Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-01-21

the lururies. The increase Of wages does
notlreneh. the labor of dependent women,
with children to clothe, feed and educate.
The amount saved from their scanty pay,
and sent home by our soldiers, though large
in the aggregate, is very small in its distri'
button among those for whom it is designed.
When this revenue, and the proceeds OF
The tax, are added together, there Is still
large amount dependent upon private
bounty, to meet the actual wants OF this
class Of people, and ward Oh positive suffer-
ing. / have not been able to collect the
statistics as extensively as l desired, but
/ in many counties of the State the private
collections for soldiers families have con.
siderably exceeded, and in soie cases doub.
led the amount Of the tax. Even in these
cases the object has not been fully accom-
plished. 1t is argued that it is better to
continue thus to divide, between State and
people, this contribution; so that in what
the one fails the other will make good. -
The true and Just response is: Il.
1st. That If the State acknowledges this
obligation to the family of the absent SOL
dier, she should meet it as q compensation
for his services, and in manner fully equal
to the necessities Of the case.
BILE in its character, and cannot be adjusted
to the property and interests that are pro-
tected by our armies. The generous will
give beyond their actual abilities, while the
parsimonious, or the opponent Of the war,
will withhold, from pecuniary or unpatriot-
10 considerations. Taxation alone will
equalize this burthen, and impose it, where
it should rest, upon the property protected
by the services that the revenue is intended
to compensate. If the additional levy in
creases tho taxation Of generous contribu-
tors, it relieves them from larger amount
of private bounty, and imposes it upon the
non-contributors, where il should fall. Even
when the State assumes the entire support
Of soldiers families, there will be scope
enough for private contributions to alleviate
the privations and suferngs of sick, dis
abled and wounded men, in hospitals and
ut home.
Sd. The form of private charity is MOI
always acceptable to its recipients, ana
especially the class to whom this is appli
cable. Much suffering and privation viii
be endured before pride will suffer applica
ton to private charity, where there is {
consciousness that mertorious services o
the absent provider should promptly cal
the State to the protection and support o
his dependent family. We should dives
this fund Of the appellation Of charity.
IS not such, in any application of the term
: 1t is an honest debt, and an imperativ,
duty, that we owe the men who are servinI
L. us in positions of labor and danger. The!
save us from invasion, from the destruc
9 tive ravages Of war within our borders
l While they press the conque3ts Of our arm
Q for the rertoration of our Government, the.
!. protect our property and our lives; they ar
! the conservators of all the prosperity tha
surrounds US. They do not perform thi
:. service for the small compensation alowe,
them by the Government. They are actua
ted by higher and nobler motive ant
: while they incur privations, danger ant
death for the common cause, the Stat
E should not only protect their families from
want, but make the act one Of right anc
/ justful compensation, instead of burthen
: ing it with the offensive appellation o
charity Neither should it be governed b.
: the rigid economy of mere subsistence. |
n should be at least such plenty and comfor
Q as the stalwart arm of the natural provide
$ would furnish them, It he were at home +
J, doit, instead Of laboring in our service, t
ward calamity from our hearth stones.
g In my judgment three mills on the dolla
III US Lu6 ltdct buIH ~ WulCu tuib tuA nuOuI
Q be fixed, and l would prefer to see it fou
"a will cheerfully pay it, and justify you TO
= imposing it. The act should also requil
4 County Commissioners to collect reports @
r disbursements from township and war
;, Trustees, and communicate their aggregate
= , annually to the Auditor of State.
Our State has heretofore filed her quot
in the armies by volunteering. In additio
: to this, we have several thousand men i
n the service of West Virginia, Kentucky an
Indiana for which we cannot have credit j
a our allotments. Hopes ara entertained tha
= we will be able to fill the recent call, will
! out resorting to draft.
Is The conduct of our officers and men
n the Geld has been highly creditable to then
l. selves and honorable to the State. Upo
3, every battle field they have won high el
lr comiums Tor cool and steady courage, prom
A. obedience, and deeds of noble daring. The
4 are bright jewels in the crown of the Stat
ts and while we wear them with pride, '
,e should cherish them with affection.
IN During the past year steady and effecti
sc advancement has been made in the pros
o. cution of the war. We have repossess
ne ourselves of q large amount Of the revolt
10, tcTrlIoTy, huu tuo ITiuiupHS VI ouT dtt
ut and policy that have strengthened us, ha
at materially weakened our adversaries.
Ii Present events indicate very strongly tn
rs the end Of the rebellion is rapidly approac
We ing. The contest has been fierce and SO
rt culinary, and has been protraoted beyol
in the expectations Of our people. But on &
other hand it is to be remembered that
ty was precipitated upon us under every p'
81 sible disadvantage. On the part Of I
ID rebel leaders il was not only coolly and {
st liberalely planned, put years were sper
MS while they were still In the councils d
rn even control of our Government, in prepI
n ing for it. They even exercised this CONT
Id TO disarm us. in Q great measure. OF m
wv and materials for conflict They trained N
of educated their people for it, by filling the
ms with falsehoods. and inspiring them wi
ly hatred of the people Of the Northern State
OF and our republican form Of governmer
Vi They anticipated much. no doubt, from d
ms supposed weakness Of that government
tie protect itself from such an assault, on d
or one hand; and from political co-operati
mt in the northern States, on the other. Th
ps. brought about, by their management, d
nd necessity Of what they termed section
Iat election" Of President, aud then seiz
ng upon that as a pretext to put. in practi