American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-06-07
Places for our Returning Veterans.

Places for our Returning Veterans.
A large proportion of our veteran troops
will, according to the wise policy of the
Government, be soon disbanded We
look for their return from the severe but
useful service in which they have been
engaged, and hope to see them greeted
with thank fhness and joy by the people
at home Most of these men, now reck-
oned as veteran soldiers, we're, within the
period of four years past, occupied in the
pursuits of ordinary industry. They came
from the shops, offices, stores, factories
and farms of our country Many of them
had, up to the time of their volunteering
for the de ense of the country against its
domestic foes, never handled or fred a
gun They could construct engines, or
run them they could turn furrow !;
they could keep a school; they understood
geumetry they could work ,klfully at
trades but they were no soldiers They
did not know how to march they could
not tell right shoulder shift" form
q order arms"
They are now as good soldiers as the
world ever saw. In all military qualities
they are equal to any of the famous corps
which have been eminent among veteran
troops. They may be less showily uni
formed than the pet regiments that at
tend on royalty but for endurance bra
very, movement. Misunderstanding
tons . Old Guards, " or " Horse Guards, 4"
cannot excel them.
They are coming home. They have
homes. The country has kept them in
mind of their citizenship while they were
in The field, They have voted while they
were fighting. They have kept up their
old identity. They will ere long resume
their former places at the plow, in the
shop. at the counter. at the school
But there will he embraced in the
number of returning veterans many who
will be unable to pursue their former EN-
ployments. Some have lost their right
hand. others are enfeebed by disease
crutches support many strong body {;
some are racked with rheumatism u
large number have broken ply sical con
stitutions.
Soldiers, so far as we know their char
acters and wishes, desire not to be burdens
or beueficiaries of the country, but prefer
to share the Independence which they
have helped to preserve, and earn their
own subsistence, in any honorable way
that is open to them, in common with
| otners.
We do not advise men who are able to
prosecute any business to which they are in
clined, to seek public office for liveli
hood But there are many of our men
who are competent to discharge the duties
of such Offices who are disqualified by
wounds or Infrmities from the severe Ia
bors of body or mind. These may justly
claim appointment to such positions, both
as means of usefulness and support
They, Of course, have the right on the
score of citizenship, but the preference is
claimed for them on the grounds of SER
vice done, privations borne, and physical
| disabilities incurred, for the country
The plea does not, we trust, require to be
pressed, in order to secare its considera-
ton by the people, and by those official
functionaries who have appointing pow
ers. The mere suggestion is sufficient
But this suggestion is not intended to
embrace army officers alone. Our regi-
ments embrace numbers OF private SOL
diers who, in all intellectual and moral
qualities, are the equals or superiors OF,
the average of officers. These have had
the hardest lot in military service, and
haze received dispropofaonatsly small
pay. Their claim is, therefore, stronger
in their behalf.
We have hopes of seeing our men, who
have been so long distinguished for their
military achievements, soon mingling in
the quiet, peaceful scenes of life, sharing
th comforts they have so long and so
cheerfully forgone, and receiving the
honors which they have so nobly earn
ed.-Pits. Commercial