, 1863-08-04
4 PEACE CONVENTION.
Gathering Of Armed "Peace Mems at
matto0n.
Their Banners and Their
Speeches.

]
Speeches.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.
NATION, August1, 1868.
On Saturday, August 1st, the Peace Dem
ocracy of Moultrie, Coles, Champaign, Ed.
gar, Cumberland, and Shelby counties, had a
mass meeting at grove two miles east Of
Mattoou. For week previous to the 1st, the
Republicans Of the vicinity heard all manner
OF rumors as to the numbers Of the Demo.
cratic pecce men who were to be present-of
the manner they were to tocome-oftheir bring
ing arms, &C., Jet could not give credit to all
the rumora aloat, and thought 1t best to wait,
On Friday night, news came that q large
body Of armed men had encamped iew miles
west Of the town, md would march through
to the Peace Meeting On the next morning.
~Eough the junction of the Illinois Central
and Terre 11nute Railroads afforded convenient
means Of travel, yet there Was no use made
Of them; no large handbi1ls announcing half
fare, &C., by railroad, and calling upon the
Democrats, everywhere, to turn out e., mass,
were posted through the adjacent counties,
Only those came who were invited; only
those who had been duly examined and proved
faithful; only those who could spell ssBel-
rick" in the approved method instituted by
Tie accomplished Buckley, Knight, &C., was
An improvement upon former public gather.
inge, the ordinary methods Of travel were re-
j. cted, md new one adopted They marched
and ebeamped like our nrmies In the field, to
attend Pence Convention. Such was The
aepcct Of things on Saturday morning, and
r. ne story seemed al a myth, aud the
UDion'1oving citizens remained increuulous,
Early on Saturday morning, however, nun.
ter Of fa1mers' wagons, filed with men, ap-
peared In the streets, with here and there a
squirrel rifle or shot gun yisible-tlus giving
Indications Of what Was to come.
About 10 O'Clock a large number Of BAN
ners, half a mile west Of tie Town, proclaimed
the approach Of the peaceful III host. On
they came through the town, thousand
armed men, Infantry and cavalry, with butter
nut leaves in their hats, strings Of butternuts
about their necks, banners, mottocs, &C., fol-
lowed By q long procession Of teams,
loaoed aa n1lh. Mitn 9ld ,1h ,men, Women and chill
uty Marshals with blue aashes, officers
with sword-a11 In their places, TOOK com.
maud Of these peace men, as armed to the
teeth. they marched, ut shoulderaTms, through
the streets Of this peaceful village. There
vas to be ian old fashioned Democratic
during .he week previous; "a peaceful gath
eiing to discuss the principles Of Government
% laid down In the Constitution" How bold
the l1etence OF peace when every able bodied
nan bore arms! How strange that host,
armed for war, in a quiet Northern State.
should DO on their way to hold u peace con-
tentionl Though they bore a1ms and shouted
for Vallandigha1n, they said nothing for the
Union-thoUgh they bore arms and walked
beneath the Stars and Stripes, they said
nothing about putting down the rebellion
though they bore arms and marched to mar
tial music, they raid nothing in praise Of the
brave and failhful Union eoldier-thourh |
they bore arms and moved in marital array,
they said nothing for the gallant Logan, Rose. |
Grams, Burnside and other Democratic Gene |
rnls, Who have led the Federal armies to glory |
und victory. All this on their way to Pcace |
One OF two shouted for .'Grant I
md d rope to hang him "-pitiable creatures
true msn-wlo has dealt tho rebellion Its |
heaviest blows.
The discipline Of thio body of men was ex. |
though Republicans sand War DEM |
ocrats crowded the sidewalks, and looked from !
tic windows, no personal insults were offered. /
and a Tigflant police saw 10 It, that none rere |
given-it being determined that no blood |
should dIeuch our streets, on tho occasion of |
a Peace Convention. 70 the Union men |
those arms seemed like the ghost to Macbeth, |
:. The party not Invited, J" especially to Peace
not In favor Of conque1ing 9 peace;
why that martial array! With deep
pain and modification, good and true men,
Of all parties, raw In these manifestations the |
ferebodiugs Of evil, and, possibly, blood.hed. |
zens of this place, Tcrc in those ranks, giving
TIT ir Endorsement to the armed display, from
i blind adherence to party-blfndiy led By de- |
signing leaders. Among other things one OF
IN shouted for "Johu Morgan, as il he, con- |
lined IN the Penitentiary, helpless, and harm- |
ltss, represented anything worthy Of healthy
Among the banners, was one with the In
:cIiption: "Our next President, Ho1atio |
sey Inour. Our next Vice President, Clement |
l.. Val;andigham."
Though Te did not hear the speeches, we
lave been informed Of their character. There !
YES no congratulations at the SUCCESS Of our |
.oldie1's best friends, hecanse they
.culd restore him to his home, and to his ]
la1n1ly and friends: Ono Of the speakers
from which no officer should drag him forth,
separating him from his wife and little ones,
10 light In this upiust and cruel WAT. The
Constitution guaranteed these rights to men,
snu they should ba maintained &C., &c. The
Itnor of these speeches Is too well known to
need any report; SO also, IL the object OF arm
it r and discfp1ining these so-ca1led peace men,
Social Science lays down the rule. that We
.steem people, institutions, principles, dc,
q proportion as We make willing s1crlfccs /
dr them. Those for whom we do least. we
are 1east, 1nd rice persd.
On this principle can be explained the 1dal-
ty Of the soldier In the field, and the intidelty
u 1Aese peace men at home. Tho one has
:ivcn himself to hardship, danger, e1poauro.
lisease, wounds and death for his country.
md he loves her-and feels bis bosom GLOW
5ltl the same fire Of patriotism, that wsa
cit throughout the North, when tho
ebel cannon-the other has enjoyed all the
luiet Of his home, has seen the months roll
way In their usual coutse-Las gathered In |
lie plenty. fruitful soil Inns yielded, and sat
[own In domestic quieiude aud peace-hay-
ng denied himself nothing for tho mighty
tTugg1e, which involves the existence Of our
fee Government, and free government
Lroughout the Horld-haring done nothing
o promote justice and equal rights, and
rush the tyrant usurper and t1altor-but now
Med and disciplined, expects to make forci-
le opposition to the laws Of the country.
I'd The Administration which Is charged with |
he execution Of them. Oh! cons1steucYl
consistency indeed thou art q jewell
MACK.
FROM IDAI1O.