Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-06-06

The Gepsse Of Liberty says: John W.
Gearys the candidate of the Radical Aboli-
tFonists for Governor of Pennsylvania, was
elected Lieutenant-C Colonel of the Second
Pennsylvania regiment of volunteers in the
war with Mexico, upon the organization of
that regiment in the city of Pittsburg Will
liam B. Roberts, of this county, was the
Colonel commanding, and died in the city
of Mexico. After his death, Geary was
promoted to the colonelcy The Fayette
County volunteers were attached to this reg
iment and known as Company H. They
distinguished themselves for gallant conduct
and intrepid bravery in all the important
engagements from Vera. Cruz to the city of
Mexico, including the bloody assaults upon
the gates of that city They continued in
service until the end of the war, and were
honorably discharged The survivors, upon
their return home, were received with earn
ed and highly distinguished honors by their
fellow-citizens. Here, at the county seat.
they were honored by splendid reception,
participated in by the citizens of the county
generally, as well as by the ladies, who
greeted their return with all that delicate
attention and refined taste peculiar to their
sex. At Connellsville, also, they were the
recipients of a handsome ovation, the heart
felt tribute of the citizens and ladies of that
place and vicinity. The reception at Con-
nellsville took place on Saturday, July Is,
1S4S. The reception speech was made by
DIR. James G. Cummings, and the response
by Sergeant Peter A Johns. After tho de-
livery of the speeches and partaking of an
elegant dinner prepared for the occasion.
the returned soldiers met together and unon-
tnaousty adopted preamble and series of
resolutions, which show up the character of
John W. Geary in such light as would
render his election as Governor an everlast
ing disgrace to the State of Pennsylvania.
These resolutions were, it will be seen,
unanimously adopted by true and tried sol
diers, by men who knew Geary well and by
men who did not hesitate to proclaim their
estimate of his character, and that too, not
IN tender, dainty sentences, but in well ex-
pressed and forcible language The testi-
mony of these proceedings gains additional
force from the fact that it was uttered at
such a time and under such circumstances
as to exempt it entirely from any imputa-
ton of political influences. The proceed
ings were published in the papers of this
county by request of the soldiers, on the
9th of July, 1s4S, and here they are
The following preamble and resolutions
were offered by the returned volunteers of
Company FL, Second Pennsylvania regiment,
and unanimously adopted by the meeting:
Whereas, The discharge and arrival home
OF the remaining members of the Fayette
volunteers has again placed them In the posi-
ton of citizens of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and enable them to speak and
assert their rights, they now embrace this
occasion, the first opportunity since their
return, to express their deep and abiding in
dignation of the conduct of John w. Geary,
since he was elected to the command of the
Second Pennsylvania regiment, at the city
of Mexico. The said John W. Geary pro-
cured his election by a mere plurality of
votes, by falsehood and deception While
he was promising to give company Ii the
privilege of electing their own officers, ac-
cording to the laws of the State of Pennsly-
vania, he, the said Geary, bargained with
others for votes, promising and giving ap-
pointments in said company II to men from
other companies who might answer his pc
culiar purposes. The law of Congress of
the 18th May, 1916, calling for volunteers
for the war with Mexico, has this provision:
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That
the said volunteers so offering their services
shall be accepted by the President, in COM
panles, battaliOns, and regiments, whose
officers shall be appointed in the manner
prescribed by law in the several States and
Territories to which such companies, battal-
ions, squadrons, and regiments shall respec-
lively belong.
Resolred, That we, the remaining mem
bers of the Fayctte county volunteers, view,
the conduct of the said John w. Geary
towards Company III ,as an outrage upon their
just rights, as secured to them by the laws of
Pennsylvania as well as the laws of Congress.
The whole course and conduct of the said
Geary being inconsistent with the character
of gentleman or man of honor, it was
treating us as set of men who did not
know their rights, and could not appreciate
them-it was corrupt and mercenary in all
its bearings, characteristic of a low and grow
cling creature, hunting and seeking popu-
larity for courage and patriotism that he
never earned, by bargaining with subtle tools
and mercenaries, one of whom at least was
a notorious black leg.
ResoLred, That the arrest and trial of First
Sergeant John A. Cummings by court
martial, for daring to assert his rights and
those of the company, was base and cow
ardly exercise of usurped authority on the
part of the said John W. Geary, after he
1.-THE said Geary) had surreptitiously and vii
lainously suppressed the order of the Adju-
tant General of this State ISSUED by direc-
ton of Governor Skunk, directing him to
fill all vacancies in the Second regiment of
Pennsylvania volunteers by election, taking
advantage of his stolen authority to cover
up his worse than base motives, and to in
jure the hard-earned fame of brave and
gallant officer