Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-06


cloud on> the brain. of the idiot Is turned
with a ssilver lining." Sir, we have been
able through these blessed instrumentalities
to minister ton mind diseased E and by
the passage ofsthis act we will "pluck
rooted sorrow from the brain" OF many des-
titute families whose loved ones have come
from the wars, shattered in health or broken
in frame, longing for 'home" where they
may rest in peace and plenty, safe from the
anxiety and distress that wait on want.
1t has been said that this Bill affects only
a few of the soldiers-that majority, OF
them are not included in the class spoken
of and that, of those who are very many
have families and friends who can
provide for them and would much
prefer to do SO. , grant it; and
favor the measure for that very reason.
Public benevolent institutions are neither
intended nor adapted to supply the wants
of ldrge, but of small and exceptional classes.
Wherever large bodies of people, who are
neither diseased, nor berefto of any OF their
natural faculties or powers, suffer destitu-
tion, 1t is the result of social wrong-of
errors in the structure and organization OF
society, which callnOt for beneyolence but
reform. Take the women and children,
who have become poverty stricken-and
their number has been increased enormous
ly during the war--who are unable, at best,
TO earn more than scanty pittance, and in
innumerable cases have been forced by dire
necessity into the ranks of those untortu-
mates who have turned all our large cities
and towns into very brothels of infamy and
RIGHTEOUSNESS Can you provide public
''homesp for this mighty host of suffering
humanity? BY no means. The only way
to reach their case is to so reform our social
system as to allow woman to take care OF
herself-to throw open to her new avenues
of employment-to give her chance to
make an honorable livelihood. Men pay
compliments to women, but deny them liv-
ing ,cages. They do them homage, but re-
fuse them justice. An open field and fair
play is what this large class requires; JUS
tice not charity; public relorm, not public
institutions. ] am, therefore, opposed to
the amendment offered by the gentleman
ffom Shelby CDR Fielding) to admit into
the Soldiers Home, the families of wounded
and disabled soldiers.
1t is at once unphilosophical, and imprac-
ticable, Its only effect will be to deprive
the of the intended benefit, without rem
dering any assistance to the many. 1t is a
mill stone around the neck of the project
which must inevitably swamp it. You
might with as much propriety admit the
family of blind man into the blind asylum,
as admit the family OF a legless soldier into
the Soldiers Home. | admit that after you
have induced man to enter your army, to
risk life and limb in your cause, his family
is entitled in peculiar manner to your
sympathy. And for that very reason we
have a relief bill; and private societies
throughout the State have lent their aid for
the same object. All these are, however,
but temporary make shifts; reform in
our social and labor system is the great
thing needed in their case. But however
much these families under present circum-
stances need and have a right to demand
sympathy and succor, they have no claim
to such provision as this bill contemplates.
They do not come within the principle up
on which our public benevolent institutions
are based. They do not form limited
class, deprived in the providence of God, of
those physical or mental faculties and pow
ers with which their fellow creatures are
blessed. For such and such only, it is eth
er practicable or wise to legislate in the,
way now proposed. -
But sir, aside from the humanity and
philanthrophy of this project, these disabled
soldiers have another claim upon you, who
belong to the war party, and the people of
Ohio whose representatives you are. You
induced them TO 60 into the war, and in so
doing, held out to them the most brilliant
promises and in voting on this bill you
must either square your record or stultify
yourselves. You gave solemn assurance
that your last dollar" should be spent if
need be, for the care and comfort of the SOL
dier and his family. You pictured In glow
ing language the return of these gallant
men to their native State, told them that
they would be met with Outstretched arms,
that the brave and fair, the young and old,
the gray haired matron and the blooming
maiden, would vie with one another in do
ing them honor, in binding up their wounds
and ministering to their wants,-that the
broad mantle OF the State would clOthe their
war-wOrn forms, and that at the close of
honored lives they might wrap its comfort
able drapery about them and lie down to
pleasant dreams "by all their country's
wishes blest." Often, / doubt not, the rev.
erend gentleman from Huron (who OPP
poses this measure), has expatiated with
warmth and unction on such pleasant pros
poets as these, while engaged in urging his
fellow citizens to exchange the comforts of
Home for the privations and perils of the
tented field. Yet now, when these poor
fellows return to us wounded or diseased,
shrinking sensitively from the cold uncer-
tain charities of their neighbOrs, he has
nothing better to offer them than the shell
ter of the Poor House. o. .yr.-. saatr
Mr.. THoMPsoN-I wish to correct the
member from Butler. L did not say would
send them to the Poor House. .,.lr-.-
Mr., MAYo-I know the gentleman did
not, but he offers them no other alternative.
Where is that broad mantle of State care
and kindness, which was to throw its pro-
tecting warmth about them? Upon whose
shoulders has it fallen? Ask your contrac-
tors and suffers and quartermasters and
speculators-that innumerable host of cor
morants who, following the army like vul-
lures, have fattened on the blood of the
best and bravest! Ask your office-holders
OF every rank and degree who have made
professions of patriotism and devotion to
the soldier the meat upon which they have
grownso great. Ihey have been well cared
for; while the soldier, wrapped only in the
transparent gauze of fair promises (Which
he sees fast melting into thin air about
him) stands neglected in the cold. But the
war is a bigger contract than we expected,
and, the taxes are becoming enormous; il
the State is to be saved from bankruptcy
we must retrench and economic! Such is
the cry upon all hands. / am very well
satisfied that the promise Of the "last dol
lar" would not have been so rashly made
had you supposed that your bottom dollar
would ever be called for; and am not at
ali surprised at your alarm in regard to the
finances. But can you with consistency OF
dignityord decency commence your retrench-
ment with the soldier and his interestsp
]. think not. You have expended enormous
sums for projects of doubtful utility, and
which were not demanded of you either on
the score of consistency or plighted faith.
Will you now, afterfouryearso Of war-which
Won term hOly--and inthe progress ofWhlch /