The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-04-14
THEGAEE CITY.
/. KEOKUK. IOWA
SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL Il.

+~ - = @Fs5 rt& -. ia X ~ # 4 =
SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL "A.
-lg-1EAE-. -
sOLDIERs' C0HvEvTIOH IN KEN.
TUC8E.
An attempt was make BY Gov, bramle1 %
commit the Soldiers Convention, recently
held at Louisville, in favor Of immediate and
indiscrimisste Recommending. bit ~ soldaers
who had fought for the Union, and who are
to-day in jeopardy Of life and property, tabled
the Governors resolutions.
Speeches were made BY Col. johnson and
Gen. Palmer, which were enthusiastically
cbeered. and which indicate both the situation
and the sentiment Of the Union soldiers Of
kentucky:
While the resolutions were under discus
sion, Col Sam johnson, of the 18th Ken
lucky, made telling radical speech, and
the more radical and decided sentiments Of
the speech were the most applauded by the
Convention.
did not come here, said the Colonel, to
attend political convention, nor to advise
either the President or Congress; but was
sent here to assist in devising ways ana
means for the relief Of the widows ana Or
phans Of Union soldiers left pennies ~ the
war Many Of them are now suffering lot
the necessaries of life, and II they are nol
relieved soon. either by the charity Of their
neiphbors or in some other way, they must
die for want. Your Copperhead Legislature
had so much to do in relieving and pardoning
The returned rebels from Lees army, that
they had no time to devote to the widows
and orphans left by Union soldiers. You
talk, Mr.. President, about going to5the leg.
islature to ask them to grant you charter
for Soldiers Savings Bank; But tell you
that your Copperhead Legislature won't
grant you a charter for any such purpose.
They wouldn't even appropriate the money
to bring home the remains of the brave sol
diers who are now buried in distant States,
and who gave up their lives to maintain the
integrity and honor Of the nation, and but tor
whom the capitol of the State and the COM
mercial metropolis of the State might now be
in q heap Of rnins. tell you, sir, that IN
Southern kentucky it is much better to have
been rebel soldier than a Union soldier.
sYour Judges and jurists will convict and fine
q Union soldier that has taken property under
the orders Of his superior officer, but il a re-
constructed rebel soldier has taken the pro-
perry Of Union man they will permit him TO
plead the command of rebel officer as a bar
TO any suit for damages. There are now
nineteen suits against Union officer in my
county for inpressing horses under the direct
orders of Gen. Thomas. You talk, Mr..
President lGen. Crittenden was in the Chair
about amnesting and forgiving the rebels, but
tell you, sir, that down in Southern Kens
lucky il is getting to be q matter of life and
death with US; and as things are now going
the Union men will soon have TO leave that
section OF the State.
IT. h-,va bocrtaJ ,fd f,ol,,,,l ~ dr.~,
amid storm Of applause. The speeches Of
all the soldiers who we're not professional
politicians were much to the same effect.
They were short, terse, off hand and effective.
Mai. Gen. Palmer, who was invited to take
a seat on the platform beside the President,
made two very appropriate and effective
speeches. send yon one rs reported in the
daily papers, which shows very plainly the
practical operation Of the Presidents recon
struetion policy in this State.
Gen Palmer said Whatever may be
your conclusions. have taken the liberty OF
making few remarks before you seperate. l
have been anxious to meet the soldiers OF
Kentucky in q body, and to consult with them
on questions that concern them personally.
1t is extremely important that you concentrate
on one point. and that is. protection to your
selves and your comrades in the State. You
have the privilege of asserting your rights.
All over this State, organizations exist,
having for their object the persecution Of sol
diers of the Union. This sentiment has con-
troll Of the Courts and juries. Over five hun.
dred suits are now pending against Union
soldiers for past acts performed while they
were vet in the service. To try Union sol
dier is to convict him. You must demand
justice for him and yourselves The question
is Of sufficient interest to hold you together
III one common brotherhood. You should
assert that they must have the benefit of the
law. and you can only obtain this by demand
ing it in body. | am prepared as readily as
any man, to forgive rebels when they forgive
me, but until they forgive me | am firm in
adopt some measure or perfect some organi-
cation by which your comrades may be pro-
tected. One thing will say for your Gov
ernor, and honor him for it: he has never
refused to sign pardons FOR soldiers who have
been convicted of 0fenses such as have re-
terred to. The question Of greatest inlpor-
lance is whether you will seesshat laws are
passed by which soldiers may be able to de-
fend themselves from the designs Of their
enemies, ! appeal to members Of commit
tees to carefully consider these things The
law is such that an act done by Union sol
der is crime, but, when done by rebel, is
JustiEed. organize ana correct publlc sehtI-
ment and law. This is my speech onight
hope its Importance will not be forgotten.
rejoice that martial law has ceased, and hope
that beneficial results will follow
A New Haven lady has a little boy about
two years old, Of dark compelxion, who was
sent into the sitting room 10 amuse himself
Soon his mother heard a crash, and, on go.
ing into the room found fine mirror broken
into a hundred pieces. On being asked what
he done il for, he said that he was not going
TO have that curly head '.black boy making
up faces at him.
The Tycoon has sent several Young
lam R1,rsia Loo