Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-01

HOMES FOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Veterans Uniting in Petition to Con
gress-Gen. brakes Views.

ven J Dfh lefe0fNW.
4 Iele0Tda representative called upon
General J. Madison Drake, the com
mander Of the Veteran zOua1es, Of Eliza
beth, -, at his office in that city, TO-
dav, in order u learn why the OTganiZa-
ton which be commands had decided 10
petition Congress to provide home for
INDECENT ex-Confederate sOluiers. In an
swer to the reporters inquiry, General
Drake said:
The Veteran Zouayes adopted the re-
solution because their hearts have long
gone out 10 the brave and distressed eI
soldiers Of the Confederate service, many
Of whom we know 70 be IN INDECENT cir
cumstance.. several /Ouaves who re-
Gently returned from an extended visit
through the South found numbers Of eE-
COnfederates without home or shelter,
and they determined to do what in their
power lay 10 ameliOrate the condition Of
those who once confronted them in battle
array. We have seen men who held high
rank in the Confederate service, appointed
By the government TO various positions,
even called 10 the Cabinet % advise with
the presiQent but we have failed 10 see
the more unfortunate ones recognized or
cared for in any way. The Veteran ZOu-
ayes were the first Union soldiers TO invite
their Confederate brethren 70 the family
table. and the welcome which we gave TO
General Roger \. Pryor, Colonel L. ;.
Edwards, and DINER chieftains, Will never
be forgotten By those who participated IN
the pleasures Of that beautiful October
day. since AppOmattOX, the men Who
did the lighting during the war have been
DESTROYS Of letting hygOnes be bygOnes.
The generous terms given to the magni-
ficent Lee and his warriors OF hundred
battles by the greatest General Of modern
times, caused 100000 Of us TO 20 to Chi
cago in June, 1868, and nominate our
noble leader for the highest Office within
the gift Of the nation, and we did this be-
cause we had unbOunded faith that he
would never allow the C0nfederates to be
impOsed Upon. But between the carpet
bageers who oyerran the South, and
ring Of disreputable politicians at the
North. the people Of thai section were
plundered and debt heaped upon them
which II will take long years to relieve
themselves from. Meanwhile many Of the
unfortunate soldiers Of the South, very
few Of whom had any influence IN Orgina-
ting the wicked war, are now M need, and
the Veteran Iouayes, all Of whom are vete-
rams In the strictest sense Of the word,
feel il to be their duty to urge Congress to
do some thing to relieve their necessities.
We believe that these men have suffered
enough through the folly Of designing
men. and that it is simply an act Of JUS
ticc for our government 10 pfONlGe q
home for such Of them as may stand IN need
thereof-a place where ali who wish 70
avail themselves Of lis privileges may
gather together in peace, and find the
comforts Of which they have so long been
deprived. The brave men thus provided
for VIII then be enabled to pass their few
remaining days in comparative comfort,
and by it those who are to follow Will hon
or and Justify the benefceaoe Of govern,
ment which is at all times prepared to
punish its enemies or care with fatherly
love for It's penitent, hayward children.
The Veteran Zouayes confidently appeal
to their comrades Of the Union army,
whose ranks are fast thinning, to assist
in s.laudable effort for when we all shall
be summoned for roll call in that great en-
campment acrosa the silent river, those
we leave behind VIII remember
Glow one wore the gray and the other the
blue:
How we passed away from the sight,
To 20 to the land where the gray and the
blue
re merged in colOrs of light"