, 1864-05-31
MAJOR GENERAL BLUNT.
Reception on 'Change.--Address to the Board
Agreeing to Differ.

| THE following appeared In onr issue Of sunda,
on ent ~ r. crowded ont OF
Major General ]. @. Blunt visited the Board q
Trade on Saturday, b. invitation, and met with Al
enthusiastic reception. He was cordially greete
By the members Individually, many OF whom wer
his personal friends, and all Of them respectln
him for his sterling patriotism and valuable Mill
tary abilities. He was introduced BY the Presiden
ofthe Board, Col John L. Hancock, and spoke a
''itsas Tse.ds and Fz7ow otszens ot cateaqo: Ye.
terdayT came to your city-merelY upon privat
business-the first time ever vfaited Chicago
THE greeting here to-day was a. unexpected as
sef III % But On behsf q q lie T. Soldiers 81 he Repub
who are now battling for the preservation Of on
beloved country, "a and With whom ny lot has bee beg
! people, recognizing It as manifestation Of tha
Patltotic devotion to the great principles Of free
dom and to the government for which Illinois, ant
! especially Chicago, has ever been preemirent.
fbcfore remarked that this is the first time
hare stopped upon the eoil of Illinois, except Ion.
enough enough for change o.. .: carr when passtnl
stranGers to me. With no small degree o.
interest + hare watched your progress, observing
The rapid strides you have made IN the arts OF cTf
| Ezatfon. and the DEVELOPMENT Of the vast natuta
| great degree eohtTibnts to make = free peoplt
9al and hoP2 q e. MS nsts ns. sasas
free Institutions than the rapid growth and deyel
opment Of your CITY. and the magnitude OF III
Since the monster rebellion has raised Its pesadi
Gus hand to strike down the temple OF liberty.
eipce the first gun opened upon Fort ,Sumtet;,l
which Illinois has always responded to THE cali
the Government In Furnishing her qnotas to swell
the fanks Of the Union army. Truly has she giYer
~ neF % sons q. sac,ce upon re alter OF ttesdom
their gal1antry Is everywhere proyerhial. Illinois
treops bare served under my command I car
drew sword in defenee .: country aud liberty. MOI
nave been Ignorant Of the fact that since the be-
ginning OF this war Jou hare had ,AE at the head
Goselnor-who has shed iuster> snd bonor upon 1s,
your slateCcne Who has been prompt to sustain
ahe General G1rcfnnent in tts hour Of perilons
his efforts to contribute to the wants OF the soldier
In camp: on the field, In hospital and elsewbere
where aid end succor were required. In the ranks
q the Union army eyes7where, especially auoas
the sick and wounded, by all who appreciate patrf.
otic devotion, merit and Christian qualities, the
name Of Dick Yates is honored md cherished.
ilhofs IL also fortunate In being entitled to claim
as her eon. the man who. by bis genius and merit
"a has Won his way to the position Of General-in.
Chief M Gf TIE armlea Of the United States. To him
we we az look with assured hope, for the speedy
c1nsh1ns out Of the rebellion, and successful termi.
;Ner Is thia ii et the good fortune OF Illinois.
IN The person Of Father Abrabam-a man whose
PATRIOTISM integrity and devotion to the princlp.oe
q q freedom are ua9uestsonahse; one who hss sery-
ed us 20 well, that think we can trust him Auoth-
er our to pilot US through fbe perllous break-
efs Of rebellion. He was elected President over all
w States; In some Of them he has not yet been
able 70 fully exercise bis authority. It will not be
bad idea, while his hand in, 10 give him an op-
Po5tah,lT to easrT out the oz.nal plan Of reelect
know thar come good and loyal men hare other
preferences, hut before we decide against III. Lin
coin, VIC should be e1re that we can find eome one
ei D 9 sStsF tS for Pseps when
DO not consider the great task be has had before
him. and the magnitude Of the responsibilities
that surround Inn.
It may bc saId with truth. that no other Chief
Magistrate Of ths nation has had one tithe OF the
responsibility that has. fallen upon Mr. Lincoln,
Bance his Inauguration in 'Gl. Measures and new
cedent In our history. Who can say that Alr, Lin.
colp, in the maiu. has not met them with tue pru-
de1co ard wisdom which proves him to ba a safe
TEczc are some things upon which we cannot all
nE1ee- 1t would be s.ngulsr If 1t were not 30.
not ae1ee With The Frcsiaent thar is. nis proposi
tion Of smncsty to rebels It was telldercd, none
doubt @ VIII the purest Of motives; and with the
tried experiment. 30 far as my Observation ex-
tends, brief t1al proves that Il fails to accom-
pliisslh, The purpose intended
While It may be true that few OF the ignorant
and deludtd victims OF 1nIsreprescntation. who
have engaged in the rebel cause, accept the terms
o. amnssty aha aei In good faith, yei the general
mischief. My Intercourse and experience with
rebels has convinced me that no man or !ntelii-
eence who premeditatedly renowned his alies-
lance 70 his government BY an overt act OF treas
On. will be likt lT to keep inyiolate any oath he
may bc require to take 10 cntilc htm 10 rcstor-
have hsd some little experience with rebels in
this matter Of oath-takinc by rebels. know how
iitt'e Importance they attach to II. Often have I
moral obligation Of their oath, but subscrihed to
It merely as matter OF expettency or convenience
for the accomplishment OF their nischievons de-
signs. and 10 be volutcd and broken again when
ever their Interest required it.
