West-Jersey pioneer., 1873-03-07
The Legislature at the Soldiers Chill
dren's Home.

Legislature to visit the Soldiers Chill
dren's Home, near Trenton, was carried
out, on Wednesday of last week, in a
very creditable manner
The Senate did not hold session,
and the House adjourned over to this
morning especially to attend the annu-
al exhibition at the Home It has been
customary to hold the anniversary on
the 22nd of February, but that day oc-
curing this year on Saturday, the annu-
al event was postponed until Wednes-
day.
Carriages left the State House at two
o'clock to carry members of the Legis-
lature and State officers to the Home
At half-past two o'clock the Home was
already crowded and by the time the
exercises began there it became impos-
sible to find even standing room in the
school room The room was handsome
ly decorated with flags.
General Sewel presided, and calling
the assemblage to order said: we are
here, at this institution, founded by the
State, to see the children and to exam
inc the institution He said he would
introduce one who did as much as any
man, in providing this Home for the
Soldiers children He was the friend
of your fathers and the friend of all the
oldiers-Governor Joel Parker.
Gov. Parker then addressed the
children and citizens generally, in
brief speech, in which he referred to the
interest he had taken in the sustaining
of this institution. He then referred
to the investigation he had made into
certain charges made upon vague r1l-
NOR, as to the treatment of the children.
He had appointed commission com
posed of gentlemen of high character,
one of them a Major General This
commission had reported through him
to the Legislature, that the charges
were entirely unfounded, and that no
institution in the country was better
governed He was glad to see the chill
dren, and glad to see that they were
improving and getting their education.
He then spoke of the institution and
the State. He would not call it a char
ity. The sustaining of this institution
was duty. No State in the Union
had taken so good care of her soldiers,
and provided SO well for the children
they left behind them. Besides this
institution, where the children of the
soldiers are cared for and educated, we
have an institution at Newark, where
those soldiers who were disabled in the
late war are taken care of. He thought
Congress should give the State por-
tion of the funds that are now expend-
ed at the four national Institutes, be
cause to send the soldier far from his
home amounts to denial. The mot
to of New Jersey is to take care of the
soldier and the children he has left be-
hind. If we do not show the proper
gratitude to the soldier, what right
have we to look for his services, in case
we should be so unfortunate as to have
another war? New Jersey says to her
soldier, You shall not be compelled to
60 to an aims house, nor your children
to beg bread.
The remarks of the Governor were
The entertainment by the children |
then commenced, and it was specially |
to all present.
The President of the Senate, Hon. |
John W. Taylor, was next introduced. |
He spoke briefly, and alluded to the
grand record of General Sewell, and
said it was better than all the orations
ever written or delivered He would |
rather have it. He spoke with great |
deal of satisfaction of the Institution,
md the pride he felt that the State
was doing such noble work He felt |
that her resources were in these chill |
lren. He saw in them intellects that |
would bring dignity and honor to the
State
The President told the boys that if
hey never succeeded in rising to the |
lignity of member of the Legislature
of New Jersey, not to feel disappointed.
The young ladies need not be discour-
sged if they should not become con-
1ected in life with a member of the
Legislature. 1t was dignity not to
De envied, and it was a dignity that
very few would accept He
closed by advising the children to keep
IN improving, and become an honor to
he State that had taken care of them
He felt that all that this Institution
wanted, the State was willing to give.
Senator Cutler, General Carse and
others made impressive speeches.
After singing 'Marching through
Georgia. the children then marched
nto the dining room, where bountiful
'epast was spread for them,
The occasion was one OF more than
interest, and made most
lecided impression on all present.