Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-19
soldiers and Eeamen's Home.
!. EDIANAPoLis, ND, Jan. 5th, 1866.

|
1iers' and Seamen's Home, are again
under the necessity of appealing to the
public on behalf of those disabled in
the service of the country.
A brief statement of the origin and
doings of the Association win explain
this necessity.
Long before the close of the. war,
disabled soldiers, MANNED for life, be-
gan to appear in almost every commu-
nifty. Some of these had friends who
could and would care for them, and
others during the excitement of the
war, and the redundancy of money, |
found adequate support by the sale of !
books and other articles easily disposed
Of, while many were afforded temporary
relief from funds then supplied to the
Governor, and to the Sanitary and
Christian Commissions, and other be-
nevolent organizations then existing.
As these cases rapidly increased, it
became more apparent that some per-
msnent provision must be made for
their comfort To effect this object a
meeting was called by Governor Morton,
at Indianapolis, in May, 1865, at which
an association representing all parts of
the State was organized and designated
as the Soldiers and Seamen's Home
Association.
By the plan of organization, the af
fairs of the Association were con6ded to
Board of Managers, consisting of one
person from each Congressional District
of the State, and of which the Cover
nor of the State was made ex-officio
the President This Association through
its agents and circulars appealed to the
people for funds in aid of such disabled
Soldiers and Seamen as might seek re-
lief at their hands. The pecnniary re-
spouse to these appeals on the part of
the people, coupled with the liberality
| of the Common Council of the City of
Indianapolis, in rendering to the Board
of Managers the use of the City Hospit-
al Buildings, rent free, enabled them to
establish at Indianapolis, a temporary
Home, and tosscontinne it's operation I'M
| til this time. In this establishment the
most needy cases that presented them
selves were cared for, but the Managers
regret to say that, owing to the made
quate means at their disposal, more
cases have gone unrelieved than those
which have found relief at their hands.
The register at the Home shows that
eighty-two sick and disabled soldiers
have been admitted into the institution
since the opening thereof, in August
last. A number of these were suffering
from unhealed wounds, and others from
disease from which they have so far re-
covered as to 60 out again and take care
of themselves xla
frhk wk rua alr 4al enRo he
Home, thirty three have been discharg-
ed, and two have died, leaving at this
time forty-saven (47) in the Home.
The inmates of the Home, up to this
time, represent forty one regiments, and
three batteries, and were enlisted in
twenty-seven different counties Tween
ty- four of these have no relatives in the
United States; eight have lost each a
right arm; one a left arm; six have
lost each the left leg; two the right leg /;
one has lost the right leg and arm; three
have lost the use of their lower extremi-
ties by paralysis, and one had both his
feet frozen off at Andersonville prison
pen. AAita5
OF the remainder, six have consump-
} ton, and the others are afflicted with
general debility, dropsy, &c.
In addition to the foregoing, we re-
peat the fact that large number Of
meritorious cases coming within our
knowledge are still unprovided for, and
must continue to suffer unless the people
help US to help them.
The Managers of the Association
hoped that the General Assembly, at its
late session, would have taken the work
out of their hands, by providing an in
stitution in which these men, to whom
the State and the country owe so much,
could have been rendered comfortable
for the residue of their lives. This not
having been done, these disabled veter-
ans must either be supported by volun-
tary contributions, until the people,
through their representatives. shall pro-
vide for them, or be permitted to suffer,
thereby becoming living witnesses of the
ingratitude of Republics. 1t is proper
to state that the General Assembly did
authorize the Governor to apply to the
General Governmentto have the United
States General Hospital at Jacksonville
turned over to-the State for the use OF
disabled soldiers, with the understanding
that it might be used by this Association
as a Home, in the event of its being thus
{ turned over. In pursuance of this &C.
ton, application has been made bv the
{ Governor, to the proper Department, tc
have this Hospital turned over to the
State, and intelligen .e has Just been re-
eeived that the application has been
granted.
Il In absence of Legislation, the Board
of Msnagers will not attempt to make a
permanent establishment, bat the proba-
bility is that the ] Jacksonville Hospital
will be temporarily used until the adj
vantages and inducements held out by
different localities are received and con-
sidered.
The Legislature also directed five per
cent. of the three mill tax levied for
1865, for the relief of Soldiers Families,
4 to be paid into the State Treasury, to be
expended by the Governor in the relief
of disabled soldiers, and the widows and
families of deceased and disabled sol.
diers. This five per cent. is, by the
terms OF the appropriation, burthened
with the payment of $50 900, heretofore
borrowed by Governor Morton, for the
relief of Soldiers in the field, and in
Hospitals, and when this is paid, the
balance will be so small, compared with
the many benefciaries contemplated by
the Act of the Legislature, that, howev-
er well disposed the Governor may be
towards the Home, he will be enabled to
do but little, if anything, for it, and this
little cannot be received probably till
June next tf&&f
/ Therefore, without any possible aid
from the State for months to come, and
no prospect Of adequate aid at any time
before the meeting Of the next General
Assembly, with scores of men now upon
our hands, whose toosnds and scars pro-
claim them true soldiers, tried and
faithful, we appeal to the public for
money to sustain the Soldiers Home,
| nil rr,nh tina M q inst crratafuI a.I