The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-23


lican Soldiers' Mass Convention here to-day is
I the largest gathering of people ever assembled
in Pennsylvania. A large number of delegations
arrived late last night and made the town ring
with their cheers for General Geary, whom they
followed everywhere. He was Obliged to keep
his head bobbing constantly TO waving hand
kerchieis. and TO extend his hand to thousands
OF people. Governor Curtin was anxIously ex-
pecIed, but despatch was received from him
this morning announcing that 1t would be i'm
possible TOR him to be present. Early this morn
ing, the delegations commenced TO arrive, and
soon the streets became choked with the teem-
ing thousands. No accurate calculations can
be made as 10 the number of people here to-day,
but the following facts may assist in forming
something like an adequate idea rs to the extent
OF the Gro Wds;- .... ...
The Sentiment.
1t would be utterly impossible in our clrcum-
scribed space to quote the various banner IN
scriptions, or note all the busy preparations
tor the day. Reading has been covered with
bunting and its political inscriptions are past
enumeration. The cheers lneidentto the arri-
walls OF delegations are deatening. Small can
non are beching forth in laundering peals
the welcome of old Berks. AT least thirty
bands are IN attendance, discOursing patriotic
airs at every turn. "rhe BOYS in Blue" are
legion, and the sentiment is "Geary, Congress,
and the Constitutional Amendments.n
Among the Inscriptions
were-"We vote for the man that fought for his
country" "Clymer stock, no sale;n "Lehigh
and Lancaster enter arm-in-arm;o "The One
hundred -thirty-eighth Regiment Pennsylva-
mia Volunteers" On one banner was q picture
OF President johnson emerging from the little
end OF horn, and the words, ut is all up with
Andy-ohi my policy" Equal rights to all"
was inscribed on the Chester banner. On a
wagon IN the Berks county delegation was "Old
Cumru wants neighbor Clymer to stay at thome;n
"Wop esdorf ventures TO invest in $4,000 ma
iority for General Geary next October in Penn
sylvania," etc.
The procession commenced to move at noon,
under the marshalship of General Hartranft.
The meeting was held in the Square. and was
called to order at 2 o'clock. Three stands nad
been erected in the square, which was perfectly
jammed during the speaking, thousands not
being able to get within hearing distance.
Colonel William B.NThomas, of Philadelphia,
presided.
Speeches of FOrney, Thomas, and Others.
John W. Forney then spoke for over an hour
on national issues. Linn Bartholom ew, of
Schuylkil county, also addressed this meeting
Colonel William B. Thomas, OF Philadelphia,
who presided at the middle stand, spoke at
| length against the Philadelphia Convention.
| He was particularly caustic in his review of
Andrew Johnsons "policy." o.
He indorsed the Constitutional amendments.
The Philadelphia Convention was sagely dis
posed to yield the abolition OF slavery,as ques-
| ton over which they can no longer hope to hold
any control. He eXpatiated at length upon the
| injustice of the present national representation
| in the South Equal political power must be
allowed TO all the people in all the States. What
| right have defeated Rebels from South Carolina
| and other States to come to Philadelphia and
| demand "rights" which they should never pos
| sess which they forfeited in their war upon the
| Cons stitution? They wish to elect Andrew john
| son to the chair he now disgraces He had no
| doubt that Pennsylvania would give Geary such
| a majority as must teach civilians of doubtful
| loyalty their duty.
At this stand large number OF Vice-Pres-
| dents were chosen, embracing distinguished
| gentlemen from all the counties OF the State.
| General Logan was not here to-day. Speaking
| is going on at various points again tonight but
| most of the delegations have left for home.
The chairman announced that despatch had
| Just been received, announcing the death of
General Nagle, of Schuylkill county, one of the
| Vice Presidents of the meeting.
The Resolutions.
The following resolutions were adopted amid
the most enthusiastic demonstrations of APP
| plause:-
ResoIoed, l. That we give praise and thank
| to Almighty God, in that He has vouchsated
| unto us full and complete victory over those
| who sought, during four long years of bloody
war, to destroy this the last altar of the rights
| of man, upon which to base free insti tutions-
that the black and loathsome stain of slavery,
which cassed us among the dark ages and the
heather nations OF the earth, has at last been
blotted out and that in all our land no man can
say to his fellow-man, "Thou art mlne"
| 2. That we owe debt of lasting gratitude to
the Union soldiers and sailors for their valor
and prowess in putting down the shareholders
| wicked and bloody Rebellion, and we pledge to
them, their wives, widows, and orphans, pro-
| lection, support, and patronage, whenever
within our power to give them.
| 3. That in the joint resolutions which passed
| the Congress of the United States by two
thirds vote, proposing amendments to the Con-
| sttution, we recognize the only safe palladium
of the principle Tor which we sacrificed four
| hundred thousand lives of our besI blood, and
| three thousand millions of our treasure; that in
the same spirit which actuated our forefatRers
TO proclaim the Declaration OF independence in
| 1776, we most heartily endorse the first section
OF the Amendment, declaring that all persons
born within the United States shall be citizens
thereof; as a means also of future protection, as
: we'll as present fairness and equality, we are in
favor of the second section which provides for
equaiZng representation In Congress- and IN
the electoral college, and we declare our ayoWed
hostility, n0lc and fOreUer, against the admission
of the States late in rebellion upon basis of
| representation which gives TO the South sixty
| per cent. more power in Congress and in the
, | electoral college than an equal number of white
people in the North, while the third section,
/, | excluding all periured Rebels from eligibility
to office, meets our hearty and unqualified APP
| proval
} 4. That the true intent and purpose of the
| policy laid down by Andrew Johnson (the mar
: | made President by j. Wilkes Booth) is to re-
l snrrect from oblivion and deserved disgrace the
! | Democratic party, which for its reasonable
| course during the war WasB consigned to the
l | tomb of everlasting infamy and shame; and we
believe that the success OF the said policy would
| turn back the wheels of progress generation
in our counTy's march in greatness and in glory.
| 3. That in MajorGeneral John w. Geary, the
standard-bearer of the Republican party OF
; | Pennsylvania, we have combined the true prln-
| ciples of the soldier and the statesman, the hero
of many battles and the defender of civil liberty
l whenever and wherever he has been called to