Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-05-27
The STATE OF Ono, !
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
COLUMBUS, May l6 1864.

To the Military Committee Of County,
Upon more careful examination of the pro
visions of the Relief Law, feel constrained t
change my former position as to the right Q
families of the National Guard to its benefits
They have the came rights as families of othe
soldiers in the service. Still, our people shoulC
bear in mind that with the addition thus mad
to the dependent families of soldiers, this funt
| will now be severely burthened. The taxation
was made on the basis Of our quotas under thu
calls. We have now added over thirty thou
sand men; and to that extent have increased
the number of families that will require aid
Therefore, it is necessary that we should ado
to the fund. by voluntary contribution, to the
extent, at least, of this increase of its liabi
ity. You should see that your County Com
missioners levy the discretionary tax for this
year; or, at least have a clear record Of refus
al TO do so.
Some complaints in regard to the action OF
Trustees in the distribution of this fund, are
answered in this form:
lst. 1t is asked, Where the absent soldier
owns house and lot, or small tract of land
on which his family resides, is the family there
by debarred from relief? Certainly not; un-
less the property, Independent of furnishing a
home for the family, is productive of the
means of supporting it. UnprOductive prop
eriy may be an incumbrance in the way of
taxes and other expenses. Sensible and we'll
meaning men should not have any trouble in
deciding questions of this kind. A helpless
family may not be able to work ground, even
to the partial extent of a livelihood. The SIM
pie question with practical men should be:
Does the family, considering all its circumstan-
ces, its eapibilily to produce, its ordinary in
dustry and economy, need aid to live somfOrt-
sblyF II so, the aid should be extended. 1t is
mortifying to add, that in few cases Trustees
are represented as deciding that where the
family held a small homestead entirely unpro-
ductive, it was not entitled to relief until the
property be sold, and its proceeds consumed
Such a position is at variance alike with the
provisions of the law, ard the dictates of hu-
manity-
I'd. It is asked, whether the family of the
deceased soldier in receipt of a government
pension, is entitled to relief? The answer de-
pends upon the circumstances, sensibly viewed
Is the pension, considering the size and help
lessness Of the family, sufficient for its support?
If not relief should be extended from the fund,
and the amount of the pension is to be taken
into account when equalizing the fund in the
township.
Other questions that may arise should be
settled, not by the strict rules of legal refine
ment, but upon the principles Impractical COM
mon sense. The trust should be literally and |
honestly construed. There is no require |
ment TO practice niggardly economy, but to |
fairly distribute the fund in the spirit of JUS
tice and humanity, and accomplish with it the |
greatest amount of good.
In cases where the Military Committees feel |
warranted in doing so, they can relieve them
selves of some labor and responsibility, and |
probably secure more equitable distribution. |
BY apportioning the voluntary contributions
among the Townships, upon the basis adopted /
BY the County Commissioners, and handing
the amounts to the Township Trustees, to be
paid out in the same manner, and as part of
The relief fund.
Please have this circular published 10
county, your
Very respectfully.
'"o n BROUGH.