The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-01-24
National Convention OF the Sol
diers Of I6l2-Speceh Of Prest-
dent Pierce. -t-L


diers Of IsI2-speceh Of Presi.
dent Pierce. .t.i
A late national convention Of the surVi-
vors in the American army who participated
in the war of 1912, was held at Washington
on the slh Of January last. They proceeded
to the White House, and paid their respects to
the President Of the Republic. The Union,
in noticing the procession, says.
"The head Of the column reached the White
House about two o clock, and under the ad-
mrable guidance of the chief marshal and
his aids, the old soldiers were escorted into
the East Room, without the slightest noise or
confusion, marching ia sections OF two, and,
coil-like, filling up the East Room compact
ly, yet with great regularity. AS the old sol
ders filed by the President, with tottering
steps yet cleaning eyes, it required no effort
Of the Imagination to bring back the desper-
ate battles OF Chippewa, Niagara, Lundey's
Lane, and New Orleans, with all their atten-
dant strife aud bloodshed-ths groans of the
wounded, the anguish of the dying! A few
of the survivors Of those hard-fought battles
were there. and one at least Of those generals
who had led them to glory and renown was
also present-not only living in the glorious
history of the past, but with new and greener
laurels added 10 his brow. In the ranks we
noticed the stalwart form and active step Of
General Cass."
In reply to an address from the Hon. JOEL
B. SUTHERLAND, President PIERCE respond
ed in an eloquent and appropriate speech, of
which the following is an extract:
"You gentlemen, startedin life with the
fathers Of the Revolution around you. You
listened to their precepts; you studied their
career; you observed their example. They
have passed from earth, and we OF later
generation look to the survivors of 'the Sec
ond war Of independence for the exhibition
of dsnterested patriotism and lessons ol wis
dom to teach US how to transmit this price,
less inheritance with its multiplied aud mul-
tiplyng blessings. Although you assemble
here from different and distant parts of the
Conlederacy, it is cheering to know thatyou
come animated by a common sentiment OF
devotion to this Union, and by common
purpose faithfully to maintain all the consti-
tutonal rights OF the people os all the States.
! 1t is a truth, as inspiring as it is conspicuous
that those vino have been ready in the hour
Qf need to put much at peril for their coun.
| try-+:who have fought her battles in time Of
War-have never heen the men in peace,
however broadly they may have differed upon
measures Of policy, to disseminate dagger
Gus political hercses; to revile the institu-
tions under which they live; TO catch up the
echo of foreign prejudice; to excite sectional
jealousies; to derde constitutional obig =
tions, and to set at defiance the laws Of the
| land No, gentlemen, 10. Far from it.
You respond | am sure, cordially to the sen.
timent of a gallant soldier Of your time, and
an eminent statesman of the present, whom
[ observed to-day walking as private in your
ranks, when he said, 'it we are not struck
by judicial blindness, as were Gods chosen
people Of old, we shall cling to this Cunsti
tuition as the mariner clings to the last plank
when storm aud tempest close around him.
quote from memory, but express the 5 nti-
nent.
"Mi. President and gentlemen, must not
dctain you. wish for you, individually and
collectively, every blessing all that you can
reasonably expect, and all that your country
can consistently confer. You are realizing
! to-day, let me say, in the consciousness o
! uulltS wei. ppT.OTiHcu, anu III lne aWdTd d
the respect ana gratitude of your county.
men, which everywhere greets you, the bcst
recompcnse ever conferred for mer!toriou:
services rendered to ones country-a rewart
incapable of being measured by any stand
ard Of value known to trade. A univerSa
commendatiun nobly earned, and the rich in
heritance ot your example, will descend tc
your children, and, ii they are like thoi
sjrrs, will De by them priced above all tina
you may leave BESIDE, whatever be the extcn
OF your possessions.
my heart, gentlemen, beats with Il prou
der throb on the Stb OF January than on any
other day Of the year, always excepting thu
fonth Of July; but feel just now that it
pulsations are frecr aud stronger because yo,
are here You are moi only veteran soldiers
but American citizens, and need no welcome
to the house of which you are the proprie
tors, and |, for the time being, am but tht
tenant Yon will permit me, however, II
remark that the house and its occupant arr
alike honored by your presence. May God
who has so signalIy blesse our country, pre-
serve and ever bless its defenders 20