Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-12

der she should meet it as a compensation
for his services, and in a manner fully
equal to the necessities of the case.
ID. Private contribution is not equitable
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
psrsimonious, or the opponent Of the war,
will withhold, from pecunisry or unpstri-
cite 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 inter ded to compensate. II the addi-
tional levy increases the taxation Of gen.
erous contributors, it relieves them from
larger amount Of private bounty, and
imposes it upon the non-contributors,
where it should fall. Even when the State
assumes the entire support Of soldiers
families, there will be scope enough for
private contributions to alleviate the pri-
vstions and suferings of sick, disabled
and wounded men, in hospitals and at
homo.
g. The form of private charity is not al
ways acceptable to its recipients, and es-
peoislly the class TO whom this is applica-
BILE. Much suffering and privstion will
be endured before pride will suffer appli-
cation to private charity, where there is a
consciousness that meritorious services Of
the absent proyider should promptly caH
the State to the protection and support of
his dependent family. We should diVest
this fluid of the appelstion of charity. 1t
is not such, in any application Of the term.
1t is an honest debt, and an imperative du-
ty, that we owe the men who are serv-
ing US in positions of labor and dan
ger. They save us from invasion, from
he-destrueiive raYages of war within our
borders. While they press the conquests
Of our army for the restoration of our Gov
ernment, they protect our property and
our lives; they are the oonservstors Of all
the prosperity that surrounds US. They
do not perform this service for the small
compensation allowed them by the Govern
ment. They are sotusted by higher and
nobler motive; and while they incur pri-
vstions, danger and death for the common
cause, the State should not only protect
their families from want, but make an act
one of right and justful compensation, in
stead Of burthening it with the offensive
application Of charity.
Neither should it be governed by the rigid
economy of mere subsistence. 1t should
be at least such plenty and comfort as the
stalwarth arm Of the natural provider
would furnish them, if he we're at home to
do it, instead of lsboring in our own serv-
ice, to ward calsmities from cur hearth
stones.
In my Judgement three mills on the dol
lar is the least sum at which this tax
should be fixed, aud would prefer TO see
it four mills. The patriotic people of the
State will oheerfully pay it, end justify
you for imposing it. The act should also
require County Commissioners TO collect
reports Of disbursements from township
and ward Trustees, and communicate their
aggregates annually to the Auditor Of
State.
Our State has heretofore filled her quota
in the armies by volunteering. In addi-
tion to this, we have several thousand men
in the service of West Virginia, Kentucky,
and Indiana, for which we cannot have
credit in our sllotments. Hopes are enter
tsined that we will be able to fill the re.
cent oall, without resortiDg to draft.
Tho conduct of our officers and men in
the field has been highly creditahle TO
themselves and honorable to the State.
Upon every battlefield they have won
high enconiums for cool snd steady cour-
age, prompt obedience, and deeds Of nobls
DARING. They are bright jewels in the
crown Of the State; and while we wear
them with pride, we should cherish them
with affection.
During the past year steady and effect
i've advancement has been made in the
prosecution Of the war. We have rspos-
sessed ourselves Of a large amount of the
rsvolted territory, and the triumphs of our
arms and policy that have strengthened
us, have materially weakened our adVer-
sariss. Present events indicate very
strongly that the end Of the rebellion is
rapidly approaching. The contest has
been fierce and sanguinary, and has been
protracted beyond the expectations Of our
people. But on the other hand 1t is to be
remembered that it was precipitsted upon
us under every possible disadvantage. On
the part of the rebel leaders it was not
only coolly and deliberately planned, bat
years were spent, while they were still in
the councils and even control Of our Gov
ernment, in preparing for it. They even
exercised this control to dissrm us, in a
great measure, Of men and materials for
conflict. They trained and educated their
people for it, by filing them with false
hoods, snd inspiring them with hatred Of
the people of the Northern States, and our
republican form Of government. They an
ticipsted much, no doubt, from the sup
posed weakness Of that government to pro-
teot itself from such an assault, on the
one hand; and from political cooperation
in the Northern States, on the other. They
brought about, by their management, the
necessity of what they termed q sectional
election" Of President, and thea seized
upon that as preteXt to put in practice
what they assumed to be the right Of
"peaeesble secession" They undertook
the revolution of the Government; but
prepared for, and eventually adopted the
alternative Of armed rebellion. We were
not prepared for the first onset. We had
armies to gather, and arms and munitions
to provide for them; q navy to collect,
whence rebel leaders, while in power, had
scattered it, and equip it for the strife
and it wss only with the lapse Of time that
we realized the magnitude and strength of
the rebellion, and the elaborate and effect
ual means that the leaders had taken for
its prosecution and success. When sll
these things are carefully considered, our
people should not be surprised at the dura-
tion Of the conflict, or the cost of blood
and treasure it has involved.
By no act of wrong or oppression did
the people Of the Northern States provoke
this rebellion. 1t has no warrant Of JUS
tifcaion whatever. We had iDfringed
upon no right guaranteed to them by the
Constitution of the land. We had assented
to all the compromises they presented to
us, and kept our fsilh; while they 7iols-
ted, repealed, and destroyed at pleasure.
While the great mass of our people, of