Washington sentinel., 1855-01-10
gotal anb 4frsonal.

Great Britain, again met, yesterday morning, at
ten o'clock, in the first Presbyterian church.
The proceedings were opened with prayer from
tho Rev. Mr.. Westbrook, Of New York, who il
was said, served as chaplain durng the
So well pleased with il were the veterans that,
by vote, they requested copy of il for publica-
tion with the proceedings.
Colonel Baldwin, Of New York, offered The fol
lowing resolution:
Resoiped, Thatthere be appointed committee,
consisting OF one member from each State and
Territory, 10 be selected by the delegates from the
States and Terrilores, respectively, and TO be con-
frmed by the convention, whose duty it shall be
TO examine the bill pending before Congress for
the relief of the veterans OF the war of 1912, and
10 propose such amendments as they may think
necessary; and 10 urge the passage of the bill by
Congress-
Debate ensued. An old soldier from Ohio,
native Of Maine, warmly advocated the passage
of the resolution. lie expected 10 stay in the city
for some time, TO attend TO bill for his relief,
which had passed one House or the other three
or four times, but never got through both during
the same Congress. II the present Congress- he
remarked, shall not now pass SUCH measure as
the Convention desire, there will be one next
II was essential there should be a committee
here 10 look after the old soldiers bill, for, without
a committee, they would be like the old Dutchman,
even he ish gone, den dey iorgit him = LaughterJ
II was said, in the course of conversation, that
the Committee for this District had already been
attending 10 the subject.
Gen. Leslie Coombs remarked he had been
here for seven years TO see to an unquestonable
claim, but he had never debased himsefby asking
any member 10 vote for it. He had, however,
shown. that he was about [Laughterl He
acted as a most successful constable in Ken
| lucky did. [ A voice: " How's that?"l The
officer was great stulterer, laughter, and
when he saw debtor he stood of and looked him
right in the face. Renewed laughierl The
debtor would Immediately take the hint, and say,
/" You want your money; here il is !" IShouts Of
laughter.l II would be well 10 keep committee
here to look at the members, and rattle shot al
them.
The President said he intended 10 stay here
whether others do or not. IA voice, {" You must
look at em, Judge" Ha! hal
Major Peter to address the convention,
and another veteran was also desirous of saying
something, starting TO his feet al the same time.
The President, TO the person last referred to }
Please give way, the Major is the Oldest man
present.
The Major, (quckly) beg pardon. There
are older members here than ! am. [I4aughierl
move that the word 'veterans be stricken out
ofthe resolution, and the words citizen soldiers
substituted
The President. have always said, and would
suggest that, hereafter they be called the United
Brothers of the War Of 1912. [voices Good" !"
" That's it, and long-continued applause.l
Ex-Governor Ritner, of Pennsylvania, asked
whether there We're any soldiers present who
served in the brigade commanded by General
Richard Crooks, and who served under General
Harrison. lie knew oftwo or three only Samuel
Bias and himself. The brigade consisted Of twen-
ty five hundred Pennsylvanans. He then pro-
ceeded to relate some of the incidents Of the war
in the West, and explained why they were pre-
vented from taking Fort Maiden. There was a
mistake of the head and not of the heart in the
arrangements for that purpose. In the course OF
his remarks, he said it had been his fortune to
preside over many conventions and deliberative
bodies, but he had never before seen the same
number of men who presented as respectable an
appearance as his brethren in arms now present.
This remark elected both laughter and applause. ]
The ex- governor was reminded tha, there was
third person in the church who served with him,
and fourth afterwards proclaimed that he was
along, too. He said that in that brigade there
were honorable judges and doctors, and at least
one governor. A voice: "And drummer boys.
Major Bias was high private at that time. IA
voice Most of us were privates."l All We're
privates Twas private.
AT this point, large and beautiful silk national
flag was brought into the church. As soon as il
given. in saluiation the delegates rising. And
then three times three Nor were the cheers in
whispers, but were given loudly.
This flag was presented TO the New York
Soldiers Of the War OF 1912, while they were in
session at Fonda, by the ladies Of Albany
Capt. VIM. Taylor rose, saying he did no, believe
the delegates were called here to tell long stories
but for the elevation OF the poor soldiers Of the
country He wanted something practical. In
New York, they had organized sick committees,
TO visit the alms-houses, and TO ascertain the
number of veterans who were there sheltered
He hoped that similar societies would be formed
throughout the country, TO keep the old soldiers
from starvation, by raising funds and administer
ing the necessary relief There are in the New
York Alms-house fourteen fifteen sl them.
When one Of the old soldiers dies, if there is
nobody 10 give him decent burial, money is col
lected for that purpose, and his companions in
arms follow his remains 10 the tomb, with the
honors Of war. They give him decent burial
whether he is pauper or not.
lie said he served al Baltimore in 1879, and
was member Of the bloody twenty regi
ment. lie attributed the burning of the city of
Washington TO the Vaccinations OF the Hartford
convention The same men who could have been
sent here whipped the British away from Balti-
more. Finding they could make no impression
there, the English went 10 New Orleans, where
General Jackson gave them a severe iogging
[Applause, and cries OF Good" good "that
L. r