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

reside. Besides, tisin conflict with all our
traditions and most cherished notions. The,
privilege and duty OF each State to take
caro- OF its own interests and provide Tor It's
own citizens is thoroughly ingrained
American idea; and in the aspect in which
/ now view it, is by no means confined
to any party. l claim that it is the right
the duty, the high prerogative privilege OF
Ohio to take care of her own soldiers. AS
State, she has given unqualified and un-
stinted support to this war; she has thrown
her reputation and her rmeans into the scale;
she has provided fol the giving OF Douptiess
and for the relief of soldiers families; has
collected in her State House the battle
stained flags of Ohio regiments-in every
thing relating to the war has .endeavored
with commendable State pride to emulate
in generous rivalry the sister States of the
Republic, engaged in the same cause. The
State of Ohio is unit. She has an lndlvld-
uality oflier own. She is my native State;
| am proud of her; and however she may,
in my judgment, err, and that very greatly,
on, matters OF paramount Importance. and
in nothing more than ontquestionsc sconnect-
ed with this war-I do, from the bottom of
my heart, hope that she will not so far
stoop from her high place or soil her fair
fame, as to either turn her back altogether
upon those who have done valiant service
in her quarrel, or ask the General Govern
ment to take their care off her hands, q
Sir, these disabled soldiers" must be
cared for somewhere and by some body. In
adopting the plan OF establishinga q Soldiers
Home we only follow the example of Euro
pean Governments, where long experience
has found them necessary, and successful
experiment proved them practicable. 1t is
not intended by this measure to do away
| x.titl n
work of the relief fund. Its only purpose IS
| to remedy defect in the system; to COM
plete the chain of appliances in use for the
| relief of soldiers and their families. None
| of our benevolent institutions can supply
the place of private philantrophy-or public
charities :. they are simply auXiliaries; one
of the many forms in which philanthropy
| deyelopes itself, intended to meet-a partic-
ular want, to supply particular deficiency.
That there must be in every State large
| class of diseased and disabled soldiers be-
| longing either to destitute families or with
out families, who can neither receive COM
Portable support nor proper attention and
care through any instrumentality now in
existence, will be apparent to the minds OF
all. 1t is to meet their case that we desire
| the passage of the bill. desire that this
great State should say, to these her afflicted
ones, in the language of divine mercy
"Come unto me all ye that are weary and
heavy laden and i will give you rest"
1t will be after all but a poor return for the
sacrifice of health snd limbs which they
have made in the States employ. To refuse
this would be to treat these soldiers worse
than we do an old and faithful horse; who,
after becoming worn out in our service, we
turn loose in pasture to spend the remainder
of his days in rest and in plenty. Besides,
,ln,, hnx -
one center, in charge Of tit men, in an i'll
stitution conducted Systematically, they
will be aceU taken care of at a much less
aggregate expense than they can be poorly
provided for in their respective localities.
With men and money concentrated at a
single point, the means can be carefully
adapted to the end, and waste and leakage
prevented, because there is a personal and
immediate and continual supervision by
proper and competent and responsible otfi-
GERS of the objects of the charity and their
wants; while at the same time all who are
deserving are secured against neglect.
Whereas, If these men are TO be cared for,
by any other system, in their respective To-
calities, the least worthy-who are always
most forward in pressing their claims-will
receive the lions share, and the proud, SEN
sitive and shrinking natures who will die
sooner than press themselves forward, and
who really need and merit support, will be
forgotten and neglected. Both economy and
even handed justice demand the establish
ment of the institution proposed. % 80
But we are asked to amend this bill so
as to insert after the word soldier, the words
"without distinction of color" Sir, my
sense of humanity is not limited by elof.
If l find man suffering and in want am
disposed, if it be in my power, to afford
relief. i am not, however, metropolitan
thropist, like the gentleman who introduced
this amendment and those who support it;
have never been disposed to assist the
black at the expense of the just claims of
white men, the rights of he'States, or the
solemn obligations of the Constitution of
my country. Neither would / sneakingly
attempt, under the specious pretehse of re-
gard for the "African BROTHER" to disguise
an unwillingness to afford the acltite
soldiers of Ohio the benefit of ''home."
That is what these gentlemen are after
now. Are they not opposed TO the meas
ure altogether, and was not this amend
ment introduced in order to drive its DEM
ocratic friends from its support r Will they
vote for the bill even ii the amendment is
adopted? think not. But they will, then
there is another horn Of the dilemma for
them to take. If they are in favor of a
Soldiers Home in any event, why do they
declare they will vote against the bill pro-
Uiding the House refuse TO change its praseOtO-
an? Deny the blessed privilege of this
"Home" TO our many brave white men, our
own race and lineage, "Citizens" of Ohio,
because few colored men may be debarred
from sharing it with themi Must stthere be
"a nigger in the wood pile''--or we have no
wood? "Becauseyo are virtuous shall
there be no more cakes and ale?" | desire