The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-01-11
CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF ,s,o


THURSDAY MORNING. JANUARY II. 1ss5.
----1---------------
CONVENTION OF THE SOLDIERS OF 1912
On he occasion Of the visit Of the veterans OF
j sla 70 tie Presidential mansion on Monday ,...,
Hon. Joel B. Sutherland in,rodvced then, to N.
Chief asgistrsse, and spoke in substance !. ,o,-
MT. Sutherland took great pleasure In intro
dncins this vast body of the brave veterans. each
~ wnem bore IA honorable part in the war win
oreat Britain. Ia addition to other circumstsnces
.ne speaker remembered that His Excellercy had
two oroshers who nobly fought In the same Wa
win theee men. They remembered the aar
winch mad thus brought them together a, Mao
osieans the British General Packennam. with
:. 49, - veg and well provided soldiers, marched
70 the american lines The American forces nm.
ger zen. jackson, did not exce-d 5000 meu-manv
O. taem undisciplined. and anacauainted with =
ee.o Oh esttle Indeed, such was the disparity
scn Ine forces OF England and America, tina,
ot- Tmer Imagined they could take possession of
thet ~aimost without resistance VI
me isu. Gror was soon corrected, for on the
But ths >st,ia OF The glorious 9Th Of January. il
close OF fne that the British loss was ZOO Killed
was ascertsine- 600 wounded. whilst the an,;ro
aud upwards oil n lines was but seven killed.
loss on The Ams,ics low. sir. see the British and
the French at the siege OF I The ,so.. , oenes
what slow progress they ma e,s era -, ~
discipline or learning In militia. Co.. air
FeQ1ieteS
men with rii "a on their shoulders sTr Inc men iof
successful warfare. - ,.L.,
The Hon Speaker then referred tc / ne Iact enat
In iais with only single newspaper 10 y. .aaa 30
he called the attention of the old sodie. 10 INT
Justice Of the claims which they are now .Utsog.
10 l554 they held the first great convention in 'sl
ladephia city. Now, sir, behold the number OF
fore YOU AMI the spreading interest OF these
mem The speaker, with eloquent eulogy on
the services and character of Andrew Jsckson,
closed amid high and enthusiastic feeling
To this address the President Of the United States
replied in the following language
i,en1er to you, sir, and to your associates, my
grateful acknowledgements for the privilege OF this
ip,rrvfsr, and my sincere thanks for the kind
reference ySu have been pleased to make to myself
and certain members OF my family who participated
with YOU, but nov deceased. ltcan hardly be
necessary Tor me to cay that my heart does not ian
to respond to your appropriate illusions to that
great hero who has gwen Immortality to the day
whose anniversary you are asse~eied As this
numerous assemblage OF veterans entered the room
no man could have observed their cour4enances
without being impressed with the fact thes they
were the men for such a war as that OF 1872 The
lines OF intelligence and marked emphasis 81
character are uumistakable. What crowd u
associations spring from the of the veteran
commanders near me, General Scott and Com.
Morris and from the banner ia your midstinscrbed
with the motto free trade and sailors rights"
am gratifed to observe among you delegation
from our red brethren, who were found faithful in
the period OF trial, and whose services are entitled
period OF our history of which we particularly
reminded by this anniversary, and the meeting Of
tried men, many OF whom have probably never
met before since the cose of the war, will ever be
REQUIRED to with peculiar interest. My earliest
reading OF the stirring scenes in which you
bore part forty years ago. and my earliest remins-
cences connected with the wsr OF 1912 well
recollect that the approach OF every rfi was anti
cipsted by my footsteps to the threshold OF the vii
Iage post office.
naturally felt the deepest concern for thcse
hTF,a.a saya tho
confict; but my young heart gave out its quick
sympathies all who contributed TO the cause per-
sonai service sustained IL at home by earnest
and efficient encouragement. Having been taught
that 1t was the fret and bighes. earthly duty of
every citizen of the republic ch erully to make any
sacrifice tor the maintenance of his country rights
and honor it would be difficult TO express the pride
aud afeciogaie regard with which / looked upon
such detachments of volunteers as occasionally
stopped my fathers mansion on their way to the
northern frontier, many OF them never to RETURN
Time has only served TO enhance the admiration
inspired by their prompt enrolment under the tag
OF their country, and their subsequent vaor in de.
Tending IT. and 1t is gratifying to meet here to day
this numerous delegation OF the survivors OF that
noble army and gallant navy. | can readily con-
ceive how many incidents, unimlortant il them
selves, of camp aud field, deck and ROOM
long forgotten, nave been recalled you have met
thuee with whom you parted ut the close of your
last campaign, aud how the sad but glorious memo.
res OF such were early in the and foremost
In the fight, years ago gathered tothe fathers come
back to you
The genius OF our government, the fundamental
principle that large standing armies not to be
rnaniained in time of peace all interests as a
nation, and all our sentiments and opinions as in.
dividuas, promise peace but it, unfortunately,
again called to arms, sense Of security will
rest chiefly 10 the conviction that the patriotic spirit
which gave courage to your hearts and vigor tC
your arms will animate your sons.
You, gentlemen, started in life with the fathers O.
the revolution around you. You listened to theil
precepts. You studied their career You observed
their principles OF action, and you have HOby
ulsted their example They have passed from
EARTH and we OF later generation look to the sur.
vivors OF the second OF independence" tor
the exhibition of disinterested patriotism and les
sons OF wisdom to teach us how to transmit th
priceless inheritance with its multiplied and multi
plying blessings. Although you assemble here from
different aad distant parts OF the contederacy, it il
cheering to know that you come animated by
common sentiment of devotion TO this Union, ant
by common purpose faithfully maintain all thu
constitutional rights OF the people of all the States
Tits TRUTH rs inspiring as 1t Is conspicuous, tina
those who have been ready In the hour of need t.
put much at peril for their country, who have Tough
her battles in time OF war-have never been tn
men Ia peace however broadly they may havA dit
tered upon measures of policy, to disseninst
dangerous political heresies to revile the insti,u
tons under which they live; to catch " the echt
Of foreign preludicee; to excite sectional jesou les
to deride constitutional obligations, and to set a
defiance the laws OF the land! No, gentlemen no
Far from it. You responded am sure cordially
TO the sentiment of gallant soldier OF your tn,t.
and an eminent statesman OF the PRESENT whom
observed marching to-day private in your
ranks when be said: III We struck by iu-
dicial blindness, Gods chosen people o
old, we shall cling to this constitution as the mari
ner c!ngs to the last plank when storm and tempest
close around him quote from memory but tx
press the sentiment.
Mr. President and gentlemen, must not detair
you. 1 wish Tor you, Individually and collectively
every biessing-all that you can reasonably txnect
and all that your country can consistently confer
lou are reazihg today, let me say, in the con
sciousness OF duties well performed, and in RI,
award OF the respect and tho gratitude of you,
eountfymen. which everywhere grees you, th1
best recompense ever conferred for msrritorion,
services rendered to ones country-a reward inca
paoie OF being measured by any standard of valu,
knownto trsde universal commend alton nohI,
earned, and the rich inheritance OF your example
VIM descend 10 your children, aud if they are k,
their sires, will be by them priced above ali thai va,
may leave beside, whatever be the extent Of Won
possessions. VI ~"
My heart, gentlemen, beats with a prop6er H. 80,
on the 9Th OF January than any other dsv Of -.
year always excepting the fourth of July; bu,
feel just now that its pulsations are reer ana
ger because you are here You are NOT only 80,