Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/346

 340 Southern Hurt/triced Society Papers.

NOT THE GOVERNMENT S PROVINCE.

4. That the United States, moved by the spirit of humanity, fra- ternity, and magnanimity to sympathy with those who have suffered by the casualties of war, desire to contribute to the alleviation of the necessities of those who are unable to support themselves.

This recital undoubtedly presents a case of misery for the heartiest sympathy and for the most urgent effort in every proper quarter to relieve it. But it is very much to be doubted whether under any circumstances whatever it is the true mission of government to re- lieve suffering by appropriations from the public treasury, except where it has been occasioned by labor in its service; and the wisest and best men claim that such appropriations tend to produce a paternalism in government, a want of self-reliance in the citizen, which go to sap the foundations of that liberty for which our fathers and Confederate soldiers conspicuously fought and became heroes.

PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.

The bill itself provides for the payment by the United States of five per cent, interest per annum on the amount of the captured abandoned property, to be paid over to the Southern States at definite periods in the proportions to each State established by the provision made by each State for its disabled soldiers.

It will be readily seen that in the case of those States which have made no provision for their disabled soldiers, no bounty is created for them, and that the principle is established that where there is the most misery there shall be the least relief, and that where the largest charity is extended it shall be rewarded by a bounty, which, in that case, would not be needed.

The bill, to s\im it up, is illogical throughout, and a non-sequitur from premises, which, in their important parts, are as incorrect as they are improper to be pleaded.

TO OUR GOOD FORTUNE.

We must not conclude this report without saying that the failure of the Government of the United States to provide for our disabled soldiers has resulted most fortunately for the manhood and woman- hood of the South. Notably, it has caused the formation through-