The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-01-10

sold in larger quantities than by retail
ing tn toindividual purchasers. But none
OF these conferences have developed in
to any plan worthy Of calling your at
tention to them. This subject of the
proper disposition OF the scrip is COM
mended 10 your consideration.
IMMIGRATION.
You will have aud doubtless will
carefully consider the report of the
Commissioner on immigration, and the
general topic OF which it makes part.
This subject is always of great inn
portance to Ohio. 1t is especially so at
this time. The war of rebellion, which
has distui bed and revolutionized so
many other practices and principles,
has also greatly changed this matter
and our relation to it. 1t has sent, aud
will send many of our own best and en-
terprising citizens to the open, sunny,
free South. Ii is also diverting Euro
pean immigration in the same direction.
We may comfort ourselves by the
grand and magnanimous idea Of the
compensation to the new or renovated
nation, as a whole. But the fact will
still remain that Ohio-as Ohio-Will
suffer by the change unless she takes
some action which looks toward coun-
terpoise.
Moreover, our neighbor States to the
west of US, stimulated by this common
danger, have leen, are, and will be, ao-
tive to Improve or else maintain their
own conditions. Certain advantages
they naturally and necessarily have
over us. These, by their agents in Eu-
rope, they will indubitably press upon
the migratory masses. Our special ad.
vantages-many and great-be assur-
ed, they never will disclose or intimate.
Neither, in all probability, will the Ma
tional Commission, very specially, work
for Ohio. The only question Is, shall
we do this justice to ourselyes2 With
out recommendation IF any special
plans, leave the matter to your better
wisdom and to that OF my able and ex-
cellent successor, with the declaration
OF my own opinion, that its importance
to our State and people cannot be we'll
over estimated.
| MlLlIAhI AGENClES.
[ scarcely know what to say, or advise, In
regard to our Military Agencies.
Supposing that the &c ssation of the war
would soon put an end to the necessity of
these agents, and being firmly convinced Of
the policy of closing all war expenditures,
as rapidly as possible, with the war itself,
and of coming immediately and severely
down to peace establishment, before such
officers and expenditures shall become
chronic through mere continuance, l noti-
fed all these agencies to prepare for an early
close of their duties, and some of them I
!, specially required to do SO by the 1st of
January. But it now chances that the
Sanitary Commission, whose officers have
been doing among other kindnesses to the
soldiers, an excellent service, in graciously
collecting these claims, has determined to
close out all their business. This misfor.
tune (for such it isl has thrown an increasI
ed business Of this sort upon our State
agents; and in several of them their duties
of this kind are greatly increased instead Of
being diminished, as was anticipated. The
soldiers just at home, in debt, and, many
of them, unpaid and desperate in their
feelings, as in their fnances-are thrown
into the traps and under the devices of a
set of sharpers and swindlers, the likes and
equals Of whom were, perhaps, never seen
upon the earth before; God grant they never
may again. | mean the claim agents of
our chief cities of rendezvous. I know
very well how unjust and imprudent, as q
general truth, is all broad denunciations of
whole classes. And know and take pleas
ure in stating, that there are very many
honorable exceptions to this character
among this profession of brokers. These
exceptions are all the more honorable, that
they are honest aud sympathetic with the
soldier, in spite Of, and against the open
= opportunities and temptations, which they
have, to extort from the necessities and de-
spair Of those noble patriots. And, besides
this, they are in revolt against the interests
and bad esprit du corps of their own class. -
Beyond doubt, an honest and tender
hearted claim agent must be more honest
and tender hearted man than one in another
business. Nor need we be surprised or dis
couraged at these developments of evil hab-
its and characters by this huge war; We
have the best authority-that where the
carcass is, there the vultures will gather;
and where or when before, were there ever
SO many, or so great carcasses of lucre, to
bring out the already bad, or to tempt into
badness, the good around them, as are now
and here.
Meantime, unless Congress or the State
does something for our unfortunate volun.
teers, their iates, under the influence and
control Of these private agents, are plain
enough. Congress, whose sole business il
is, seems to be occupied with what it may
consider more importent and grander
schemes Of usefulness to the world, if not
to their country. This makes it necessary
for Ohio, even under the unjust weight of
her other loads of taxes, borne fer the gen.
eral or national welfare, to see that some
plan is devised and put promptly in execu-
tion to remedy these evils.
1t is not to be denied, however, that it by
no means follows that our soldiers have not
been and may not be largely defrauded and
J robbed by others than these private agents;
on the contrary, there is much evidence to
, warrant the fear and shame than, in many
cases most ingenious and covert systems of
robbery have been practi,ed by public Off
GERS OF the General, and perhaps State
Governments. Ii therefore, any legisla.
tive action shall follow this recommends.
; ton, great care and wisdom ought to bs
used to prevent our agents from committing
these frauds, which they arc called into
power to prevent,
The report of the Quartermaster Genera
embraces succlnct account OF the opera.
. tions of the military agencies during the
\ past year.
PAY AGENTS.
I The gross amount of allotment money re.
! ceivod by these agent from Ohio soldiers
and paid into the Treasury, is $8, 465, 702 sc
OF which, as has already been stated, $4,.
, AL, 1888 - or more than one half Of thu
entire sum, were collected during the yeal
: 1865, and that too with loss to the State
1 lot only 800 This loss resulted from one
n lof thc, agents receiving, in moment Of
r great hurry, counterfeit note. As the