The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-13
SOUTHERN SOLDIERS HOMES.
Appeal for the Boys in Gray By a
Mississippi Clergyman.
Open Letter to Congressman BarksIale
sufsriBgs Of Confsder .te Veterans Depic
tsd-P!an for r. ief Suggested.

tltlA Alt HdliiT t-Nhlf-s HAS UtEll 0tiiL ~
the Herald with request for its publi-
cation. The gentleman who sends il to
the Herald writes:
THE views o. Dr Marshall, apart
from the intrinsic force and eloquenee
with which he present them, are enti,
tied 10 attentive consideration from the
fact that they emauate from man who
not only during the war, but through
an eventful life, has consecrated himself
to the amelioration Of the condition Of
the unfortunate and afflicted"
Following is the letter:
DEAR SIR-You are aware that sew
cral fruitless schemes have been devised
10 establish soldiers home for the
needy veteran remnants of the COnfed-
crate army. The first attempt was male
while the Confederate Congress was in
the height Of its power. At the time
was supervising the numerous hospitals
aud depots Of home furnished supplies
which ] had organized for the relief of
Mississippi soldiers, sick, wounded or in
any way needy. 10 was voluntary un-
dcrtaking, but was sanctioned and sus
tanned by the officers in command and
by the distinguished SurgeOn-General,
DR., Moore. This task brought me into
daily contact with many soldiers who
were permanently disabled. Then the
imperative necessity for "a soldiers
home" flashed upon me like a signal for
instant action.
EXPORTS DURING THE WAR.
Consulting with several eminent mem
bcrs Of the Confederate Congress, your
self among others, and also the most
.iI.fTrafyf1raIaI yHianrg Of tho I
found encouragement and godspeeds on
all sides. Financially we realized that
at that period Congress could not un-
dertake the work; but We found such
assurances Of ample means for the pur-
chase of suitable property that it was
agreed. looking to a legal holding and
proper trust for donations and bequests,
that there should be obtained an act of
incorporation if possible. With your
counsel aud assistance bill was soon
introduced into the Hous Of Congress
for the execution of the purpose. Pub
Tic interest was increased and intensi-
fed, and letters with offers Of assistance
and invitations to visit and inspect sev
eral valuable properties deemed desir-
able for a soldiers home came almost
daily to our desk. Everything seemed
propitious for the realization of our
largest hopes.
To expedite the contamination of the
work | visited several States, examined
sites, buildings and various improve
ments, and keeping the moneyed side of
the task constantly in view, | became
satisfied that, with proper energy and
push we could make the enterprise
success. But, alasi when at last, after
long and wearisome delays, the bill had
passed both houses of Congress, it per
tshed-drowned in q drop of ink. SO
much labor, time and private means
had been spent in maturing the plans
all of which had so prematurely perish
ed-with battles constantly occurring
and new and multiplied duties demand
ing my attention, 1T was.nOt practicable to
make another effort then. Nor have my
private affairs since the elimination at
Appomattox permitted me TO carry into
execution one of the most cherished
purposes of my life-to-wit, establishing
of an ample soldiers home for these un-
fortunate men-the remembrance OF
whose heroic, self-sacrificing and manly
department will never perish until poe
try, eloquence and history shall sleep in
one common grave.
sUFFERINGs OF CONFEDERATE VET
ERANs.
Occasionally | see in the journals
notices of the need of and perhaps plans
TO rear and maintain such an lnstltu-
tion, 1t would give me great satisfac-
tion to see an effort made in that dlrec-
ton. Heaven only knows what pangs
of suffering and years of destitution and
helplessness many of those Confederate
soldiers have endured. Our poverty
demanded, and still demands, our ut
most energies to keep the wolf from the
door, and forbids the doing of hun
dred things to which our sympathles
incline us. Every manly heart has been
wrung with anguish at the sight OF
suffering, weariness and want among
our old veterans which they were power
less to relieve.
Ny object in addressing you at this
time is to revive your recolleehons OF
the efforts we made with Others in this
line of benevolent work, and to suggest
that it Is not even too late under other
and possibly more favorable auspices tor
US to make one more effort, but In
different direction.
THE CHAsM BRIDGED.
Presumably it is now everywhere ad-
mitted that the war is over, the bloody
chasm bridged, and that 1.-THE feelings
engendered by the war" have vanished
with the smoke of conflict. or if frac-
tional lot of rancid incurables remain,
which is simply possible because nature
in sheer sport loves at times to preserve
rare specimens of the survival OF the
unfittest, Just as a museum of ocean life
would be imperfect without an octopus,
so such by diligent search may be found
but, thank Heavenl their number Is
small and their power mlnlmlzed IN
nobler circles by enlightened patriotism
At any rae, the wave of brotherly love
moves on, and the day is rising when
the four points of the compass shall not
be suggestive of boundary and sectional
lines, but North and South remsin open
fields for the mutual play of the aifec.
tions and the brotherly interchange OF
commerce and Christian communion.
The late Continental Centenary Con
ference" of the Methodistic families and
churches, held in Baltimore, OF which
YOU, sir, were a member, and whict
represented a constituency, so to speak
of more than twenty millions Of citizens
was the most significant assemblage
both in a national and ecclesiastical re
lAIlOn 10 the CouuIiy du0 viz "
America, of which the imagination cal
conceive. Only a divine plummet cal
sound the depth of the meaning and i'm
portance of such meeting at this pecu
fiar iuncture of our moral and politics
outlook. 1t is enough, however, for m,
purpose in this reference to say that II
In the language of great statesman
the separation of the great Methods
Church lin 18434) is the first step i
the dissolution of the Union" the Ger
tenial conference reunited the sundere
chain of friendships and fraterna
union and gave the world fresh asst
rance of the stability of our govern
ment, its perpetual unity and the repr'
ductiye vitality of its essential force
That grand body of ecclesiastical state
men said, "Let the dead past bury II
dead.'
THE EVIDENCE OF REcoNCILIATIoN.
But what has this to do with asoldier
home? Much every way. If what
have said be true, then, ask, why ma
not the government and people procee
upon the same broad platform of tn
aonegation of the past and allow II
years ago-alas1 too long ago-that 20
VIII De ready to lend helping hand
salIy out the measure suggested shoul
raaaofai ra drift to carry forward TO CON
rs'lon the feioining of the broken lini