The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-01-19

secure to the future, as Tar as human effort
can do SO, the blessings We have enjoyed
in the past.
It is true that amid all this prosperity
our people have been called upon to meet
/ priyations and endure sacrifices. The
blood of Ohio has been poured out upon al
mostevery battlefield of the nation, and her
sons have found graves in nearly every
Southern State. The shouts ofvietory from
ensanguined fields have been tWOfold
messengers, bringing alike joy and sorrow
to our people and with the exultation of
the one has been mingled the lamentations
of the other. Our men have given freely
of their substance, and our noble wemon
of their enduring patience and labor, to
alleviate the privations and suferings of
our sons in the field. The parental hand
of the State Government has been con-
stantly and literally extended, to aid and
protect her gallant men living, and honor
her dead heroes. Yet all these burthens
have been freely and even cheerfully borne ;
for the reason that the cause was that Of a
nation struggling for its existence-of free
dom gasping for its vitality-of a good and
benefcent government laboring to assert
its supremacy over a rebellious and miss
guided portion of its people. The lesson
of the past is ever the guide of the future.
While this struggle continues, privatiOns
and sacrifices will continue with it; and
while we adhere to the purpose of accom-
plishing the restoration of our Govern
ment and our Union, we must alleviate,
as far as practicable, the suferings, and
bear with fortitude the burdens, imposed
upon US.
In one particular only do desire, upon
this. occasion, to add to the reeommonda-
tions of my predecessor; and that is in re-
gard to the act of March 21st, 1868, i'm
posing a tax for the aid of the families of
soldiers and marines in the service. I
have carefully watched the operations Of
this law. 1t is not sufficient for its pur-
poses. I cordially approve the recommen-
dation of Governor Tod for the increase of
this tax; but in my judgment that in
crease should be even greater than he pro-
poses, in order to do justly to our soldiers
and our people. The advance in the cost
of living has reached the necessaries
of life as heavily as the luxuries. The in
crease of wages does not reach the labor
Of dependent women, with children to
clothe, feed and educate. The amount
saved from their scanty pay, and sent home
by our soldiers, though large in the ag-
gregate. is very small in its distribution
among those for whom it is designed.
When this revenue, and the proceeds of
the tax, are added together, there is still
large amount dependent upon private
bounty, to meet the actual wants Of this
class of people, and ward off positive suf-
fering. [ have not been able to collect
the statistics as extensively as 1 desired
but in many counties of the State the pri-
vate collections for soldiers families have
considerably exceeded, and in some cases
doubled the amount Of the tax Even in
these cases the object has not been fully
accomplished, 1t is argued that it is bet
ter to continue thus to divide, between
State and people, this contribution; so
that in what the one fails the other will
make good. The true and just response is:
Ist. That if the State acknowledges
this obligation to the family of the absent
soldier, she should meet it as a cOmpeu-
sation for his services, and in a manner
fully equal to the necessities Of the case.
I'd. Private contribution is not equita-
bic in its character, and can not be ad-
justed to the property and interests that
are protected by our armies. The gener-
Gus will give beyond their actual abilities,
while the parsimonious, or the opponent
of the war, will withhold, from pecu-
mary or unpatriotic consideration. Taxa
ton alone will equalize this burtben, and
impose it, where it should rest, upon the
property protected by the services that
the revenue is extended to compensate.
If the additional levy increases the taxa
ton Of generous contributors, it relieves
them from larger amount of private
bounty, and imposes it upon the non-con-
triburors, where it should fall. Even
when the State assumes the entire support
of the soldiers families, there will be scope
enough for private contributions to ale
viate the privatious and suferings of sick,
disabled, and wounded men, in hospitals
and at home.
Sd. The form of private charity is not
always acceptable to its recipients, and es-
pecially the class to whom this is applica-
bic. Much suffering and privaticn will be
endured before pride will suffer appica-
ton t. private charity, where there Is a
consci uSness that meritorious services of
the absent proyider should promptly call
the State to the protection and supply of
! his depl ndcut family. We should diyest
this fund of the appellation of charity.
| L is not such, in any application Of the
term. 1t is an honest debt, and an imperl-
tive duty that We owe the men who are
serving US in p sitions of labor and danger.
They save usfrom invasiou-from the de-
structive ravages of war within our Dor
ders. While they press the conquests Of
our armies for the restoration of our Gov
ernment, they pro -ect our property aud
our lives; thy are the conservators Of all
the prosperity that surrounds US. They
do not perform this service for the small
compensation allowed them by the G v
ernment. They are actuate d by higher
and a nobler motive; and while they in
cur privations, danger and death for the
common cause, the State should not only
protect their families from want, but make
the act one of right and justful compensa-
ton, instead Of burthening it with he Of
fensiye appellation of charity. Neither
should it be governed by the rigid econ
omy of mere subsistence. 1t should be
at |. asst such plenty aud comfort as the
stalwart arm Of the natural provider would
furnish them. if he were at home to do il,