The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-12-11
REPORT OF rmE sECRETARv
WAR.

RELIEF OF YELLOW FEVER SUFFERERS.
For statement in detail concerning the
issue, by my order, of ratiOns 10 yellow fe-
yer sufferers in the Southern States [ re fer
TO the report of the Commissarv General Of
Subsistence. Ii will be seen from that re-
port that while there was no statute to au-
thorize the orders given in the premises,
they were not unprecedented similar ac-
ton having been taken by the government,
through this department, on several previ-
GUS occasions. II, however, no such prece-
dent had been found, think the circumstan-
ces of the case would have fully iusJifie the
action taken.
SO terrible was the suffering Of many com
munitieS, 50 alarming the destirution and
want occaSiOned by the cessation OF business.
transportation aud travel, that il became a
duty OF both government and people, made
i'm perative by law and humanity, to extend
all possible relief. The fearful ravages Of
this terrible disease constituted an eytraOr-
binary calamity which required that aid
should be grained. In ordering the issues
in question, no vever, thought 10 necessary
To adopt as rale tor mY guidance that gov
eminent ri should u"E b * ended except
In cases OF graf rm 'rg+urY, aud when no
other Md OF rriiet WA, possible, and that
rule has been strictly adhered to. In addi-
ton TO the issue OF rations, as shown by the
report OF the Cpmmissary General, tents
were issued as Il loan, as follows:
August l5-lOOO Common tents to Mem
phis.
August 2O-2OO common tents to vicks-
burg.
August 2l-2OO common tents to Grena-
da.
August 1880 common tents to Mem
phis.
September 7-25 common tents to Match
eZ.
September all hospital tent to Donald
sonville.
September 2I-7O common tents to Chat
tanooga.
Also a small supply OF medicines was is
sued to Grenada. respectfully recommend
that Joint resolution be passed by Congress
approving and legaliziug these issues
l would recommend to Congress the care
full consideration of the question whether
such emergencies in the future may not be
provided for by law, bV conferTing authOri-
to act upon the President. 1t il be practi-
cable the law should be so framed as never
to leave an executive officer under the ne
cessity OF acting outside G the statutes
In this connection have further to re-
port that by means raised from private con-
tributorS, the steamer John M. Chambers
was chartered, loaded with supplies and
medicines for the relief OF the sufferers, and
sent from st. louis, down the Mississippi
river, upon her voyage of charity. A re-
quest having been made for an officer of
the army to command the expedition, First
Lieut.. Hiram Ill. BenneT, of the Eighteenth
Infantry, and Second Lieut.. Charles 5. Hall,
OF the Ihlrteenth Infantry, volunteered for
that hazardous duty, and in its performance
the former lost his lie, having died of yell
low fever, at Vicksburg, on the seventeenth
day of October last.
Lieut.. Benner was a man of high charac-
ter, and young officer of uncommon mer-
it. He leaves a widow and two infant chill
dren and it Is respectfully submitted that
| Congress should, without delay, take such
| action as Will recOgniz and give proper eX-
preston to the nations gratitude for the
| self-sacrificing heroism which characterized
| his conduct and led to the sacrifice of his
| life. / earnestly recommend the passage
Of an act granting pension to his widow,