The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-01-25
The Dayton Asylum.

An efor. is being made by the enc
mics Of Senator Thurman, to place
him in a false position in regard to
his REMARKS, in reply to Senator .Sher-
man on the votes of the soldiers ut
the Dayton Asylum at the late cleo
ton, in which Robert Schenck was de-
feate | by Lewis D. Campbell. The
inference is being widely disseminated
that Judge Thurman is in favor of
DISTINGUISHING the invalid soldiers. whc
are confined in that Asylum, and
who are citizens of Ohio! The fact
Is. he ii -putes the right OF mo- citizen
OF Ohio to vote; hut he dos protect
against allowing illegal voters TO die
tate tn, elections at Dayton. To set
The Senator right, We quote what B.
F Butler. Chairman Of the managers
of the AsylunIs say, on that subject;
and then append the remarks CT tie
Senator 1t seems TO Us that no hon.
est man a differ with him on the
subject. The report of Butler, is as
follows:
There has been no more fruitful
source of trouble from beneficiaIies in
our homes tlan that of pensions, =
SO long as the pensioner has anyimon-
ey, as a rule, although there are some
notable excep. ions, We find that he
seems MT to be easy Until it is spent,
aud especially when he is under the
temptations of getting it to iufcilase
i~nioxicaiing liquors The Board l;av-
ing adopted as rule that when a NAN
j. able to transport himself, he shall
then be discharged and his pension
pail to him, we foun.l that just about
the time when the SIX months pen
sion Came round great numbers OF the
men whom We know to he the least
able to do SO. suddenly clai.acd to be-
come possessed with tile idea that they
could support themselves. without The
aid OF tn. Institution; and ~thereHpon
The officers in command, yielding to
the clamorous request of the men,
would approve their discharges, which
the President Of the Board of Mana
gers, upon such approval, would grant.
Inc beneficiary would leave the Asy-
lum, taking with him his ~pensioni pa
pers, which would avail him to- draw
his money for Il at payment at1east /;
and We find him in many cases in a.
few weeks. with money all spent in
debauch. leaving him frequently pros
tratei with disease. simply n burden
upon the charities of Others. and some
times IN the alms-house and other in
situations for paupers in the country.
Under these circumstances there would
be nothing la do but take him back,
although at renewed expense to the in
stItulion for transportation. X =,
If there are any disabled soldiers who
are-rot provided for, it is either he
cause they refuse to get 10 our inst.tu-
ton, or, having been, have SO con
ducte.l themselves after repeate | warn
ing as To tn consequences of their
conduct as to become nuisances and a
disgrace to the name of soldier, and
been therefore dishonorably DIS
or expelled And n:he mat
ter OF expulsion aud d~IsEonorable d s.
charge, the Board of Managers have
been very tender toward the sol Tiers.
have recognized the fact that
any uf them have. contracted the
vice OF drinking, which is the most
vie in the army; and for
alone, unless complicated with 9TH
ers mare dangerous. as a rule, we new
sr discharge or expel.
1.-The question Is frequently asked
Why disabled soldiers ware found in
he streets begging, sometimes grind
ng hand organs, sometimes in the
AIRS, sometimes soliciting charity at
he crossings, and sometimes in the
llms-houses. Why does not the Ma
ional Asylum take such soldiers up
md take care of them? 1t will be
erneml>ered that we have no power
compel the soldier to come to us;
can only take those that choose to