Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-05-19
Relief for the Families Of the
National Guard.
Appeal from Governor Broush.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ONO, |


COLUMBUS, May s, 1864.
To tie Military Con,'qittees and People o,
the State.
The departure of the National Guard
from the State in the service of the country,
will neces sarily work much individual hard.
ship. In many cases in each county, fami.
lies Of laboring men, dependent on the daily
labor of the head, will be left almost wholly
unprovided for. The compensation Of the
soldier will not enable him to provide for the
daily wants of his family. We who remain
at home, protected by the patriotism and
sacrifice Of these noble men, must not per.
NIT their families to- suffer. The prompt
response of the Guard to the call has re-
fected honor upon the State. .t..
We must not suly it by neglecting the
wants Of those our gallant troops leave be-
hind. No such stain must rest upon the
fair character of our people.
As organized is ever better than indlyid-
ual action, | suggest to the people OF the
several counties that they promptly raise by
voluntary contribution sufficient sum to
meet the probable wants of the families of
the Guards who may require aid, aud place
it in the hands of the Military Committee
Of the county for appropriation and distri-
button.
The Committee can designate one or two
men in each township, who will cheerfully
enter the trouble and labor of passing upon
all cases in their townships and of drawing
and paying such appropriations as may be
made to the citizens. Let this fund be am
pie. Let those whom God has blessed with
abundance contribute to it freely 1t is a
charity to which you may give grudgingy
1t is payment of only part of the debt all
owe to the brave men who have responded
to the call of the country, and whose action
is warding off from us deadly perils, and
saving US from much more serioas sacrifices
What is all your wealth to you if your Gov
ernment is subverted? What the value of
your stores if your public credit or finances
be ruined, or rebel armies invade and trans
verse your State? BE liberal and generous,
then, in this emergency. Let no mother,
wife or child Of the Guards want comforts
Of life during the hundred days, and let
these noble men feel on their return thatthe
people OF the State appreciated, and have
to some extent relieved the sacrifices they so
promptly made in the hour Of the country S
need. AS these families do not come within
the means provided by the relief law, we
n.ust look to voluntary contributions to pro.
vide for them. 10 aid of these / feel au-
thorized to appropriate the sum of five
thousand dollars from the military contin-
gent fund. This sum will be apportioncd
among the several counties, in proportion to
the number of the Guard drawn from each,
and the Chairman Of the Military Commit
tee~early notified Of the amount subject to
his order. In many cases men have left
crops partly planted and fields sown, that in
due time must he harvested or lost. In
each township and county there should be
at once associations of men who will resolve
that to the extent of their ability they will
look to these things. 1t is not only tho die
tate of patriotism, but of good citizenship,
that we make an extra exertion to save the
crops to the country, and the accruing value
to the owners, who, instead Of locking to
seed time and harvest, are defending us
from invasion and destruction. Men of the
cities and towns, when the harvest is ready
for the reaper, give few days of your time,
and 60 forth by dozens and tifties to the
work. The labor may be severe, but the
sacrifice will be small, and the reflection of
the good you have done will more than COM
pensate you for it ALL
In this contest for the supremacy of our
Government and the salvation of our coun.
try, Ohio occupies proud position. Her
standard must not be lowered. Rather let
us advance it to the front. No brighter
glory can be reflected on it than will result
from prompt and generous support to the
families of the Guard. Let us all to the work.
Very respectfully, -n. t'"
[Signed, JOHN BRoUGu.