New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-29
Relief Measures in Civil War
Left Largely to States and Frequently
Proved Inadequate
To the Editor of The Tribune.

o the EDITOR VI lHc iiIDuHts
Sir: Referring to your editorial "A Morn.
torium for Soldiers" and the news items "a.
gardng the proposed legislation, it seem.
that the consequences OF the lack Of such
legislation upon those who are dependent
upon the financial condition mot upon IN.
esrnings) Of the soldier have been somewhat
discounted. The need for such legislation
can best be attested by the conditions a.
other times, which made IL necessary 10 pro.
vide moratorium for soldiers.
During the Civil War the matters Of relief
for dependents and the moratorium proyj.
sions for volunteers were left TO the respec.
tive states. Some Of the states, particularly
those in the Middle West, passed Legislation
permitting counties and cities within the
states to make provision for the relief Of de-
pendents.
The recruiting campaigns which have been
the order Of the day for the last few months
also found their place during the Civil War.
But the orators at these meetings dwelt also
on the provisions which had been made, or
were contemplated, for the relief Of depen-
dents on the moratorium legislation, and
also on the bounties offered by the cities,
counties or states, as happened 70 be the
case.
Practically all the states passed Legislation
nrovidinp some relief for dependents. The
relief in most cases was about s. or IS
month. Many found that the relief was in.
sufficient, while quite few volunteered
under the presumption that whatever relief
would be granted would be sufficient TO pro-
vide for the dependents. Historical data
tend to indicate, however, the heroism mani
Tested by those members Of family whose
breadwinners had Joined the co!ors. The
soldiers paw was immeasurably smaller than
that of to-day, yet a goodly portion wss re-
turned to the dependents, despite many az.
thoritative statements that more could have
been sent and despite the allotment pro-
visions in several states. Many localities
passed volunteer tax legislation to provide
funds for dependents.
Some of the letters Of volunteers relatives
and dependents are Of interest, and serve 10
indicate the willingness TO accept the cir.
cumstances A wife writes to the Governor
of Western state that she was depending
on the few loyal men that are left" She
added that she would do what she could and
expressed the hope that a draft would take
the men who ought to go. She felt that
perhaps those hesitated because the fami-
lies of those that went on the first call have
been so neglected by the state and general
government" Another wrote There are 50
MANY now left as | am that We scarce can
find enough to do TO keep want from our
doors, And still another, perhaps you can
devise some means by which the rich may
help support the poor in this time Of need
Another, "My son told me ! would be pro.
vided for; thai means had been provided TO
supply every mother that sent son.
We are very lonely, and being destitute
makes us downhearted. have a good home,
but cannot sell at all. II there were busIne.
here so could have boarderS would not
ask assistance" Carl R. Fish, Social Relief
During the Civil War, American Historical
Review
The moratorium laws in general provided
for the continuance of suits during the en-
listment for the Difference OF sale OF prop
erty for delinquency in payment Of taxes,
and some statutes provided for the suspen-
sion of the statute of limitations in the case
of obligations due soldiers. Other statutes
exempted volunteers from all civil process,
and one state provided legislation exempans
volunteers from arrest for any cause except
treason.
Needless TO say there were many instances
of dissatisfaction on the part OF those whose
relatives had volunteered. The following
quotations from letters are of interest:
young wife writes that his foxes keep HIM
from doing anything for her." wife
writes, "He is kind man to his family and
he is near sited and he has kidney COM
plant and he is A years old and he can't DO
good for much there" Another asks for
pass to Cincinnati to visit dying mother.
"Oh for the love of mercy do, dear Governor,
grant me a pass" A young lady about TO go
South asks "a Wet-Nurse commission or
some other instrument in writing Gbid)
EDWARD BIELE,
Member American Historical Association.
New York Sept. %, 1917.