The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-09-25
The Soldiers and Sailors COnyen-
tom.

tom.
CLEVELAND, September 1.-THE Sol
diers' and Sailors Convention, in re-
sponse to call from those favorable to
the policy of President johnson and the
action of the Philadelphia Convention of
August 14th. met in this city to-day.
A pavilion one hundred and fifty feet
in length by sixty in breadth had been
erected in the park for the use of the
Convention, and at three o'clock the del
egations entered, preceded by band of
music, and were seated, after which the
crowd from the outside was admitted, and
filed the tent to its utmost capacity
Previous to the organization, quite
spirited scene was witnessed, the delega-
tions rising and cheering with all their
might for, successively, the old flag, Gene
rails Custar, Rousseau, Wool and McClel-
Ian, the constitution, the thirty six States
and Johnson, and, after brief. breath
ing spell, for General Grant, Secretary
Seward, the American army, and General
Steedmau and Governor Bramlette, of
Kentuckey. As the cheering was called
for and given, in each case there was
scene of wild enthusiasm, delegates and
spectators rising and swinging their hats
and shouting most vigorously. By a
previous arrangement Governor Bran
lette nominated Major-general John E.
Wool, the oldest Major general in the
United States, and probably in the world,
as temporary President. General Wool
was received with loud cheers, and ad-
dressed the Convention.
General Wool in his speech said:
Another civil war is foreshadoWed un-
less the freedmen are placed on equality
with their previous masters. If this can
not be accomplished Radical partisans,
are again ready to invade the Southern
States and lay Tastc the country not al
ready desolated, with the sword in one
hand and the torch in the other. These
revengeful partisansss would leave their
country a bowling wilderness for the
want of more victims to crafty an un-
sparing cruelty. If they should succeed
in inAicting on the country another war,
it would be more terrible than the one
from which We have just emerged. 1t
would not be confined to the Southern
States, but extend itself the length, and
breadth Of the United States, and only
close with the overthrow of the best
government ever devised and the finest
country on the face of the globe. Ifsuch
should be the fate of our great Republi-
can Empire, the cause must not be sought
for in our military camps, but in the
forum thronged with .infamatory orators
and aspiring demagogues, with souls dead
to their country's honor and spotted with
corruption.
Heed not the demagogues who, to graf
. ify ambition or revenge, would drenct
their country in blood. The loss of lib
erty commences with oppression, and op
preston follows war. The United States
as conquerors, can afford to be just and
magnanimous. The brave are always
mericful and generous. As Presiden
johnson said, we have had war enough
let there be peace.
/ AeGCO1lGCG L1dG tuG ICCGul IGDGIilOn 0u-
gendered by radical abolitionists ant
Shareholders, leaves the Northern States
with more than hundred thousand pen.
sioners, beside thousands and tens ofthou
sands of widows and orphans, to WeeE
over the graves Of their protectors ant
defenders of the Union. Yet there arr
those among US who are not sufficiently
satisfied with blood and plunder, ant
0 cry for more war.
In conclusion, I would call upon you
officers, soldiers and sailors to stand b,
the Union, which, in war Of four years
when blood flowed in torrents, by you
gallantry, indomitable perseverance ant
1a courage, you saved from ruin and de-
struction. I entreat you to spare no efort
. to preserve this great Republican EN-
e pire-the last hope Of the oppressed 0
e the world-again imperiled by the mach
nations of demagogues, whose maxims are
"rule or ruin"