The Daily Dispatch: may 20, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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Take care of the volunteers' families.

We honor Vice-President Stephens for his recommendation to the community to take ears of the families of the volunteers. Many of these volunteers have wives and children dependent on their daily labor, and that means of support they have nobly given up for the defence of the State. We hesitate not to say that citizens of means who do not open their purses, and aid in proportion to their ability in supporting the families of those who are fighting their battles, are enemies of the country, and deserve the loathing and execrations of all honest men. Look at the noble example which such men as Bruce, of Halifax, and many other Southern gentlemen of wealth, are setting. That is an example which all men of property will imitate if they have hearts, or, in the absence of hearts, are guided by intelligent selfishness. The war of the Revolution could never have been achieved by the sword alone. The open purses of a generous people were ‘"the sinews of that war."’ Whose battles is the soldier fighting? Are they any more his own than of those who remain behind? We heard the other day of a poor volunteer, whose family had literally not half a dollar to provide for their wants. Such cases need only be known to be remedied. There are hosts of generous people in our community who only need to know that such facts exist to apply the proper corrective. But there ought to be no exceptions. Every man of wealth ought to pour out his money for the common cause as freely as others are pouring out their blood.