ppliances, without hospital
supplies, and, above all, worse than all, without SYSTEM, there lay the
defenders of our national life, their wounds baking in the hot sun,
worms devouring their substance while yet the breath of life kept their
desolate hearts beating. Doing all that could be done on the spot, and
bringing away all who could be brought, the Governor returned, sending
the adjutant-general back on the same errand, and going himself a second
time as soon as a new supply of surgeons and sanitary stores,
contributed by private kindness, could be got together. And so on, as
long as the necessity existed. The great expenses involved in the relief
and transportation of many thousands of sick and wounded, expenses
unusual and not provided for by law, were gladly borne by the State, and
careful provision was made against the recurrence of the evil. May our
Heavenly Father in His great mercy so order the future as to make these
preparations unnecessary, wise and humane though they be! Says Governor
Yates:

'I have hope for my country, because I think the right policy has
been adopted. There remains but one other thing to make my
assurance doubly sure; and that is, I want to see no divisions
among the friends of the Union in the loyal States. Could I know
that the people of the Free States were willing to ignore party,
and resolved to act with one purpose and one will for the vigorous
prosecution of the war and the restoration of the Union, then I
should have no doubt of a happy end to all our difficulties. * * *

'If the members of this General Assembly, and the press and people
of Illinois, in the spirit of lofty patriotism, could lay aside
everything of a party character, and evince to the country, to our
army, and, especially to the secession States, that we are one in
heart and sentiment for every measure for the vigorous prosecution
of the war, it would have a more marked effect upon the suppression
of the rebellion than great victories achieved over the enemy upon
the battle field. For, when the North shall present an undivided
front--a stern and unfaltering purpose to exhaust every available
means to suppress the rebellion, then the last prop of the latter
will have fallen from under it, and it will succumb and sue for
peace. Should divisions mark our councils, or any considerable
portion of our people give