Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-03
SPEECH OF HON. L. D. GRIsWoED.
In the ohio Senate, the Passage Of
h Bill TO Establish the Soldiers
Home.

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In n Ohio Senate, the Passage of
h Bill to Establish the Soldiers
Home.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: 1t is with regret that
l feel compelled by a sense of duty to
vote against this bill, and l ask the indul-
genee of The Senate for a few moments,
while give the reasons which influence
nay vote.
l an not influenced by any unfriendly
feeling towards its managers since its or
ganization. On the contrary / have a
very high respect of the gentlemen COM
prising Its Board Of Trustees, and a warm
regard for its able and indefatigable Su-
perlndent, whose intellect heart, and zeal
have been earnestly and warmly engaged
since the commencement of the late rebel
lion in behalf of the brave and suffering
Union soldiers. Those who know me will
not accuse me eff any want of sympathy
or regard for the sick or wounded soldier.
L have proved my devotion to the soldier
among the mountains and valleys of East
Tennessee, and the hills and swamps of
Georgia. 1t has been my privilege to
smooth the dyiny pillows of many a no
BILE boy when borne mangled and bleeding
from the battle field, and others not less
deserving, who, worn down by fatigue, ex-
posure n the diseases incident TO thu
camp, have yielded up their lives, when
Tar away from family and friends, a noble
sacrlhce IN behalf Of their imperilled
country. 1 have sent hundreds of others
VINO are laborlng under chronic diseases
and sinking gradually to the grave, to
their homes, where, under the ministration
Of friends, and through the influence OF
home comforts, they have been restored to
health and to their families.
l see gentlemen on the floor who now
claim to be the warm friends of the SOL
der, and cannot forget that when in the
face of the enemy, the sympathies of these
gentlemen have been with the enemy and
not with them. The soldiers were charac-
terized by them and their party as "Lin-
coins hireings, and if they offered them
any advice II was that they desert their
flag and come home and abandon this
unholy abolition war" upon the rights of
our Southern brethren. Gentlemen, your
sympathy for the Union soldier m too
late Ii you are sincere, manifest it by
deep repentance and humiliation, and
when, after a long probation, you have
lone works meet for repentance" we will
welcome you among the friends of the
Union soldier.
Mr.. President My first objection to
this Bill Is that the aid it affords Is partial
and.inadequate.
Inere are probably in this State more
than ten thousand manned and invalid
Union soldiers unable to labor for their
own support, and at least ten of that num-
Der OF children made orphans by the war.
hat do you propose to do for them?
Your Soldiers Home contains a little more
than two hundred inmates, and has never
contained three hundred. This bill ap-
propriates n hundred thousand dollars
tor their support for the fiscal year ending
November l5th-a period of less than
eight months, amounting to between four
and five hundred dollars for each soldier
IN the Home for that length of time. In
the meantime what Is to become of the ten
thousand equally meritorious soldiers at
home, and the thousands of orphan chill
dren whose fathers offered up their lives
on the altar of their country. You may
say they Draw their pensions from the
Government. So do the inmates of your
Soldiers Home.
The soldiers of the Union army fought
to maintain the integrity of the whole
country, and not for Ohio alone, and those
who are disabled from injury or disease
contracted in the service, should be sus-
tanned by the nation and not by the State.
Not in national asylums, but by an increase
of their pensions, SO that they can remain
at home with their families and friends.
Then the states lately in rebellion would
be compelled to contribute their share to-
wards the maintenance of Union soldiers.
rms would be simple retributive justice.
The herding of men together in a pub
lie Asylum is contrary to the spirit of our
institutions, and calculated to destroy the
self respect of those who avail themselves
Of Its privileges. 1t removes them from |
home and home association, and cuts them
OF from the refining influence of female
society. Most men would prefer to suffer, |
II need be, at home, where they could en-
JOY thesoclety Of family and, friends rather
than be supported by the state in COM
fort if deprived of these influences. The
best place for a crippled or invalid soldier
Is at home with his family, or, if he has no
family, with his friends and ~neighbors,
where he is best known and appreciated,
and there he should receive sufficient sup
port from h general Government to
place them above want.
There is In the vicinity of Washington
a National Soldiers Home with expensive
elegant buildings, surrounded By
shaded avenues and gravelled walks, with
its green lawns and outrageous shade
tire :, a fitting summer retreat for our
Presidents, worn down by the cares of
state, and more recently incapacitated by
the excessive use of bad whiskey.
This Home was established at the close
the Mexican war, and has opened its
doors to all invalid soldiers without fee
or reward since that time, and vet before
the rebellion its average number of in
was only eighty. Since the close
Of the rebellion it has been free for all
volunteer soldiers ..and yet the number of
inmates bad at no time | believe) exceed
ed one hundred and fifty. If such a
home Is desirable, why have not its halls
been crowded with inirm and crippled
Simply because there is too
independence of character among
.he American people TO permit them 10
iyall themselves of the advantages thus
They prefer freedom and indie
JNANCASS II u uONCl 10 restraint ana de-
oendence in a palace. We should, in my
bring our united influence to
3ear upon Congress in favor of increas-
ng the pensions of our invalid soldiers.
'ather than make large appropriations to
maintain a State Soldiers Home for the
ew who will avail themselves of its priv.
There is lying on the table of !
ach Senator a document from the United :
Sanitary Commission, written by ,
Dr.. Bellows, its able and in~defatigable !
secretary. I am happy to know that that f..
ioble organization, which has expended :
many millions for the benefit Of Union ,
oldiers favors the increase of pensions ,
opposes the establishment of State J
Homes. !
What Conservative Journals Said. '
Before the last veto message was sent in g
he Springfield Republican said of the .