Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-23
bONFEDERAFR ORPHANS.
address by the Tennessee Orphan Asy'
IuIrl--FonehIng Appeal On Behalf Of a

Autn-~hoAaN8AsAS - PpSNA - A'tHAf--- - -
Noble Charity.
% the People Of Tennessee: YoH are now
appealed to in behalf Of the destitute or
phans Of The Confederate soldiers who en-
listed from the State of Tennessee and
Offered up their lives for the land they
loved 50 we'll. es sF
There are two or three thousand Of these
destitute childen in the State-the sad herit-
age OF this cruel war. Their condition is
deplorable-they are helpless victims of
the most abiect suffering and want. Many
Of them have already found an orphans
grave, and many more are rapidly approach
ing a worse fate FF st
To just and honorable people this is a
most shameful reproach. Shall we turn our
backs upon these helpless orphans-the Of
spring of our noble heroes whose honored
death has made their names immortal Pa
the pleadings Of those little ones must be
heard, and every true man will answer
Alright Certainly no one will plead the
greainess Of his losses in the presence of
these fatherless orphans who have lest so
much. Is not the land for which the hero
bleeds pledged to give the hero's orphan
happy home
Viii not a generous and brave people
ever feel it to be their highest duty to pro-
vide for the destitute orphans of their fallen
soldiers There is no escape from this
solemn duty. The soldiers were assured
again and again if they would go forth and
fight their country's battles, their children
Would never suffer. An honorable grave
tells how gallantly and bravely they have
done their duty, and this whole people are
solemnly bound to provide for their father
less children. A more sacred pledge never
bound the human heart, than binds the
people of this State 70 provide for the desti-
tute orphans of their fallen soldiers. And
no one who has the proud breathing of a
man would ever wish to repudiate it. The
solemn pledge is as sacred as the soldiers
grave! Defenders of the precious dead
shall we not pour the earnest pleadings of
THESE fatherless children upon the public
ear until these sacred pledges are all re-
deemed, and our noble State eau proudly
point to her orphans home, lifting up its
splendid proportions on the fair banks of
the Cumberland, the pride and glory of our
land?
Fair daughters Of Tennessee: 1t has
ever been your proud distinction TO honor
the brave Your delicate hand alone can
wreath the chaplet for the soldiers brow
Your gentle voice alone could soothe when
the stout and brave were stricken down.
You softly wiped the cold sweat of death
from the hero's brow--keard the last whis-
perings of his departing spirit, and closed
his eyes for the grave! Noble women of
our State can you be indifferent to the
helpless orphans of these fallen soldiers,
that are now begging for shelter and bread
in the land that has been made immortal
by The eaptism Of their fathers blood In
this day Of darkness and distress, still be
trne to yourselves! Lay a tribute upon all
that is yours, and with a noble offering
push on the sacred enterprise that pleads
SO earnestly for your help.
In deeds of charity your tongue, your
pen, your hands, have never found an equal =
Lend these wonderful energies to this
righteous cause, and the helpless orphan,
now sinking to the grave, will yet live to
bless you with its smiles of love And
who can tell but that the greateful spirit of
the departed sire may often whisper in your
ears dreams as bright and fair as the visions
Of the blest Tts7 tl.ttr.s
Soldiers of the Confederate calse ! am
sure the pleadings of our fallen comrades
helpless orphans will not come before you
in vainl Your generous hearts and liberal
hands | have counted upon in accomplish
ing this good work Give me your energies,
and this grand enterprise can be made a
splendid success. Help me with your
tongue and pen to plead this noble cause
upon every ear. Over many a hard fought
field, and trials and sufieripgs, We have
struggled together in a cause alike dear to
all here let us strike heart and hand
again-the cause is as sacred as the grave
and never let us rest FROM our labors until
this grand enterprise is complete success!
This orphans home is the one splendid
monument that the people of the State
should erect TO the memory of their pre-
eious dead. Go ask dying soldier what
monument he prefers-a polished shaft of
Parian marble, or happy home for his
helpless children, there is but one reply.
Then let us make this asylum what it should
be, monumental institution worthy of the
dead.
There is not Stand point from which
the pleedings of this orphans cause does
not come with urgent force. Christianity
lifts up her sacred voice and pledges the
constant protection ofher God to the help
less orphan. Humanity pleads by every
sentiment that ennobles the human heart
Patriotism lifts mp her strong voice and
sends it rolling through the land, demand
ing that the soldiers orphans be rescued
from destruction and made blessing to the
land for which the sire has bled.
Noble people of the "Volunteer State: "
The orphan children of your fallen soldiers
are before you. They have no brave father
now to protect them from suffering and
want in the fierce conflict of life. Listen
to the last word of the brave soldier as he
dies on the battlefield: "To my God and
my country | commend my fatherless chill
dren" Hear the piteous cry of the little
ones as they stand trembling at the door of
your happy homes: Our noble father died
for the land that gives us neither shelter nor
bread" Oh my countrymen who, that
has the heart of a man, a Christian, SOL
der, can bearthis shameful reproach The
noble enterprise to establish an orphans
home is now before you. Let us sustain il
literally, and make it what it should be-
the very pride Of our land. With one united
effort let us rescue these orphan children
from their deplorable condition and make
them a blessing to the land for which their
sires have bled.
. The Tennessee Orphan Asylum has been
located at Clarksville, Tennessee, accessible
by railroads to all parts of the State A
beautiful place Of $50 acres of land, with
good improvements, has been secured at a
cost Of S25, 900, about two-thirds of which
has been paid, and the establishment well
furnished. The institution is in successful
operation. Including the officers Of the in-
stitution and the necessary employees, only
a few more orphans can be accommodated
until additional buildings are erected. To
enlarge this asylum TO the dimensions Of
State Institution, 50 that every county can
send its destitute orphans to it, will require
a large amount of means. Hence, the peo-
pie Of the State are urged TO make a large
cash donation i,n1leijateiy, to put up and fur
nish the necessary bindings, and also to
make liberal annual subscription 10 sustain
the orphans from year to year until the in
stitution can be made selfsustaining. The
annual subscriptions are indispensable to
the success Of the enterprise. II will not
4 A.. H. ,-,-.,-,1 b,,t1-ol or.r,bope ~.