Year: 1867


! To the People Of Tennessee: You are
now appealed to in behalf of the destitute
/ Orphans of the Confederate Soldiers who
enlisted from the State of Tennessee and
offered up their lives for the land they loved
so we'll


There are two or three thousand of these
destitute children in the State-the sad
heritage of this cruel war. Their condition
Is eplorable-they are the helpless victims
of the most abiect suffering and want
Many of them have already found an Or
phans grave, and many more are rapidly ap-
preaching worse fatel


To just and honorable people this is a
most shameful reproach. Shall we turn our
backs upon these helpless Orphans-the off
spring of our noble heroes, whose honored
death has made their names immortal ?-the
pleadings of those little ones must be heard,
and every true man will answer Alright.
Certainly no one will plead the greatness of
losses in the presence of these fatberless
Orphans who have lost so much. Is net
the land for which the hero bleeds pledged
to give the Hero's Orphan happy home


VIII not a generous and brave people
ever feel it to be their highest duty to pro-
vide for the destitute Orphans Of their fallen
Soldiers? There is no escape from this
solemn duty The Soldiers were assured
again and again if they would go forth and
fight their countrys battles, their children
would never suffer. An honorable grave
tells how calamity and bravely they have
done their duty and this whole people are
solemnIy bound to provide for their father
less children A more sacred pledge never
bound the humen heart, than binds the peo-
pie of this State to provide for the destitute
Orphans Of their fallen Soldiers. And no
one who has the proud breathings Of man
would ever wish to repudiate it The solemn
pledge is as sacred as the Soldiers grave
Defenders of the precious dead, shall we
not pour the earnest pleadings of these
fatherless children upon the public ear until
these sacred pledges are all redeemed and
our noble State can proudly point to her
Orph4ns Home, lifting up its splendid pro-
portions on the fair banks of the Cumber-
land, the pride and glory of our land


Fair Daughters of Tennessee: 1t has
ever been your proud distinction to honor
the brave Your delicate hand alone can
wreath the chaplet for the Soldiers brow?
Y our gentle voice alone could soothe when
the stout and brave were stricken down
You softly wiped the cold sweat of death
from the Hero's brow-heard the last whis-
perings of ais departing spirit, and closed
his eyes for the grave Noble Women of
our State can you be Indifferent to the
helpless Orphans of these fallen Soldiers
that are now begging for shelter and bread
in the land that has been made immortal by
the baptism of their fathers blood In
this day of darkness and distress, still be
true TO yourselves Lay tribute upon all
that is yours, and with noble Offering push
on the sacred enterprise that pleads so
earnestly for your help.


10 deeds of charity, your tongue, your
pen, your hands, have never found an equal
Lend these wonderful energies to this
righteous cause, and the helpless Orphan,
now sinking to the grave, will yet live to
bless you with its smiles Of love And who
can tell but that the grateful spirit Of the
departed Sire may often whisper in your
ears dreams as bright and fair as the visions
of the blestl


Soldiers Of the Confederate cause am
sure the Tleadings of our fallen comrades
helpless Orphans viii not come before you
in vain Your generous hearts and liberal
hands have counted upon in accomplishing
this good work. Give me your energies, and
this grand enterprise can be made a splendid
success.


Help me with your tongue and pen to
plead this noble cause upon every ear.
Over many hard fought field, amid trials
and suferiDgs, we have struggled together
in cause alike dear to all: here let US strike
heart and hand again-the cause is as sacred
as the grave-never let US rest from our
labors until this grand enterprise is a COM
plete successI This Orphans Home is the
one splendid monument that the people of
the State should erect to the memory of
their precious dead Go aska dying soldier
what monument he prefers-a polished shaft
or Parian marble, or a Happy Home for his
helpless children :there is but one reply.
Then let US make this asylum what it should
be, Monumental Institution worthy of the
dead


There is not stand point from which the
pleadings of this Orphans cause does not
come with urgent force. Christianity lifts
up her sacred voice and pledges the constant
protection Of her God to the helpless Or
phan. Humanity pleads by every sentiment
that ennobles the human heart Patriotism
lifts up her strong voiee and sends it rolling
through the land, demanding that the Sol
diers' Orphans be rescued from destruction
and made blessing to the land for which
the Sire has bled.


Noble people Of the " Volunteer State :"