitimate agencies
or lead in any way to a waste of the
substance SO generously provided and
so necessary for the suffcring,at home
as well as in the army, no considera-
ton of appropriately or i'll judged
censure should prevent such action in
the premeses as an honest judgment
may dictate. In this connection we
csn attention to an article on the sub
iect rom the Free Press of Nov. 26,
which follows:
The day of festivity just passed,
having been made the occasion of APP
peals to the charity and hberality of
the people, in behalf of the suffering
and needy, and especially in favor Of
placing their gifts in the hands of the
Sanitary, Christian, and Frecdman's
Commissions, for distribution, it may
not be inappropriate to examine lit
tie into the various claims for charity,
and discover if in our zeal to do good,
we have not been in reality, prodigal
ly bestowing on certain agencies, who
are ostensibly acting in behalf Of
those, who although far from home,
are under the care of liberal and
munificent government, ever ready to
provide for their wants, while we have
sadly neglected those in our midst,
wha ars sr feE S@ aaaE; 9t sie sue,ecs ~
one of considerable dclicacy to touch
upon, as there is no doubt that many
of those who patronize these, or in
deed, any charities, are eager to re-
ceive the public praise, which they so
much covet and desire. The knowl-
edge that they have relieved the suf-
ferings of the poor and sick; is not
sufficient reward, but they want the
world should know how much, and
for what objects they have given
They are therefore particularly sensa-
tive TO the charge of instruction of
their charities.
We are nevertheless Of the opinion,
that in amount more than two-thirds
of the money or articles contributed
to the Sanitary Commission, particu-
larly during the past two years, has
been wasted or never reached the OBJ
jects intended by the donors. A great
cutlery was raised in relation to the
suiIerings and wants of our soldiers
in the field and hospitals at an early
period OF the war, and one Of the
ways invented or resorted to for its
relief was the establishment Of that
commission. The ostensible object,
namely, the relief OF our suffering
soldiers, was worthy one, but the
measures adopted were liable to great
abuse and perversion.
The government was abundantly
able and anxious to furnish everything
necessary for its soldiers, and only
lacked the knowledge and experience
to do so efIectually. There were men
of talent in the various Departments,
whose duty it was TO study the wants
of the army, to remedy the defective
organization, and they were not slow
to ascertain the necessities Of the oc-
casion, nor remiss in their efforts TO
relieve them Civilians, however,
from charitable or other motives,
started these relief societies, and as
the plan was popular, and appealed
directly to almost every family in the
land, they were sustained voluntarily
to wonderful extent. The good they
accomplished, and they did do a GER
tain amount of good in the beginning,
was proclaimed throughout the land,
and stimulated to an extraordinary
extent the charities of the people.
The government was in the mean
time improving in knowledge, and
the medical department in strength
and organization, and it soon reached
completeness in these respects, that
rendered such assistance unnecessary.
But so far from contracting tho labors
of these societies, it seemed that in
just the ratio that their assistance was
not needed, they expanded, until they
became immense machines, requiring
almost unlimited amounts of money
to run them, and as the voluntary
contributions were insufficient, every
method from begging, to almost
swlndling, was resorted to, in order to
raise thr needful. Tho wealthy were
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