Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-05-13
Relief for the Families 0fthe National Guard
An Appeal from Governor BrOugh.


EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
CoLUMBUs, OHIO, May 8, 1864.
To the Military Committees and People Of the
State:
The departure of the National Guard from the
State in the service of the country, will work
much individual hardship. In many cases in
each county, families oflaboring men, depend
ent on the daily labor of the head, will be left
almost wholly unprovided for. The compensa-
tion of the soldier will not enable him to pro-
vide for the daily wants of his family. We who
remain at home. protected by the patriotism and
sacrifice of these noble men, must not permit
their families to suffer. The prompt response of
the Guard to the call has reflected honor upon
the State.
We must not sully it by neglecting the wants
of those our gallant troops leave behind. No
such stain must rest upon the fair character of
our people.
As organized is ever better than individual
action, suggest to the people of the several
counties that they promptly raise by voluntary
contribution a sufficient sum to meet the prOba-
BILE wants of the Guard, who may require aid
and place it in the hands of the Military Com
mittee of the County for appropriation and dis
tribution.
The Committee can designate one or two men
in each township who will cheerfully bear 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 ample Let those whom God
has blessed with abundance contribute to it free
ly. 1t is charity to which you may not give
grudgingly. 1t is payment of only part of
the debt all owe to the brave men who have re-
sponded to the call of the country and whose
action is warding off from us deadly perils and
and saving us from serious sacrifices. What is
all your wealth to you if your Government is
subverted? What the value of your stores if
your public credit or finances be ruined, or reb-
el armies invade and traverse your State? Be
liberal and generous, then, in this emergency
Let no mother wife or child of the'Guard want
comforts of life during the hundred days, and
let these noble men feel on their return that the
people of the State appreciated, and have to
some extent relieved the sacrifices they so
promptly made in the hour of the country need.
As these families do not come within the means
provided by the relief law we must look to vol
untary contributions to provide for them. In
aid of these feel authorized to appropriate the
sum of five thousand dollars from the military
contingent fund. This sum will be apportiOn-
ed among the several counties, in proportion to
the number ofthe Guard drawn from each, and
the Chairman of the Military Committee early
notified of the amount subject to his order. In
many cases men have left crops partly planted
and heldS sown, that In due time must be har-
vested 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
the dictate 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 oflooking to seed time and
harvest, are defending us from invasion and de-
struction. Men of the cities and towns when
the harvest is ready for the reaper give few
days of your time and go forth by dozens and
ffties, to the work. The labor may be severe
but the sacrifices will be small, and the rehec-
ton of the good you have done will more than
compensate you for it all.
In this contest, for the supremacy ofOur Gov
ernment and the salvation of our country, Ohio
occupies proud position. Her standard must
not be lowered. Rather let tus 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 work.
Very respectfully,
[Signed1 JOHN BRoUGH.