Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-07-16
FORT MEIGS
DEMANDS OF JUSTICE AND PAc
TRTO1ISM.


Pho commissioners apppinted,to select n
ate for the Soldiers Home have visited
several localities and have nppoinimcl Is
10 visit number Of other applicants for
the Home. Could the people Of iho,e
localities DO induced 10 visit Fort Meigs-
u they could zee how admirably adapted it
is Tor SUCH an Institution, aud then conril
er the fact that this may he the only man.
ner in which this sacred spot aud the
graves Of tho patriots sleeping there can
be properly cared for-perhnps every MP
picntion would he Withdrawn IN favor Of
Fort Mcigs. The people Of Ohio have
shown themselves 10 he emincntly patriotic
and jralodsly mindful, OF those who gave
their lives for their country. Now that nm
opportunity ia offered for paying debt Of
gratitude 10 the brave defenders of For,
Meigs, the vote 10 improve that orporun-
ity would he unanimous, could the ques-
ton he submitted 10 them in its proper
light.
II must he remembered that when those
patriots laid down their lives for their
country, there were no transportation IA
ciliiies by means Of which the bodies could
be sent 10 their friends This condition
remained for many years after the war.
| II was necessary TO bury them ut the fort.
Even the names Of the dead, as rule, were
not preserved. They were buried by
States; that is, Ohioans were buried in
one locality, Pennsylvaians in another.
Kentuckians in another, and 80 on. That
was the only distinction observed. These
graves have been reasonably well protected
They are to-day distinctly marked, and If
Ohio will locate her Soldiers Home there
the most fitting spot In all the State no
doubt each State having soldiers buried
there would erect suitable monument nj
the graves Of their gallant sons. This they
cannot be asked 10 do until they can have
some assurance that the grounds will be
properly protected and cared for.
The committee have not yet fixed upon
date for their visit. II such thing
could be brought about, it would be we'll
to have excursions from every competing
point TO Fort Meigs OH this occasion. No
doubt they would all unite In endorsing
the sentiments expressed by ex President
Hayes, Chief Justice Waite and other dis
linguished cititizens on the occasion OF
their visit to the old Fort. Cannot ar
arrangements lie made with the railroads to
give excursions to Fort Megs on that oc-
casion? A an additional inducement for
them to visit that historic ground, ar.
rangements could be made to give them
fiee ride 10 the Islands-to the locality
where Commodore Perry and his brave
men shed such lustre upon American valor.
This subject IL one which rises high
above mere local Influences and appeals TO
every sense OF justice and every sentiment
OF patriotism. Ohio owes il TO the sons OF
her sister States, who came TO her rescue IN
the hour of peril to save the lives and
property OF her hardy pioneer settler, to
pay proper respect to the memory Of those
who never returned to their homes TO tell
of the trials and hardslips endured. This
duty has been too long neglected. Now,
when it can be performed without any
~ ;inl Appropriation for that purpose
when she can gather her old soldiers upon
that delightful and sacred spot, and when
these living soldiers wonld find pleasure
In caring for the graves of the dead heroes
OF the past-the great State oi Ohio cannot
affored 10 neglect SO plain duty. The
people of this great Maumee Valley, who
are more alive to this duty OF the State
than those living remote from the battle
fields which were saturated with patriotic
blood when this country was yet a wilder
meas, shonld be specially active now and
see:that this opportunity TO discharge
debt of gratitude-to respond to sentiments
OF justice and patriotism-is not allowed
to pass unimproved,