The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1891-02-13
HE SOLDIERS HOME.

5afdag II the E2use in advocacy of the
appropriation far tie Soldiers Hon by
LIZ Phil ) LsFoS. JR, of 7 aLkl:n,
IL. ALsroN Sat4:
Aa sPEAKER | an glad, sir, that
+ h Cerullue nos aJ last walked - 10
ae-y and that tie tDuch!ns a peal I
10 aag nee ed" from the pen
, on6 Of hec mos. eS lmab.e daughters.
tnd approved and endorsed by the kind,
-. raj nd pool,-hearted ladies all over
3ur and, has reached the eyes, ears and
aearts Of that grand body Of wise and
patriotic Senator's, who have, with that
nagnanlnous spirit which dWells within
the breast OF every true patriot, responded
as enly wise, just and reasonab'ea men
could do, and made by unanimous
vote the appropriation asked. Aud now,
Mr. Speaker, this modest, humane and
most worthy bill comes aud asks at our
hands, fellow members of the House of
Representatives, the same kind treat
ment it received from our neighbors.
1t IS now IN our power to do more, but
God forbid that the House shall do less.
Mr.. Speaker and Gentlemen, | we'll
remember when North Carolina sounded
the alarm of danger that SO rapidly bid
her patriotic sons come forward to offer
their services, ten regiments of volun-
teers were formed before she could for
mally call for State troops. And when
the formal call was made her sons, true
to the characteristics Of their ancestors,
rose up almost as one man and said
| to her "Mother we are here
at thy bidding and we intend
to defend thee, to battle for the right
to fight under thy banner and to under
go the suffering and perils of soldiers
life, and if need be our lifes blood shall
flow and our lives be given for thy def
ence. Mother we dare to do this for
thee and We ask the promise of thy assur-
| ance from thee, that our wives and little
ones whom we now leave on thy bosom
and IL thy care that thou will take them
n charge, keep them under the shadow
Of thy wings, and if we should fall and
our bones lie bleaching in distant land,
that yon will provide for their necessities
and enable the mothers to bring MP the
children IL the nurture and admonition
Of the Lord. And if we should be so
unfortunate as to lose our eyes, arms and
feet or be otherwise, injured
in thy defense 50 that we shall be unable
to maintain our families aud ourselves
We ask thee to see to it that we do no
suffer"
In answer to this, Sir, North Carolina
(our mother) our country, said to hel
gallant sons. through those who were
then in authority, her agents, SOUS O
Carolina:
''The great State of North Carolin;
desires to thank yon for your prompt
ness in flying to her rescue. She furthe
desires to say that she has heard you
reasonable and just request 10 take car
# AID provid for you ard your fami
les IN the event misfortanes should be
Il you SO that yea cannot do so. Res
assured shs VIII co her full duty and nc
one Of them sa i suffer"
Now, sir. oakor, as to how well
{ 3rsvely aud mob y the SO diers performe
/ 5eelr duty, 1t alstory and their surviv
iag eomradts tell and If that is not suffi
clelt ask you to visit the graveyard
# Virginia and Maryland and at GettyS
burg, and see how many Of her sou
sieep beneath the sod, and to the officia
reports Of the killed and wounded i
every battle from Bethel to Appomatto1
s And then, sir, | ask what has Mort
a Carolina as STATE done for the soldiers
Q with the exception Of small pension t
!, eeT tain classes for few years? NOTl
ING has been done, and now grieve |
say it, sir, many Ct these poor old mer
helpless and dependent on the charitit
8 Of the world, have been forced by the
poverty to ask US to pay debt we oV
. them and take them out of the publ
% poor houses and relieve them from III
!. told suffering.
. It is, sir, duty and a debt of graf
= tude which North Carolina cannot lol
10 ger neglect. To do so would be simp
- throwing water on and quenching ii
~ fame Of patriotism that should burn
r. the breast of every one who calls hin
a self man. Mr.. Speaker, to sing tt
n praises of any Of the gallant men
in North Carolina who fought in defence
70 their native state, had the honor to
o of that gallant band and with hardly
~ single exception from the humb!est pl
20 vate to the highest officer from our sta
n their conduct was noble brave al
a., praise worthy, and l forbear to ma
Al distinctions. [ earnestly hope, sir,
= will have unanimous vote for the a
rs preparation.