The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-05
anelaI Renort Of Gen. Eisk.

ABANDoEED LAsDs, D.sIEICf kT., IENE. AND
n. AIA., NASHVILLE. Tenn suay 81, 1855.
General have the honor, through
you, to call the attention of the Gov
ernment to what appears to me to be
q great and increasing evil, and TO earn
estly recommend that prompt and en-
ergetic action be taken. refer to the
large issues all through the Southern
States Of ratiOns 70 the masses IN Ger.
tain districts, without prooer evidence
of destitution and worthiness. / have
made careful inquiry into this very i'm
portant subject, and have personally
investigated large number Of cases
| am quite sure that the Government
is being immensely swindled By many
of the recipients Of its bounty, and AZ
the same time is, 10 an alarming extent
fostering institutions for the promotion
of idleness, Vagrancy, pauperism and
crime
A radical reform in the method Of
distribution should speedily be insugu
rated. The cost to the Government Of
the subsistence issued is no small item
The evil resulting from the injudicious
distribution Of the same cannot be es-
tjmated. All persons who have had
much experience in the distribution Of
charities, especially in large cities, uni
formly testify that the most clamOrOus
for relief are generally the least enti-
tied to it. Patient, faithful invesGiga-
tiou should always, if possible, precede
tbs ministration of relief Ny personal
ipvestieation Of hundreds of applIca-
tions for relief within my district has
resulted in Justly Withdrawing the Gov
eminent support from very large ms
iority thereof. A large number have
been to county, municipal and town
authorities. Another and larger class
still. were in nO8ise entitled 10 or
worthy Of relief The nation ought not
20 be running the poor houses OF the
Southern States. WHIST there Is down
there of cotton, bacon and corn should
be made to support the inhabitants Of
all classes and coiOrs. Subslstence
ought not 70 be issued to applicants,
except upon the best Of evideGcs that
the applicant is actually destitute and
worthy, and that no toTn, eity, county
or State has the ability TO stf5rd relief
Il should be made q difficult, rather
than an easy thing to obtain subsist'
ence from the Government Nearly
every family IN some sections o.
Georgia aud Alabama, regardless Of
their ability. are drawing Fations from
the Government, and claim Il az a Tlghi ;
and also too many think Il no wrong 70
resort 70 any mean trick 20 more tnan
duplicate the quantity they would oe
entitled TO II found worthy VIII
give vou an instance Of many that has
come 10 nv knowledge Three OF TIE
firsbfamilies Of Tennessee to loving the
fortunes Of the Confederscyi had taken
M their residence IN Alabama far from
the scenes OF strife, waiting the sttaia-
neut Of their rights IN tae territories.
They dwell together e. one family.
Thev All had noney--cne OF them wa.
foruaerls a tanker, and carried with
him soathward large deposits OF coin
When the end came and we commenced
feeding iustead OF fighting oar nais
guided brslhren, tue three worthy
besds Of this joint family learned Of tbs
rstign movement and Immediately
orsted Of 70 The nearest military POsl
ior their share, and eacn one dreE iol
tba whole number in the three families
Thus Tor Eve days seventeen persons re
ceived two hundred and s ty-nVe ration
iostead Of eiehty-fEs l have reported
rhis ease 70 The proper Authofitiss fel
inVestiratiou, ana trust The rascsis vii
be punished.
Tne number actaally destitute and
worthy viii bs large and they must Be
cred for-but each town, cigy, county
apd STATE, should as far as possiel'
provide FOR iisoEn poor. We have the
wido4s and OfphAns Of orr brave ael
whose lEves have gone out for liberty
ssd Union, 70 provide for. Inhsm ans
( decreoit coloeed citizens lean upon d.
/ Goverumant sor their daily bread
These are Of one household, sn'
We must not Be msde liable 70 IN
charge Of inEdelity by not provides
I for thaua Bat the great mass 0f th'
whites ak0 ere pow receiving me-