M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1864-01-14


lie in service. This duty can well
be pOIIormed by tho Surgeon General
Of the State; and, as much of the III
formation will have To DO gathered
from the records OF the ssy raj hospi.
tails, can, perhaps, better be performed
by bim than by any Other officer.
Should this duty 6s thrown upon
him, however, the Saiary attached to
lhut office should be materially in
creased, RS faithful discharge Of tho
duty would command all OF his time.
submit. herewith, communica-
lions from Secretary Hoffman, giving
IN tetOiI the items of expenditure
IRON the Civil aud Military Contin.
gent Funds from the 18th day Of De.
cemher, D. b. 1862, daro OF LAST
+yoar'S report, to the 18th day OF De-
cember, a. d. 1863. 1t will be seen
that from tho civil Fund, there has
been expended 1920 GO, aud from tha
| u lii;ary Fund S69;6Sl 80. | ask
for the appointment, at al em!y day,
IuH Committee OF your body, to ex.
anime these expenditures. Large az
the expenditure is, doubt not it will
rnect youI approval, and urgently
recommend that you place at the dis.
pOSaI OF my Successor, like liberal
eontiugen, fund, that ho may he able
TO meet all contingencies likely to.
arise. Our gallant boys in tho field
and in hpsiptal, an on route for their
respective homes, mrst have the fos-
tcrluG care o. the State Government.
Ia this connection, allow me to rec
ommeul that you keep upon your
statute book, the several laws now
IN Iorce providing Tor the appointment
Vi pay agents, and the agencies for
the care ot the soldiers. The amount
received hy the several pay agents
fiOm tho soldiers in the field aud dc.
posted in the State Treasury for the
distribution to their families, for the
year. iS S9Gl .S24 81, at a cost to the
State Of S2,753 80, and without any
cost to the soldiers or their friends.
| also recommend tho levy, for tho
supoIt Of tue families Of soldiers, bc in
creased from ons mill to two mills on
tho dollar; and that the act for diotribn
ting the same, be so amended as to
include tho families Of cO!ored SOL
diers who have yoianteorsd since the
passage Of the law. The number Of
families in the State, requiring relief
VII vary but lite from thirty thou.
and, the levy ecomneuded, will give
10 each about $50; this with the as
distance voluntarily rendered by tho
generous in every n.ighborhoOd, tits
hopsd will make every family com
Iortabe, and th1s stimulate the patri.
utic soldier to duty,
The sum appropriated for suitable
resting places ut Cincinnati and Col.
uIntuS, for our soldiers who may fall
IN the service Vi our country, to wit:
$4,000 tor the former and $500 for
tue latter, have been expended. Beau
titul and eligible grounds, at spring
Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, aud
Green Lawn Cemetery, .CeIunbus,
have been selected The remains of
56S brave 5Oys have been deposited
in the Cemetery at Oilcinnati, and 81
at Columbus. Without this express
authority, joined the Executives. of
other States i'll securing a resting
place for our noble dead who fell at
Gettysburg in the great battle of July
last. The sacred ground thus secured
was duly consecrated. with most i'm
posing ceremonies, on the 10th day
Of November last. Accompanied by
my Staff, unl quite large number
of State officials, | participated, on
behalf Of tue State, 10 the solemn
cerimonies; the entire cost to the
State, Of this visit, was $2,6I425,
which has been charged TO the Mill
tary. Contingent Fund. The papers
herewith presented, in Document No
IL, contains u fall statement of the
action Of this Department in relation
to i,s melancholy duty OF caring fot
our dead.
1t can hardly be necessary that l
call Your attention to, or speak Of, the
bravery and gallantry Of our soldiers
in the field. Their mauy noblo deedS
are familiar to us oil; the soil Of ev-
cry battlefield has become sacred
with tho blood of Ohio's heroes. Our
4 children should be taught 70 vener-
ate the memory OF those who have fal.
len; and to love and respect these who
may be spared by an all-wise provi-
dence 10 return among rs. God-b bless
our patriotic soldiers, and all who are
near aud dear to them.
Although the wicked rebellion still
! continues, We can justly claim ios
: Chic a full performance Of duty in
i the effort to crush It, and maintain
Il our happy form OF Government. We
$ have raised within the past year. To-