Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-02
"GOOD WORKS.

My attention has been called to an editorial
under the above caption, In a morning paper
in this city, that is liable to mislead the public
in relation to one Of the noblest works Of be-
nevolenec that ever called for our sympathy
and support. l refer to the Sanitary Commis.
sion. After alluding to the wonderful success
that has attended this enterprise In other large
cities, the article says:
1t would be wrong for the people of the
capital to be idle. We are glad To see that such
Is not the case, and that the ladies Of Washing.
ton are taking steps to aid the cause, by raising
money In this way"
The only Inference from this language is,
that the ladies Of this city are also raising
money for the Sanitary Commission. Such
ras the case, but It is not true now, and on
this point the public should know the facts.
Some three or four weeks ago an organiza-
tion Of the ladies Of this city was effected for
the purpose Of conducting fair in aid of both
the Sanitary and Christian Commissions. So
worthy an object commended itself TO all
classes, and their early efforts were attended
with abundant success. Some eight hundred
dollars in money was soon collected and scout
the same amount subscribed, to be paid at a
future day, besides contracting for the erection
Of building in which the fair was to be held,
and sundry goods were received for the same
object.
At this period, some ten days ago, the officers
Of this organization received an invitation to
meet with some ladies representing the inter-
ests Of the wives and children Of the District
Volunteers, for the purpose Of uniting the two
efforts in one. Such meeting was held, and
II was there agreed that Union Fair should be
held and the proceeds divided for the benefit of
party had no formal organization, and no
funds. The work had all been done by the
party frst-named.
Another meeting was held. B. B. French,
ESQ.,, was elected President of the organization.
By some strange coincidence, voters enough
were present to elect new officers throughout
and new committees, and the whole movement
was at once resolved into a new Fair, with
new purpose, viz the benefit of the " soldiers
of the District of Columbia Apparently no
consideration was given to the work performed
by the first party, or TO their pledges to the
public as to how their money already col.
lected should be expended, but the new organl-
zation being now the majority, very coolly
decided to hold the fair In the upper chamber
Of the Patent Office, without rendering an apol-
ogy to the party that had contracted for the
erection of building for the same, much less
TO repair the loss inflicted on the contractor
who had purchased the material and actually
delivered some of 1t on the ground. Under
this new regimen, both the Sanitary and Chris
tlan Commissions, whose benefits extend to all
States and all Districts are totally ignored, and
the single purpose now is, to benefit the fami.
lies of the District volunteers.
1t would, therefore, be the grossest breach of
trust to transfer the fund collected under their
former auspices TO such a purpose. Fortu-
nately but very small proportion Of 1t has
been so transferred, and It is gratifying to know
that the officers and committees OF the first
organization, in view of their own responsible
ties and in justice to the donerS, have deter
mined to either reorganiLe and go on with
their first enterprise, or return to the rlghtful
owners the moneys and goods committed TO
their hands.
The reasons would seem 10 preponderate in
favor of reorganization. If, In all other
places where such efforts have been made, they
have been general, intended to reach all classes
Of our soldiers in all portions of the country,
here at the national capital, where men and
women are found representing all the loyal
States, 1t is especially important that proper
channel should be presented by which they can
contribute to a general fund. Many would
gladly ai,l either of the above named commits
sioners who would feel constrained to withhold
their llberality from merely localized object.
A CITIZEN.
WGsi siingioH, Dc. %, 1858.