Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-03-30
SOLDIERS IN COUNCIL.
Immense Enthusiasm
Speeches and Music.
A soldiers Love-Feast.

last night. The courtroom was filed to
overlooking, and the gallery vas also
crowded. In consequence of the late
ness of the hour at which the meeting
adjourned, il is impossible TO giss
synopsis of the speeches.
The meeting was called to order by
Captain Allen, who moved that Captain
Leavitt be chosen Chairman of the meet
ing, which was agreed to-.
On motion Of Captain Reayis, Captain
Esslinger, Of the Union, and Lieutenant
s. z. HOrrall, Of the JOURNAL, were
chosen Secretaries.
Captain Hornbrook moged that If
there were other representatives. Of the
press who had been soldiers in the
Union army present, that they also be
invited to act as secretaries; which
motion was agreed to.
Captain LeaVitt stated the object of
the meeting in a few brief remarks
which was, as he understood IL, q pre-
liminary move towards establishing q
permanent organization of those who
served as soldiers in the field, and to
petition Congress in behalf of their
comrades who had been permanently
disabled in the service of their country.
Captain Darling then moved that a
Committee of twelve be appointed by
the chair to draft resolutions expressing
the sense of the meeting.
The Chair appointed the following
gentlemen on that Committee:
Capt Hornbrook, Capt. Darling, Jonas
Green, Serg't Thomas Smith, Capt
Charles Allen, Charles Long, John F.
Crisp, Lieut.. WimpIeburg, Capt Blythe,
Lieut. Tomhemelt and Sergt Wilson.
The committee then retired, and inn
msdiately Capt Reavis was loudly CALI
ed for, and responded in 8 speech of
some length. It is out of the question
to give synopsis Of his speech for the
same reason the balance of the proceed
ings are abridged.
After Capt r. had finished, some
persons called for Capt Willard, who
made a. few remarks relative 10 Geld
life.
The Committee then entered the room
and reported through Capt. Hornbrook,
the following preamble and resolutions,
which were voted upon separately, and
unanimously adopted: -
WHEEEAs, The war for the suppress
sion of the rebellion, and for the integ-
rity and perpetuity of the Union, has
been brought to successful and tri-
umphant close, the doctrines of secession
defeated, and the supremacy of the Con-
stitution indicated; and WhereGs,
the citizen soldiers, now disbanded and
engaged in the avocations and pursuits
of peace, still feel that they have duties
to perform, rights TO assert, and privi-
leges to enjoy; therefore,
ResoEved, That as discharged soldiers,
citizens of Vanderburgh county, now
met in Convention, we hail with delight
the return of peace, and offer to Al
MIGHTY Con our sincere and unfeigued
thanks for the blessings of country
now redeemed, regenerated, and dis
enthralled," which guarantees life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" to
all men. sa aBA4
su.Resolred, That we deem II proper and
rightio establish an organization, to be
composed alone OF soldiers who have re-
ceived honorable discharges from the
army, for the better securing and per
petuation Of friendship found in the
the army, for full and free interchange
of thought and feelings, for consultation
and deIiberation as to the course we
shall pursue to. maintain and uphold, in
times of peace, the liberty and unity of
the Government for which We have
fought $3.50 ~
ResolUed, That having met the enemy
in the field and defeated him in open
and manly conflict, until be himself, by
laying down his arms and surrendering,
proclaimed us victors and the Union of
the States indissolnble, we entertain no
feelings of enmity or illwill towards the
masses of the rebel armies, and that we
are willing to see all such, who in good
faith desire to return to their allegiance,
fully restoredto the rights Of citizenship.
But at the same time, we do claim that
the suferings and tolls of the armies,
and the blood Of 100000 patriots who
gave theirlives upon the altar of freedom,
demand at the hands of those in authorig
ty, that Treason should be made odious
by causing just retributlon to fall upon
the heads of the leaders.
Resolved, That we have but to recur
to the conduct of men during the war
TO know who are the genuine friends Of
the soldiers and the country That oil
those who by noble and self sacrificing
conduct in behalf of the army and the
Government, in times when friendship
was needed, those who by ten thousand
acts of kindness to the legions of the
Union, and by their untiring manifesto
tions of sympathy with the soldiers in
the field, proved the purity of their
friendship and genuineness of their pa
triotism, We can now in times of peace
welcome into our friendship and conf
denee, and cheerfully unite with them in
securing and promoting the bes {
interests of the country.
Resolued, That all those who discour-
aged the soldiers while toiling on the
march, and doing battle ON the field for
their country and for freedom-those
who encouraged the enemies of the
Union and the army by declaring the
war failure" " the rebellion success"
the soldiers "hireIings," and the noble,
patriotic and lamented President Lincoln
a Usurper," incurred the settled de-
testation and scorn of every true soldier
in the great armies of the Union, and
proved themselves the enemies Of civil
liberty and free government, and wholly
unworthy the confidence and trust Of
soldiers. ssessa
ResotUed, That we hereby pledge our
selves By all the recollections and asso-
Citations OF the past, by all the ties which
bound US together in a common cause
while associated in the army, and bat
Ting against the enemy, and by the
memories of our fallen comrades. that we
win ever truly and faithfully stand b !
and defend those principles against all
A.. L. 4