The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-18
1HE RECORDS OF TUE WAR.
Foro's Theatre 80 De the Depository.

FOTd's Theatre 80 be the Depository.
The Secretary of War has addressed the fol-
lowing letter to the Chairman of the Committee
on Appropriations
WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON CITY, Decem-
Der 10 -Sn ;-lhelSurgeoL -6enera has applied Tor
the assignment OF the properly known as tord's
Theatre for the deEosft ann safe.keeprng OF the
ang to soldlers discharged Tor Insanity
incurred in The service who have died in Datte.
in nosphai, or in Rebtl PRISONS These records
are among me most important OF he oeVernment,
both ns re ates TO the Government itself and TO
individuals, they are the records ami title
papers upon which the widows and orphans OF
those who are entitled to the support and bounty
of the Government deoend as evidence oil their
lust claims .FoTd's heatre was the scene OF the
murder OF the late President, Abraham Lincoln.
Shortly after that tragic event, II about 70 be
opened again as a place of theatrical entertainment
aud amusement The uublic leenng regards that
spot as ha lowed by the blood OF their martyr
D ace OF theatrical exhibition would be q national
reproach and an outrage against humanity BY the
PRESIDENTS order, therefore, the property was taken
posl ession of, to be aDpled to fitting public
lmpose un der the sanction OF CONGRESS. Inasmuch
as II was private properly, IT seemed proper tnat
conditional puI chase was therefore made under
q e authority OF the President by the Quarter
mas er-GeneraI, at the price Of 100000, subject
to the approval Of CONGRESS. 1t has been con.
verteu INTO a fIe-proof building by the orders
of this Department. One OF the most striking fea-
lures OF the character of the late PRESIDENT was his
deep sN mpathy ioT the sick and wounded, and all
Who suffered IN the service OF their country during
its contesrtO suppress the Rebellion. 1t was his we'll
known habit often as time and other duties would
allow, visit the hosp tails, and administer comfort
to Il suffering inmates. There would seem TO be no
more fitting purpose to which the building cOu d be
applied than to have the spot hallowe6 by his blood
cons ecrated to the pl eservaon of the memorials of
those who, ike himself, suffered as mart IN the
national cause 1t is necessary, however, that an
appropriation should be made by Congress, and
authority given to cOnsummate the purchase. L
would respectfully ask that special appropr alton
be made in order that the specified purpose may be
carried into effect by consummating the purchase of
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
EDWIN VI. STANTON, Secretary of War.
Hon THADDEUs STEVENS
Cha rlnan Committee on Appropriations.
This appropriation will undoubtedly be made
The records which are to he provided for are
now kept in building on Pennsylvania avenue,
near the War Office, which was originally built
for stores, and which was the only building that
could be obtained. 1t is not large enc ugh to ac-
commodate properly One-tt5rd OF the documents
that will eventually claim the custody of the
Government. 1t Is already overcrowded, and
large bur dies OF these papers still lie in the
cellar of the building for lack of room to arrange
and dispose OF them properly.
These papers are the reports, sent from the
field and the hospitals by surgeons, OF the
wounds sickness, and death, or recovery OF
private soldiers. They are absolutely indispen.
sable to determine the claims sent in from every
part OF the country tor pensions. They are, IN
fact, the t1tle-deeds Of every pension held by
widows and orphans Throughout the United
States; and fire IN an hour might destroy them
forever.
1t is also proposed to place in Fords Theatre
when fitted up, the Army Museum with it:
collection of specimens and the various Offices
connected with it. 1t is said to be byfar the
most extensive and valuable OF its kind in the
| world, and contains a greater number of inte
| resting specimens than all the army museums O
| Europe. The order recently issued from the
| Surgeon-Generals Office giving illustrations o
| its character, in the eDgravings of some of The
| specimens, shows its value. Ford's Theatre hai
| been wholly reftted, and is simply now al
| immense open building, with three tire.proo
| floors, tire-proof staircase, etc. 1t is admirably
| adapted to the purpose TOR which it is intended