Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-15
TIE NATIONAL UNION CONVENTION


begun procession of delegates began to file in
to the great entrance of the Wigwam. 1t was
announced from the platform that the delegates
from Massachusetts and South Carolina were
entering the wigwam arm arm together
The whole Of this vast assembage rose and
commenced cheering most enthusiastically. Ii
was an impressive scene, typical Of the cordial
reunion this Convention was intended to &C
complish The excitement and enthusiasm were
intense The band struck up "Rally hound
the Flag" followed by Dixie and the Star
Spangled Banner" Cheer rose upon cheer
when the band commenced playing the Star
Spangled Banner; and General Dick Taylor
proposed three cheers for the Union. which
were given most heartily. Many Of those pre-
sent were effected to tears. Northern men and
Southern men embraced each other and sobbed
upon each Others breasts
The number Of persons present in the wlgwam
was not less than 5000. The body OF the Con-
venton where the delegates were seated pre-
sentcd scene Of impressive grandeur. Never
before were there so many noble and lntelectu-
al heads brought together in one great conclaVe'
Meetings of the committees on credentials
! and on permanent organization were held I'M
mediatcly after the adjournment. Both Will be
ready to report to-day. The Committee on Or
eanization have selected Hon. j. r. Doolittle
for permanent president, with vice president
and secretary from each State and Territory
~ - boc rotv
announced although those who have been Sc
lected by the various delegations have already
held an informal meeting, at which it is under
stood that an address prepared by Hon. ii. j.
Raymond was rejected.
Mr.. Vallandigham it is stated has written 4
letter to Mr. Doolittle, declining to take his
seat as delegate The letter is said to be
kind and temperate, and bases the conduct of
| the writer upon grounds more favorable to HIM
self.
4 characteristic letter from George Z. Train
to the Executive Committee Of the Convention
is published in which he says: My proxy is
in your hands. I wanted harmony. We have
got it. Sometime since I proposed to with
draw if one or two others would. They kept
their promise; kept mine
| MEETING.
1t having been announced that meetings
would be held every night, vast crowd assem-
bled in and around the National Guard Hall,
last night, to listen to addresses by speakers
| from different States. Gov Perry of South
Carolina, was the first speaker, and he was
greeted with most enthusiastic cheers He
dwelt much on the benefit that must arise by
the people of the different sections mixed TO-
gether and interchanging ideas He said Of
South Carolina, that she has accepted in good
faith the logic of events that she had aban-
doned all idea Of secession or nulllfcatiOD; and
claimed that he had told President johnson
| the truth when he said to him that South Car
| DINA is no less loyal than Massachusetts,. The
South had Internationally surrendered, called
conventions, and he had organized the State,
and it was the first of the late rebel States
| that accepted the amendment to the Con-
stitution abolishing slavery. South Carroll
ma had sinned, but it was only Christian to
forgive as we expect to be forgiven. Taxation
without representation was exercised towards
the South All they asked now was TO be re-
stored to the Union The South was now
poor, and suffering from war, famine, and pes
thence He hoped her readmission into the
Union would lead to continued prosperity. and
that it would soon take place, and that he
would be able, when again he stood before
them, to stand as an equal.
Mr. 4. O. Pcrrinc, of New York, made q
most humorous and telling speech. lie said
| he did not want the North taxed to feed idle
negroes in the South, who, by being fed on
charity, were encouraged to avoid work in a
country whose desolated fields needed the pro-
alike the excesses Of New England and South
Carolina, and said If he had the making of
Mason and Dixon's line it should have been
circular, with South Carolina at one end and
Massachusetts, at the other; and he would let
the two ends fight their fight out without dis
turbiDg the happy Union in the middle. He
! dweIt much on the evils Of taxation without
representation, and deprecated the revcngeful
spirit of Radicalism os unworthy the magma
nimity Of q great people. He was unwilling to
| defer the restoration cf the Union for the sake
of bringing upon the people of the South q
| political equality with negroes there. Nor did
| be sec how Eastern Radicals could press such
line of action when they rejected thatequality
in their own section, where negroes have so
trihng q proportion to the whites. Negroes
| had the majority in several Southern States
| by two hundred thousand in South Carolina
Give them political equality, and they would
send colored Congressman to the now vacant
seats, and when summer came, and the Their
mometcr registered one hundred and two
| degrees the instinct OF the white members and
outstinl1 of the black ones would awaken the
antipathies Of men on the floors of legislation.
IMPORTANT FOREIGN NEWS.
European adviccs to last evening, via the
Atlantic cable, state that advlces have been re-
ccivcd in London indicating probable renewal
Of the war between the Prussians and Bava-
rians, on the territory of the latter, and great
fears are entertained Of such an event. Prus-
sia has Informed Napoleon that his demand