In times past have heard much boasting about
ne 9tEh.toued Southern chLgalfy. But ! have
that az general thing. the rebels disregard every
principle OF honor aud integrity recognized among
peoPe what els are you to expect
TO their country, and hence the danger Of exiend-
Ing to them the clemency proposed 10 the amnesty.
1he fcent will be to admit within or lines spies
Ments 70 the enemy; to iermcl:t and organize the
disioyal element Of the Northern Statcs il opposl-
ton 10 the Administration and in aid Of the rebel~
Hon. For myeeli do no not feel content to per-
NIT = peIjute6 rebel, whom have met upon the
battlefield, doing all In biz power 10 destroy our
Government walk eide by side With me to the ball
less have eotne better evidence Of his pcuitcnce
tEan ne mere formal operation Of subscribing TO
the nash !, eeiexe M such is the feeling generally
jucsdon will put dowu this rebellion. Those who
for m tine bshe.eo TINT our e'1ing brothers could
eoncuia1ory measures, must think, have had that
-de!uhion dispelled BY the operations OF the last
.tA.ee Year,. When we have conquered and subju.
gated them, think the only easc policy for our
Government is 10 hold the rebellious States In the
condition cf Territories, until they shall have
sea to p 9s nsn 70
erDed By the civil and military power of The Gene
raj Go ;cTrr1ent. with euch Representation and
Plantations. Then as time shall prove that tho
men who cspoused the cause Of treason hare be-
come entirely snbdaed and penitcnt their forfeited
Fatety may dctatc. This is all they stould .sk or
e1pect, hnd Is more grace than would be extended
to them by any other other Government In the
But while We may undoubtedly differ In opinion
upon these matters Of policy, It Is nevertheless the
dn'y q eseEy loyal man to heartily support the
President In his administration ofthc Government
In this ie hour Of peril Until this contest is over
there canbe Int two partes the loyal and dsloyal.
TIC II ~ Taf mnzt ef foSSht Sr9 tho rebellion crush
and blood. Men o.. note and distinction may iii
one after snothtr, thousands Of lives must yet be
sacrificed. but they arc as nou.ht compared with
the pr1zc for whsun wo are contendins.
TIE fight must 60 on with undtmin,shed rlsor
until We bare conquered. THIS we owe to our
ac.ves and to the thousands Of heroes who hare ai
rcady Ialseu. We owe 1t TO our poste1ity, and to
tho millions OF libeHy.lostns people Of the old
through which our nation is passing, fesyentiY
praying that success may attend our cause. TO ae-
complieh tlis great result ne must be uuited and
earnest sustain the President and his adminlstra-
tlon: st1nd by your armies in the tcld: give aid
and trccot to your eoldiers in camp upon the bat
tlc held, and In the hospitals, send them greet
them from fre-in-the-reaK, from that tnsiuious
tos, quite common In the North, known as the
1his Is an enemy whom our soldiers regard
with more contempt than they do the rebels IN
adds ttat Of cowardicc. Only tor This they would
ranks, with a musket on Their shoulder; a posi-
ton In which we all prefer to have them, rather
Il ia The enlisted men of your army you must en-.
courage and sustain. The men who carry the
mnskets upon their shoulders, who do the work,
ana1re the easing bu]~ark Of the nar,on. Il does
are plenty Of abe mon willing to be made Generals,
nnd the Prcsident can make them any day be
chooses. But they are Of little use without the
occupy positions In The ranka, they should the
more be respected and hopored. They are tho cit
en who 5 teslE lives 'o5 5, ihe deaes
md peace is restored once more to our now dis
trac1ed country. no man need wish prouder or
more hou1r1 bic record than to say that he served
with credit through the great rebe lion as pri-
Fellow Citizens, speecb-makins Is not in my line
of ycur Valuable time. I shall ever cherish With
fond reeolections this kindly greeting OF the peo-
shall redoublc my efforts In behalf Of my countrys
cause. In conclusion, permit me to thank you for
this evidence Of good WILL and to express the hope
that We may meet AGAIN, when this cruel war Ia
over.''
Gen. Dl1nt retired amid the most enthusiastic
cheering.
AmUSEmENTE,
McV1cKEn's.-MIes Laura Keene is drawing