The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-01-18

has been very prompt and satisfactory.
No single package, | bolicVe, has been lost
OF m,scarried; whilo in cases of Immediate
and pressing need, Ohio agents have hccu
promptly ut the place OF suffering aud, in
most cases the first To arrive. Our people
through tho aid societies, have contributed
very liborally oCsupplcs, aud they have all
been advantageously appropriated.
While ! desire to be fairly understood
as not impcaching, or desiring to impair
tho valuo of the associations lohoring
for the relief of our soldiers, | still
adhere to the opinion expressed to you last
winter, that mere real good can bo accom-
phShed, at less expense, through the State
agencies, and our aid societies, than in any
other way. While extending or own opcr.
atons, have carefully watched those of
our sister State of Indiana; and | have
found that her system merits the strongest
| communication. II is simple in its charac
ter. a central society at the Capital, uu-
der the immediate care OF the Governor
receives all the contributions from the va
rious aid societies within the State. These
are classified and distributed to the several
state agents, according to the wants in
| their respective departments, who in re-
| turn distribute them among tho mon. The
State provides fund that aids in the pur-
| chase Oi articles not contributed, and pays
! the transportation. There is no expensive
machinery about it--nu waste, and no cX-
| travagaucc. II has been objected to- as
being local and selfish in its character; but
this is not the fact. While 'tho first care
of the agents ia Tor Indiana men, no Ohio
soldier in want or distress has ever, to my
knowledge, appealed to an lrdiano agency
without having his wants relieved The
Indiana agents have frequently divided
81 4,
we have always tried to reciprocotc the
kindness.
There are many benefits attending this
system which should not be disregardcd.
lst. 1t is decidedly the most economical
way of aggregating and distributing tho
contributions of our people, ami expending
tho means appropriated by the State for
this purpose.
ID. II renders certain the dist,ibntion
of all supplies TO the object aud purpose
for which they are intended. There is
hardly possibility for misrepresentation.
There is no machinery about it to bo kept
fabricated, and no class OF middle men to
levy toll upon it.
3d. BY proper care and management it
is made more prompt and energetic than
any other mode; and, by being more sys.
tematic, will be moro general aud appro.
pirate in its relief.
4th 1t fosters aud gratiies the State
pride of our soldiers, 1t comes nearer TO
) the feeling of home. An Ohio soldier re.
CARDS an Ohio agency as a place he has u
right 10 enter, and expect welcome. II
he is in want, there is no system OF orders
: or acquisitions for him to go through---no
prying and unpleasant ca!echism for him to
submit to. The supplies furnished by his
State and his people are there, and lie feels
that ho is no object of charity when he
partal<es of them. His rcmcmbranccs of
home are freshened-his attachment to
! his State II quickened and Increased and
he goes away feeling that ho is not neg
lected or forgotten that the cause of the
country is still worth upholding, and the
dear old State still worth defending from
the cncroachmehts of the rebel adversary.
Ant tAi8 is doubly the case when the
agent passes almost daily through his hos
pilal--bend ever the bed on which he is
stretched with sickness or wounds
quircs kindly into his wants and ministers
uato them from the hcnclactions of his peo-
pie, and the liberality OF his State. Surely
this spirit is worth cherishing and pre-
serving.
While | do not seek to limit the contri-
butiors of our people through other chan.
nels. invoke their attention to their own
agencies, and their active cooperation in
the labors of the opening year. If earn
est, benevolent citizens will organize u
central association here, will be glad to
work with them. If our aid societies are
satisfied with the present system of work.
ing through the Quartermaster' Depart
ment, we will continue it, in the hope it
will be much enlarged-that QUE supplies
will be increased-and our soldiers com
forted and strengthod under the pcrils and
sufferings they are called to endure.
| recommend that bureau be estab-
lished under the control of an officer to be
styled he "ARditor Of Soldiers Claims" to
be appointed by the Governor. with the
advice and consent of the Senate; that he
be required to give sufficient bonds, and
pass his money transactions through tho
State Treasury, The salery should be in.
creased above the present rate, and he
should be allowed such clerical force as
will enable him to keep up the business
of the Department. A very large number
| of people are Interested in these claims.
They are ignorant of the manner of col
lectng them, and are not unfrequcntly
made victims Of sharpers and unprincpled
claim agents The matter is, III my iudg-
ment, of sufficient Importance TO engage
your early attention.
REFORM SCHOOL AND FARM.
| have received the report of t!ie Com
nissoners of the Reform School and Farm,
which have perused with much interest.
| This institution is yet in its infancy, 1t
was considered an experiment, but it prom
ises TO prove success.
ONO PENITENTIARY.
| The report of the Directors aud Warden
of this Institution will DO found appended.
The prison has been generally well man
aged, and presents more favorable fnan.
cial results than had anticipated the ey-
| penditures being Sl7,GSi,2l in excess OF
the receipts. The Wardeu gives the causes
| that hnye produced this result in the dim
mutton OF the quantity and quality Of la
! bor, without corresponding reduction of
expenses; the existence of contracts at low
1 figures, aud Che large advance IN the prices
of supplies While it is desirable that re-
eeipts should at ioast equal expenditures.
the financial is not the most useful charac-
teristic of the Institution The Toforma-
ton Of the criminal is as important an ole
ment 10 the State as his punishment; and
severity Of discipline or Of labor are nat
essential 10 either OF these objects. It is
a mistake that kind and humane treatment
robs the prison of any OF it's tcrrors to
evil deers. Whatever sOfious the severity
OF punishment. appeals to the judgement
and iRsokes the gratitude of those who
II n