Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-20

claim agencies throughout the State, with a
brauch agency At Washington, these agents
to report to the chief If the bureau at our
Capitol, which should be under the direction
OF some one OF the State Departments. Boun-
ties and beck pay, in many cases, go to the
rep esentatiyes of deceased soldiers. Pen
slons always go the disabled and dependent.
Those to whom they are paid are reduced to
this dependence through no fault of their own.
They would willingly earn their own living
and dispense with all aid from the Government
were they able to do so. The sums they are
to receive are small at best, and it seems just
that the State should bear the expense of col
Letting them. The plan have suggested has
been tried In one our sister States, and has
been found eniinently successful.
SOLDIERS ORPHANS.
There was issued by the Secretary of State,
in September, 1865 a circular letter to the
town and CITY clerks throughout the State, ask
ing those officers to inform the State Depart
ment the number OF children OF deceased Wis
consn soldiers in their respective towns. 367
clerks only have responded reporting 2, S74 such
children; an average of nearly eight to each
town. Ii the average is the same in the towns
from which no reports have been received,
| there are not less than 6.000 such children in
the whole state. under fifteen years of age OF
| those reported the ages of 791 are not given,
| l SIG are between one and ten years of age,
5l7 are between ten and fourteen years ofage,
20 were in the county poor houses, 81 have
neither father or mother living.
The fathers of these children have laid
down their lives while battling for the preser-
walton of our country. They have died that
we might live to reap the rich harvest of
| national prosperity, secured to us as the result
| of that contest, in which they bore so honor
| able part.
They are the children of the State. and as
such are entitled to its fostering care and pro-
| lection.
The necessity Of providing a suitable Asy-
| lum for such of these orphans as require the
protection of the State, has been appreciated
| by our people, who have contributed generous
| IL for that purpose. call your attention 10
| the accompanying 'mmunication, and ear
nestly recommend that the proposition IF the
Executive Committee be accepted, and that
the Harvey Soldiers Orphans Home he
adopted by the State as one of its benevolent
institutions.
In the struggle just closed, Tsconsin's
record now stands among the brightest. When
| the first faint echoes of the distant guns at
| Sumter sounded In our ears, her sons flew to
arms. A young and peaceful State, unused
| to war, almost without militia organization,
almest without men fitted to lead her few
| battalions, she pressed TO the front with her
offering of men; and from the first skirmish in
Virginia to the last struggle in North Caro-
| Ina, her anners have been displayed amid
the smoke of every battle, her regiments have
shared the fatigues and dangers of every
Il
artillery crooked like cradle land and sea;
when the slrieks of the wounded and the
means of the dying came borne to our ears
from scores of battle-fields; when our streets
were filed with pale and wounded men; when
| there were defeats as well as victories; when
traitors grew confident and patriots grew
| anxious still her men, youDg and old, poessed
| 1 rward to the conflict. They shrank not from
danger they never doubted of success.
When there was mourning in so many of our
Il 4. t.
where upon our streets and in our churches,
/ when harrassing anxiety for the danger OF
| those they loved, filled so many hearts, and
made pale so many faces still mothers sent
| forth sOGs, and other loving hearts bled afresh
| wit ont murmur-
The pillow stood almost idle in the furrow for
want ofhands to guide il; the grain grew over
4 ripe and rOtted on the stalk for want of hands
| TO gather il; women toiled where men were
wont to work, and yet our Country's calls were
| answered.
| In the hour of her greatest danger, Wiscon-
/ sims sons and daughters listened only to her
/ voice. thank God that this was so. To
protect the State from danger is always the
| highest duty of the citizen. With us it was a
| solemn duty Not Our Cwn national life alone.
| but the cause of freedom and the success OF
/ free Institutions throughout the world de-
pended upon Our arms. 1t we failed, these
| failed with us. II we failed, the lamp OF
| Liberty went out forever, and left the world in
/
cause for great rejoicing; that the cause OF
Freedom triumphed brings joy to ali the
world. Yet for us to-day, it is chastened
/ triumph. Tears will mingle with our joy, sad
ness with our pride.
Thousands, .'the flower of our youth, the
beauty of our Israel" have fallen in the con-
test; dying that We may live. Proud of their
1 noble sacrifice, nation mourns their loss.
Let it be your care that those whose natural
guardians they were, shall not be left to want.
| Let it be our privilege to see that suffering
and neglect be not added to their noble grief.
| Let the State protect their families and edu-
cate their children. This being done, these
fallen heroes will need ne monument other
than their nations greatness.
For all who nobly bore their part in this
dread conflict natioG's heart beats warm
with gratitude. Generation after generation
vet TO come will kneel aud bless them for it.
| They have saved the rations life.
III anything can be added to their proud
consciousness of duty nobly done, let them
dwell with satisfaction on the glorious future
they have made possible for our country,
when hundred millions of free and happy
people shall owe proud allegiance to that
| flag they have go gallantly defended.
LUCIUS FAIRCHILD.
January III. lsGG.