Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-16

Mr, DooIittle's Speech

Gentlemen of the Convention, and Fsllo'r-
| Citizens Of the mated States: Cheers. For
the distinguished honor of being called upon
to preside over the deliberations Of this Con-
vcnton, [ sincerely thank you. could have
wished that its responsibilities had fallen upon
| another, but relying upon.that courtesy and gen
erous confidence which has called me to the
chair, [ enter an once upon it's duties with an
earnest desire fol- the success Of the great cause
in which we are now engaged. Among the
areat events of our own day this Convention,
in my opinion, will prove to be one Of the
greatest, for peace hath her victories not less
renowned than war Applause. And this
Convention is one of her victories-may not
say browning victory? Applause. For
the first time in six years. a national conyen-
ton representing all the States, IS now assem-
bled Applause. Six long, weary years;
| AS we look back, oh ! what aninterlm otbIood,
and agony, and tears During that period
we have been engaged in the most gigantic
civil war the world has ever seen, wasting our
resources, drenching thousand battle fields
with fraternal blood, and carrying to a prema-
ture grave our fathers, our sons, and our
brothers by hundreds Of thousands. But,
thanks be to Almighty God, the war is over,
! enthusiastic cheering and applause and the
assurances which we here witness tell us that
peace has come, and come to stay. Applause.
But, my fellow citizens, if the people of the
| United States could at this moment look in at
this Convention, if they could see whatwe now
Witness the North and the South, the East
and the West, Joining together in fraternal
association as friends and fellow citizens, our
work would be already done. Cheering and
APPLAUSE. If they could have seen-as we
aw-Massachusetts and South Carolina APP
plausc, by their full delegations coming arm
| in arm applause, into this great Convention,
Iapplause, if they could have seen this body,
greater 10 numbers, and in weight OF character
and brain, than ever yet assembled on this con-
tinent under any roof, [applause, melting to
tears of 10y and gratitude to witness this COM
minpling, there could be no struggle at the
polls in the coming elections. Applause.
When | remember thatit was Massachusetts
and South Carolina that, in the Convention
which framed the constitution, voted against the
abolition Of the slave trade; that 1t was Massa-
chusetts in 1912 which, through some OF her
men, taught the heresy of notification, which
! South Carolina reasserted in 1888, and IN the
form OF secession again reasserted IN 1861;
when call to mind that South Carolina tired
| the first gun in this recent contest, and that
the veins of Massachusetts poured out the first
| blood in the struggle; and " hen call to mind
| all these memories and at the same time ask
the people Of the country to lock IN on this
| Convention and see these TWO old States OF the
Union coming here in fraternal embrace, ap-
| proving a common action Of a common country,
| ready to make common sacrifices for the good
of the whole-I say again, could the whole
| people Of the United States witness all this,
there would remain no further work for US in
the fall elections. Applause. II the peo-
pie Of Massachusetts herself could have wit
messed it, not single member could have
returned to Congress enthusiastic cheering
and applause, from that State until he had
given the most sacred pledge that he would do
| all in his power in Congress to recognize the
equality and dignity of ell States under the
Constitution, Applause and cheering, includ-
ing the sacred, mailer able right of every State
| under the Constitution to representation, in
both Houses Cheering and applause: III
| Gentlemen of the Convention, l shall 60 into
no argument on this occasion. A voice, go
on, 20 on" The distinguished gentleman
who preceded ME said all that now desire to
say, and much better than | could say it
A voice, ''Go on. y [ endorse and take great
pleasure in fully endorsing all that he said
| [Applause.
Fellow citizens, unfortunately it may be, the
whole people of the Northern States will not
here witness what is now 50 interesting; there
fore the greater work still rests upon US from
this time until the election Of the next Con-
gross. We should be untiring in our eXertions
to sce.to it that if this Congress shall continue
| to refuse this sacred right of representation to
equal States, that the next Congress shall
recognize them. [Cheers and applause. II
When that is done, the Union is restored.
IApplause. And when the Union is restored,
we shall be prepared, in my judgment, to enter
upon a high and nobler career among the ma
tons Of the earth than has ever yet been occu-
of heaven ever shone. Applause. We shall
stand in the vanguard of civilization, of liber-
ty; we shall lead by the light of our example
all the other nations of the earth
THE DEPARTMENT OF WAsHINGTON.-The
following arc the orders announcing the change
in command in the Department Of Washington:
HQR's. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Augustus, 1866.
| General Orders No. 4G.
| In pursuance with the provisions Of General
Orders No. So War Department, a. 6. o., Au-
gust6, 1866 the undersigned hereby relinquishes
command Of the Department of Washington.
G.. G. AUGUR,
Major General u. S. Volunteers.
Hons DEPT. OF WAsHINGToN,
WAsHINGToS, D. c., August 13, 1866.
| General Orders No. At.
In obedience to War Department General Or
ders No 50, of the 9th instant, the undersigned
assumes the command Of the Department of
Washington. The department staff, as hereto
fore announced, will remain unchanged Off
GERS serving in the middle department., hereto
fore reporting to the headquarters of that de.