Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-04-05
SOLDIERS HOME.
Remarks of Hon. BEN. LIE Fevre,
in Reply 10 MIR. Glover.

The House having under consideration
the bill to establish Soldiers Home,
Mr.. LIE FEVRE said:
Mr.. SPEAKAR being novice in matters
of legislation, and young in experience,
when took my seat IN this Hall, | resolved
rather to be a learner than an instructor.
But, sir, feel that would not discharge
tile duty owe to myself and the disabled
soldiers of Ohio, were i to remain silent
upon subject upon which hinges their
happiness and comfort
In the first place, wish to say that am
not IN favor of establishing a permanent
home for disabled soldiers at this time, and
the bill which we have under consideration
does not propose TO do any such thing, as
has been inferred By gentlemen upon this
floor. It merely provides to furnish a
home for those disabled soldiers who have
no paternal shelter; who cannot look
In the prospective to loving arms and
warm hearts TO encircle and shelter them;
but who are dependent upon those
charities of the world which we all
know to be cold and cherries. 1t only
provides for them the coming year, aud ii
Congress fails to make the proper pro-
vision, when we return here next winter,
we can make such permanent arrangement
as the eXigencies of the case may seem
to warrant 1t is plain, in my mind, that
the object of the honorable gentleman from
Scioto (Mr. Clover is TO defeat the bill, ami
force the House to adhere to the incomplete
and inefficient substitute he has proposed.
Hiss Institute would send these unfortunate
braves back to their counties, townships
and Congressional districts with an empty
promise to their ear, which would be blight
ed ia the realization, that they will be cared
for by those communities. Has there been
NJ, snNr kha
means for their support elsewhere9 No,
sir; it is only an empty promise, having no
warrant OF law to fulfill It. What will be the
result Of his proposed action? The ques-
tion is easily answered. Those who are not
able to earn livelihood, will soon fill our 1
county infirmaries or our jails. Every
gentleman on this floor who participated
In recruiting regiment or company, knows
what these promises amount to, How
many poor men, with families, put their
names on the enlistment roll, strapped on
their knapsacks, and marched to the field
OF conflict upon tie promise that while
they were gone, their wives aud children
should be cared for? Those of us who
were in the field know too well how those
promises were kept. They were broken in.
almost every instance. No sooner was the |
soldier in the teld than they were forgot
ten. and how often has the heart sickened |
and the ear been panied to listen to the story |
of their privations and suffering. Those |
men did not go out to fight for counties or |
districts, but tor the great State of Ohio, |
and it is the duty of the generous old State |
to do justice to her defenders. The Honora-
BILE gentleman from Scioto objects to the bill |
because it discriminates, and only provides |
for the care of portion of them. The |
Relief law is still in force and the Relief |
fund obtainable, aud those who wish to re- |
main with their families have the benefit of |
this reservoir for succuor. The gentleman,
referring to the present inmates of the |
Home, says that they were not the bone
and sinew of the army but that they are |
Dutch and Irish mendicaDts and beggars.
answer the gentleman upon that point,
with the remark that they had sufficient
bone and sinew to march into the jaws of
death for the preservation of their country,
and were rescued with broken down con-
stltutions, manned and crippled for life, and
that many of them have tOiled through the
dreary marshes, and on the desolate plains
and wearisome mountains, with Grant, with
Thomas, with Sheridan, with Candy and
with Sherman, down to the sea, and are en-
titled not to contemplate epithets, but to
the gratitude Ofa nation. 1t may be that
they are Dutch or Irish; but it is enough
IOT US W huOW budbtIey are AUueFlcdH SOL
liers, and that they enlisted under the
banner of the stars to preserve its purity
ind unity.
Who are the gentlemen opposing this
bill? Are they men who have served in
,he field and borne the heat and burden of
he day? No, sir; and rejoice that no !
soldier upon this floor has objected to the !
,ilI. Its opponents are the extremely {
oyal men who have fought valiantly in '
he rear, under the leadership of Dorsey g.
jo., whohave grown rich off of the grdans !
# the nation, and are fearful that the pas !
age of the bill will cost them few OF their '
precious ducats.
Our noble old Buckeye State has achieved 9
he chief prominence in the war, not only !
)y the large armies she sent into the field !
md the brilliant genius she gave the
but by her devotion to the COM 7
ort and welfare of her soldiers; and now,
1t the close of the great struggle, she can !
zap the climax of her renOwn by giving to !
ler disabled privates-the heroes of the .
resting place and home. where
hey can live under the beneficent hand of ;;
% magnanimous a patron and guardian. r