Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-13
Old soldiers Convention.

public is each year growing less, and a few
more years viii see the last of them gaze sor-
rowfully around and pass away. -F
At the arrival Of the Cleveland train, the
Old Soldiers who had gathered from the cOun-
try were drawn up to receive the Cleveland
delegation. They had Capt Harvey Hunt
rons martial band, and bore banner.
The procession was then formed, and
marched through the streets TO the Court
House, to the music of fife and drum.
Dea B. Rouse, of Cleveland, was appointed
President; Capt Seribner Huntoon, Of Lake
county, John NJ. Hughes of Cuyahoga, and
- Parker, of Geauga, were appointed
Vice Presidents, and G. F.. Lewis, of Cuya-
hoga and Milo Harris, Of Lake county,
Secretaries. -...r
Rev. DR.. Aiken opened the meeting with
prayer. aH-, .i,- -h.-
Messrs. Harvey HuntOOn, of Lake county,
Roland Mosier, Ashtabula, Lemuel Frisbee,
Geauga, Rev. VIM. Young, Lake and G. F.
Lewis CuyahOga, were appointed commit
tee on resolutions. .aeasa.
While the Committee were consulting in
regard to resolutions, some speakers were
called for. a7laIl
A. G. Riddle, Esq, being present, was call
ed forward. He said he himself had so little
confidence in the protestations and promises
of men who were seeking for popular favor,
that he regretted placing himself in the same
position He would much rather his friends
should have expressed his views for him
The Government should pay to these men, not
a deed of charity, but debt long overdue.
And yet you old soldiers are obliged to ask
for justice, and do ask by petition. If be could
roll back the tide of time, he would desire to
recall the days of old. To do it we should
have to make solitude of the Lake, uproot
these towns and tear up these railroads. He
spoke of the march of the army to Michigan,
and the inglOrious surrender of Gen. Huh,
by which the Lakes were put in command of
the enemy. But when the cry went out for
help, who thought then of the meagre pit
tance of $40 or Sl2 a month"; The men
thought of their country, and under such
leaders as they had, they went forth to the
contest. These men went into the forests
and hewed them down and fashioned new
ships, and went forth upon the waters and
achieved that glorious victory. And then
these men went forth, and hand to hand and
shoulder to shoulder, drove the enemy out
step by step and achieved that other great
victory, the conquest of British army upon
British soil. And then they returned to their
hcmes with the seeds of disease that would
impair their stalwart frames, and which has
stricken down one and another until very
few are left to gather together and call upon
their country for justice.
Nomore gallanta and nobler man exists than
the volunteer soldiers of 1872. The forests,
which were then traekless, have been by
his hand cleared up for the occupation of
civilization. And yet, they were still here
unpaid, uncalled for, and were still obliged
to raise their own voices to remind the coun-
try what it owes. And if the conflict ever
comes again, it is still to be fought out by
their sons, the volunteers, although millions
have been spent in the support ofthe regular
army. Speeches in such a cause seemed but
mockery, and it was a shame to the rest of
US that they had never yet been rewarded.
All who served in the wars previous to that
of 1872, had been recognized as the creditors
of the Government. These men asked to be
thus recognized as the creditors and not as
the benefciaries of the country. Parties have
succeeded each other in the rapid chase
through the political arena, but through it
all the cry for justice from these men has .
gone by unheeded.
Mr.. Riddles remarks were heartily aP-
plsuded. sod a.- .'''
Major Elsna Taylor was called for, to
make some remarks. He spoke with diff
Guilty, laboring as he was under an in
disposition. Old age, he said, had laid its
hand heavily upon him, and his physical
powers were very different from what
they we're in 1872 and 1s. 1t was then a
pleasure to be in his saddle sixteen or twen-
ty hours in the day, riding from 90 to 8Omiles
a day and keeping watch over his command.
It was a pleasure, although he had just left
a young wife, who had just buried her first
child, for he thought he was serving both
God and his country. In every one of Gen.
Washington's addresses to Congress, he had
recommended the militia in the support Of
the country. Sc have all the Presidents dol0u
to the present one he has not said word of
the militia, that great arm which is to come
forth as the last resort in support of the Gov
ernment. 1t is wen known that during the
Revolutionary War, the success rested with
the militia. Who but the militia won the vic
tory over Burgoyne? Who but the mil
itia obliged Corvallis to surrender at York
town, and who, too, in that unjust and cruel
war with Mexico (for can call it by no
other name) but they brought victory to
the American arms2 Who compose stand
ing armies, as a whole? Who, but young
men who are too lazy to work, and who get
q commission, men who are not Wiling TO
submit to the regulations of private families,
who have been debauehed more or less, and
who are thus the more ready to be the tool
of tyrants or unscrupulous leaders? There
are some glorious exceptions, but such is the
rule. 1t is not such standing army, but
the militia, who are to support the country.
Who has endured the mostP Who made the
most sacrifces2 Is it net the militia, who
left their homes to carry out the principle
that free ships shall make free goods and
that our seamen shall not beimpressed?
Mr.. Taylor then gave short history of the
company with which he was engaged in the
war of 1872. It was a corps Of mounted ar
tillery. There were 50 in the company,
among which were two students of divinity
and six students of law. He saw enough Of
war to satisfy him that it is the greatest