Year: 1866

Mr.. PRESIDENT: have watched with
much interest the progress of this bill, and
have been somewhat surprised at the treat
ment il has received at the hands OF this
body. Every line and every word has re-
ceived the most careful scrutiny, and every
dollar sought to be appropriated has mag
nihed to the dimensions of afull moon, and
the able chairman of the committee (the
SepatOr from. Licking) who reported the
bill, has been compelled to spend several
hours In defending the measure from what
Iconceive to be merely captions criticism.
And, sir, have been somewhat amused to
witness the striking contrast between the
action of to-day and the action that has
been taken in this body during the last two
or three years. Why sir, during the time
have occupied seat on this floor, and dur
ing the time these unfortunate men were
being coaXed, bought, or driven, into the
army, have seen barrels of tears shed
in this chamber, all eminating from pure
and unadultrated sympathy for the poor
soldier. | have heard at least five hundred
speeches, purely sympathetic in their char
acter, not particle of bumcOmb in any OF
them, all for the benefit of the poor and
suffering soldier. And yet, to-day, in the
Senate of Ohio, two-thirds of its members
having been blown into their present posi-
tions by the potent force OF gunpowder
alone, we find the chairman of the commit
tee, soldier himself, battling almost single
handed and alone, in favor of the bill he
has reported for the relief of the manned
and wounded soldiers of Ohio, to prevent
them from becoming inmates of the several
poor houses of the State, as county paupers.
Now sir, | believe the committee that re-
ported this bill have done their duty, their
whole duty, ably and faithfully, and will
vote for this bill though it may drain the
bottom dollar from the State Treasury.
do it because | believe it to be my duty,
and because believe my constituents viii
fully and cordially indorse my action. Sir,
it is not wise, it is not just, it is not mag
unanimous, to commence retrenchment
when subjects of this character are before
us. II you will place upon the tax dupli-
cate, the uDtaXed property of Ohio as you
should do, it would raise revenue suf-


licient to support all the destitute soldiers
of the State; and II the wealth OF the State
is not taxed to support them, its poverty
must be. Now, sir, while have never
been an advocate of the war in manner and
form and for all the purposes for which it
was prosecuted, and while | have never
been or sought to be the special champion
of soldiers or soldiers rights, and while
have never pandered to the spirit of bum
comb on this subject, which have
SO often seen exhibited on this floor, |
feel that Justice and the honor OF
| the State alike demand that we
should make ample provision for the sup
port of our wounded and destitute soldiers,
| and not permit them to drag out misera-


BILE existence as county paupers. Your
committee, who have fully and carefully
examined this subject, report that there are
two hundred and sixty of these soldiers


now at the Soldiers Home; that they are


from all parts of the State, wounded, Grip
pied and destitute, utterly unable to earn a
| living for themselves. Who, then, should


provide for them but the State? and where


is there a taxpayer in the State who does
| complain or would complain of any tax


they are called upon to pay for the support


of our numerous benevolent institutions!


and while we pay our thousands annually


for the support of the Insane, the Blind,


and the Deaf and Dumb, | know OF


no good reason why we should not In
like manner support the soldier, who
! has become a cripple for life in the SER


vice of his country. But it is urged


that this Institution should not become


permanent; that most of our crippled and
| destitute soldiers prefer staying with their


friends at their respective BONES. This ar
| gument is good as far as IL goes Dut What


will you do with those who are both home


less and friendless? This is the class that
| we are now called upon to provide for;
shall we refuse? / trust we shall not
| Many of these men are from the Fatherland
and the Emerald Isle; the sturdy German
and the eXcitable lrishman have alike


found their way into our armies, and their


bravery on the battle field is attested by
the best military men of the country. To-
day we find many of them far from their
native lands without kith or kindred on
this continent, poor and destitute, appeal
ing for charity; NO. They are appealing for
that justice which they have a right to de-
mand at the hands of the people of Ohio
Sir, believe this bill ought to pass without
a dissenting voice.