Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-01-25

sustained by the testimony in writing oi
some other person Of acknowledged resi-
dence in the township or precinct. The
cases coming under these specific provi,
sions must ordinarily be few in number
and give but little delay or embarrassment nj
to the election Board, while the safe
guards furnished against fraudulent vo.
ting are most obvious. In the one class
Of cases the registry constitutes the evi.
dence Of the right to vote, and in the 9th,
er class the written afidavits, and there
can be no question as to the legality OF
both provisions. 1t is quite possible that
a better method can be adopted as to ca
ses Of late residence, than that prescribed
by the Legislature Of Illinois, which
have referred to only to show one plan
which is in use.
/ commend the subject to your earnest
and immediate attention, trusting that the
state Of the public mind and the condi.
ton Of parties are such that there will be
no hesitation in any quarter in effectinp
the much needed reform.
SOLDIERS AND sEAMEN's HOME.
When the war ended and our armies
were mustered out Of the service, and hos
pitals broken up, there were many gallant
soldiers who were disabled by wounds and
diseases contracted in the service from
making their own living aud taking care
Of themselves. Many Of them we're with
out home and without friends, who must
either pass into the common poor house
Of the country as paupers, be subsisted by
private charity, or provided for by the
State. The support furnished by private
charity would be precarous and uncer.
tain, and justice. humanity, and the honor
Of the State forbade that these men should
suffer for the comforts of life, or find that
the poor house and the society of paupers
should be the end and reward Of their
campaigns, in which they had sacrificed
their health and capacity to provide for
themselves. The State had called them
to the field, and they had nobly responded
by abandoning their occupations, leaving
behind them family, friends, the comforts
aud plensares of life, and entered the army
to fight for a cause in which they had no
greater interest than those who remained
at homo to pursue their avocations and
live quietly and safely with their families
and friends.
1t was not charity, ii was not benevo-
lence on the part Of the people of the
State to make liberal aud generous pro-
vision for these men, but it was duty
than which none could be higher or more
sacred. Accordingly, to meet immediate
lap de fow IN fpo Ia a
measure imperatively demanded by hu.
manity and the strongest obligations, on
the 18th day of May, 1865, issued an
address for the purpose Of enlisting the
sympathies Of the people in establishing n
Soldiers and Seamen's Home, and in
pursuance Of the invitation contained in
il two successive meetings were held at
Indianapolis for the purpose of effecting
temporary organization OF Home for
disabled Indiana soldiers and seamen, and
to institute a system for the collection of
voluntary contributions sufficient ulti-
mately to place it on permanent founda-
ton.
AT the second Of these meetings, held
on the 24th day of May, 1865. Temporal
ry organization was effected, the basis Of
which will be seen by reference to a copy
Of the proceedings Of said meeting here
with respectfully submitted. The tempo
rary Home was opened in the City Hospi-
ta Building Of indianapolis, on the 9th
day Of August, 1865, and up to the Both
day of November, 1866, the number of
men admitted was 22l. OF this number
134 have been discharged, fourteen have
died, and seventy.six remain in the Home.
Early last spring the Board of Directors
purchased the property known as the
"Knigbts,own Springs" in Rush county,
at cost Of $500, TO which place the
Home was removed on the 10th day OF
April. The total expense Of maintaining
the Home from the time il was opened
until the Both day of November last, not
including the cost Of purchase, is sl7,-
060 81. This includes the salaries Of Of
6cers. If we add to the above sum the
cost Of purchase, 1t will make the sum Of
s25, 500 81, all Of which has been raised
by private contribution.
herewith submit abe report Of DIR.
Wishard, the excellent and successful Su-
perintendent OF the institution, and quote
from il the following extract, as descrip-
tive of the property which has been pur-
chased:
"rhe farm consists Of fifty-four (54)
acres of excellent land, thirty five (35) OF
which are under cultivation-the balance
beautiful grove of forest timber. The
buildings are large and commodious, af
fording ample room for about one hun
dred patients. They we're, however, much
dilapidated and out Of repair, but have
been repaired until they are now very
comfortable. Some additions have also
been made, in the way of hospital build
ings, which are Of great advantage in the
treatment Of the sick and wounded"
AS lingering wounds, disease and old
age do their work, the number Of men to
be cared for must largely increase for
some years, and the question is presented,
in what manner the institution shall be
maintained?
Thus far it has been built up and sup
ported by private contribution, resulting
from the labor Of few men, but it can
not be kept in operation longer in this
way. The obligation to support our disa-
bled veterans rests equally upon all, while
the number Of persons who give by pri-
vate contributions is small, and they are
already tired and demand that the burden
shall be made to fall upon all the psople
according to their capacity to pay. That
this demand is just and patriotic, | will
not further argue, and earnestly recon-
xaaad thaf aora aifiaaa ha annni rad 10