The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-07-14
Care for our Soldiers.

| The following admirable letter was re
Gently written by a soldier. 1t is an elo
quent appeal for our disabled and wounded
heroes
"Let us not forget the debt of gratitude
we owe those war-worn veterans who ART
now being gathered around our national
capital as one huge family gathering
around the national homestead. Suppose
they had failed; suppose they had aban-
doned the contest in despair; what would
have become of constitutional liberty p
Where would popular government have
found safe abiding place? Where would
our striped and starry standard have sought
concealment of its shame What of the
past and what of the future What a
mournful spectacle would this country
have exhibited to the world. Democra-
cy in ruins free institutions overthrown
slavery triumphant; the unity of the
states severed forever; the hopes of the
friends of freedom abroad, the watching
and waiting of other lands discouraged,
desponding, despairing But Providence
did not mean that justice should he crush
ed by lawless desperadoes, and that the
prayerful voices of good men and women
should be choked by horde of bank rob-
bers and assassins. Its agents responded
to the call. Not only were the defenders
Of the republic forthcoming, but they were
nerved to more than martial daring
They were sustained by high and holy re-
solve in the midnight hours of national
gloom and trial, and dread and doubt. -
Defeated again and again by the myrmi-
dons of treason, they never gave up.
Scared and MANNED they rallied again
around the cherished symbol Of their faith
and fought until victory again perched on
their banners and recorded their undying
enthusiasm. They poured out their blood
in rivers; they left their slain on the field
in thousands ; they saved the republic ;
they protected the ark of civil and relig-
ious liberty they secured for themselves
and for us the freedom we inherited, and
are now enabled to transmit it TO posteri-
ty. Nay, more, they have given us free
dom in a higher sense they have destroy
cd the systems of bondage which clung to
our garments and stained them with blood;
they have given us freedom, purified and
regenerated, body polite, the veins Of
which are no longer poisoned, and the
garments of which no longer trail in the
dust. They have given to the land a
fresh start in career OF enlightenment
They have crowned the nation with pres
ent blessings and heapel up for it pre-
spective honors.
Muster out And what then? Are
these tattered and dusty warriors only to
receive rs their recompenSe the homage of
the admiring crowd who assemble to wit
hess and welcome their return Are we
to content ourselves with bestowing mel
ais less worthy to keep and confer than
the corps badges which are stained by the
smoke of battle Are we simply TO rear
cenotaphs and mold bronze. and cluster
immortelles in memory of tho fallen!
We have a more important duty to
perform. Many of these war worn veter-
ans have left positions of honor and of
profit which are now filled by Others
They must be cared for. Many have
come back incapacitated for their former
occupation bv wounds involving the loss
of limb. The authorities should give them
such minor offices as are now filled with
political huckSters. Those who wish TO
resume their trades should be patronized
by our citizens those who intend to re-
establish shops and stores should he en-
couraged. Everybody should make it a
duty to lend a helping hand. Those who
are invalidS for life should receive the fos-
tering care that is bestowed upon the scar
red and weather-beaten veterans of other
lands. Let the Union. or the people. or
both unitedly. build Chelsea or Green
wich-an asylum where the patriotism of
heroes shall be feelihgly commemorated,
and where their battered remnants may
bc nurturcd with the tenderness due them.
We may talk at leisure about generosity ::
meanwhile let us pay the debt of graft
tude.''