, 1865-05-09
CHICAGO, Aay2, 1sG5.

Orders ia either the above parties viii be
promptly filled.
TRIBUNE CoxrAsI.
CHICAGO, Aay2, 1sG5. II
MILITARY AsfLUMs.
The conclusion Of Plesid .nts Llucoln's last
inaugural expressed In a haPp; sentence, the
p.ous intention Of the American people to
.tcarc for him who has borne the battle, and
for bis widow and orphan" Surely there can
be no object for which all persons would more
Willingly be taxed, than to provide for the
comfort OF the disabled soldier. The duty Is
go obvious that argument would be wasted
in enforcing it. 1t may be assumed that eve
~ loyal and generous heart is anxious to dis
cover some channel in which Its gratitude to
the maimcd warrior may be practically aud
suitably manifested. It nay be assumed,
also, that every person not loyal or generous
may he Justly compelled TO contribute in pro-
portion to his means, to this exalted duty.
BE who has left leg or an arm on the bat
tle-feld, as his offering to the Union which
blesses all Of ns, can never be regarded rs IN
object Of charity. He has earned more than
we shall ever repay him. even though We law
ish upon him every attention which his help
Tie question before us then is question
o! ways and means. How shall the pnblic
anxiety in this behalf be eattsdede How
shall the general duty be discharged
with that economy and system which should
attend al" such enterprises? We assume in
the first place that q military asylum should
he supported, not By tbs voluntary contzibu-
tons Of the few, which may be more or less
than sufficient for the purpose In any given
year, but By the levy Of tax upon all, and,
;nasmuch as the number Of soldiers incapaci-
1atcd by wounds Tor the ayocations of life,
is too large to be accommodated at one place,
it seems fitting that each Slate should pro-
vide an asylum for its own disabled heroes.
Doubtless the inmates Of the asylum would
prefer 10 live near their OWN friends, and, as
the machinery Of State governments Is fully
competent to carry On such institutions, and
10 provide for the accountability Of officers
having charge Of them, it seems entirely
proper that system similar to that employed
for the maintenance Of the deaf and dumb,
the blind, md the insane, should be adopted
for the disabled eoldiers.
The military asylum known ns the Soldiers
Home, near Washington City, was establish
I'd In 1851. The original outlay for buildings
and grounds was provided by fund Of about
Sl30, 900 levied BY Gen. Scott some years pre-,
ylously in Mexico, during the war with that
Republic The Home is supported by the
pensions Of the inmates, by fines and forfeit.
u;es adjudged by courts martial, By unclaim.
I'd arrearagcs Of pay, and by fixed proper
tion {two-thirdt) Of the balance on hand in
each hospitn1 and post fund after deducting
tue yearly expenses chargcable to such fund.
Iii also provided in the act establishing the
Home TINT twenty-five cents per month shall
be deducted from the nav of each officer and
soldier Of the army for the benefit of the
institution, provided that such deduction
shall not be made from the par Of any SOL
*lier belonging TO auy fore. raised fora tenn
1,orary or special purpose, without his con-
rent. The persons entitled to admission to
The Homo are, all soldiers who hare served
faithfully fortwenty years, and all who hare
been discharged By reason OF wounds or dis
ability incurred while in the line Of duty,
rendering them incapable OF further military
service All persons recovering their health,
SO as to be 1T for further military service,
:.1c discharged, proylcet they be less than
lily years OF age.
TAe Soldiers Home seems to be well adap-
ed to the wants Of the regular army. II Is
probably large enough to accommodate ill
,nva1ids from that branch Of the service who
may apply Tor admission. 1t Is rendered saif-
supporting BY the various military funds d.
ycr1ed 10 lis use, IN The same manner as our
marine hospitals. a STATE Asylum would
require an annual appropriation u greater Or
.ess amount from Inc paoilc treasnry' Dalang
Inc iast sesa'on Q! congress an act ~as passed
10 incorporate Nal,ona1 Mnltary an1 Naval
AeS1u1n 1or Tue senei OF Inc lo1al1S csaosca
t"ce's anu 'nen oa aoe Volunteer 1ofces- one
aunaFeo persons afe named Us lncorpofators,
cons'stne o. army ana navy oheess' goyef-
ooFs OF states, ana prominent citizens. The
1nes, 5or1eltuses. ana afrcaFa3es Of unclaimed
pay IN the solantecf service are appropriated
IN part 70 tie support oi The institution. The
original tund Tor buildings and grounds Is to
be provided By voluntary subscription, and
no site Is to be selected until half million
dollars shall be paid into the treasury. The
PERSONS entitled to admission arc all volun-
tecr officers, soldiers, and seamen who have
strved during the present war, who have
been, or who may be to:ally disabled by
wounds received, or sickness contracted In
The line Of their duty, and such persons on
becoming inmates Of tlis asylum shall assign
thereto thcaf pensions curing the time they
saali remain therein and receive Its bencfts.''
we are o. thc opinion that tue asylum con-
semplalsd W 1hss act VIII BE- wholly made
9unte to TIC wants OF the inyAlide Of the Yol.
untcer army, aud That the principle Of yolun-
1asy contribution upon with IL is g:ornded
is prTCneOuE Thee fs no rnnd r7asn3 .rh1. a