Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-05-25
The Necessity of Aiding the
Families of the Hundred day
MeR-CircuIar From the Gov
RFnOR.

STATE OF Quo, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
COLUMBUS, May l6, 1864
To Military COMMITTEES of......County:
Upon more careful examination OF the
Relief Law, | feel constrained to change
my former position as to the right of fam.
lies of the National Guard to its benefits.
They have the same rights as families OF
other soldiers in the service. Still, our
people should bear in,mind that with the
large addition thus made to the depen-
dent families of soldiers, this fund will
now be severely burthened. The taxa
ton was on the basis of our quotas under
the calls. We have now adued over thlr-
ty Thousand men; and 10 that extent
have increased the humble OF families
that will require aid. Therefore, II Is nee
essary that we should add TO the fund
by voluntary contribution, TO the extent
at least, of this increase OF its liability.
You should see hat you County Com
missioners levy the discretionary tax for
this year: or, at least have a clear report.
Some complaints in regard to the action
of Trustees in regard to the distribution
of this fund, are answered in this form;
l. 1t is asked, Where the absent So
dier owns "A house or lot, or a small tract
of land on which his family resides, is
the family thereby debarTed from relief
Certainly not; unless the property, indie
pendent of furnishing a home for the fam
lily, is productive of the means OF support
ing it. Unproductive property may be
an iucumbrance. in the way of taxes and
other expenses. Sensible and we'll mean
ing men should not nave any trouble in
deciding questions of this Kind. A help
less family may not be able to work ground
even to the partial extent ola livelihood.
The simple question with practical
men should be, does the family, cOnsid'
eTing all Its circumstances, its capabllIty
to produce, It's ordinary industry and
economy, need aid 10 live comfortably!
If so the aid should be extended. 1t Is
mortiiy ing to add. that in a few case,
Trustees are represented as deciding thai
where the family held asmall homestead
entirely unpruductive, 1t was not entitled
a to relief until the property lie sold, anc
its proceeds consumed. Suci a position l.
: at variance alike with the provision o
the law, and the dictates of humaity.
>. Ii is asked. whether the family o
1, a deceased soldier IN receipt of a Govern
ment pension, Is entitled to relief? The
. answer depends upon the circumstance
sensibly viewed. Is the pension consid
ering the size and helplessness of thefam
/, lily. sufficient for its support? If not, re
j lief should be extended from the fund
and the amount of the pension is to b
taken into the account when equalizinI
the fund in the township.
4 Other questions that may arise shoul'
be settled, not by the strict rules of lega
refinement, but upon the principles o
practical common sense. The trus
h should be literally and honestly construed
There is no requirement to practice a nil
g gardly economy, but to fairly distribut
n the fund in the spirit of business and hi
5. manity, and accomplish with it the grea
n est amount of good.
l. In cases where the Military Committe
IS feel warranted in doing so, they can II
IT lieve themselves of some labor and respOi
. sibility. and probably secure a more equ
lr table distribution, by apportioning th
Is voluntary contributions among the owl
Of ships, upon the basis adopted by ii
er County Commissioners; and handing ii
'e amounts to the Township Trustees, to
IN paid out in the same manner, and as
r part of the relieffund.
Very respectfully,
e. JOHN BROUG FL.