The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-16
10 the Members of the Common
Council of the City of Evansville,
and of the Board of Commissioners
of VandePburgh County.

GENTLEMEN. At recent meeting
of the branch of the Grand Army of
the Republic which is located in
the city of Evansville, and composed
of a large number of the discharged
Soldiers in Vanderburgh County, a
committee was appointed to address
you and the public at large on the cor
dition of that class of our late COM
rades who were disabled and the
families of those who died in the late
war. During the pastfew months the
organization referred to has done
much in the way Of furnishing aid in
cases of sickness and destitution, but
from the fact that the great majority
of its members are in INDECENT cir
cdmstances, their ability and resources
are. wholly inadequate to meet the
wants cf those whom they desire to
relieve. s
We proceed, then, to the discharge
of this duty, by an earnest request
that in your official capacity you may
take some early and favorable action
to furnish material aid to this class of
persons, and when it is impossible,
from the restrictions imposed by law
upon the action of your respective
Boards, to afford relief at public ex-
pense, we earnestly solicit your infu-
ence as private citizens in their be-
half. cara
We might readily excuse ourselves
from resorting to any semblance of
argument to convince you that this
class of our late soldiery have undis-
puted claims to both public and pri-
vate consideration, as it might be con-
strned into reflection upon yonr pa
triotism, or an imputation upon your
humanity. ,.e svsr1 ss,sssa
1t is generally conceded that their
claims are enforced by the most. sol
emng obligations of public faith, by
all the dictates of humanity, by every
precept of our holy religion.
The debt which the country owes to
them is perpetual, and it should be
remembered that it cannot be can
celed by the most liberal eulogy of
the press, or by acknowledgements of
gratitude in public assemblies.
But short time ago rapacions
enemy was at your very threshold.
Defiant and powerful they sought the
nations life-they sought to destroy
your commeree-to sack and pillage
your city, and to turn your families
houseless and homeless into the
streets.
Since that time the wheel of for
tune has made an eventful turn.
Those for whom we make this just
appeal, abandoning their homes and
the avocations of peaceful industry,
threw themselves as shield between
your homes and impending danger.
For years they were the only power
under heaven that could give you pro-
lection! Many went down in the con-
test, and many more, upon whose
breasts the waves of treason had spent
their widest fury, returned to homes
of poverty and want, disabled for life
and forever barred from entering the
lists as competitors in those branches
of trade and industry to which they
were formerly adapted. Ia
Others, whose interests were eqally
great, and whose duty to their country
equally obligatory, continued to pur-
sue their respective occupations, en-
joying the security afforded them by
their fellow citizens in the public
service, and many Of them growing
rich on commerce which owed its
very existence to the sacrifices of those
who had gone into the ARMY iI
We do not intend in these remarks
to speak in disparagement Of the en-
inent services rendered by our own
patriotic fellow citizens at home.
Many of them pursed the path of duty
with an eye single to the public good,
and their services were an essential
compliment ito the services performed
by the army in the field.
But it is nevertheless true that our
path of public duty led many of our
late comrades to disability for life,
and left many of their children father
less, while those who were obedient
to that call of duty, which confined
them to their business and their
homes, eenjoyed security of person.
exemption from all the rigors of war;,