Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-09-27
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER %, 1866.
Soldiers, Conventions.

The great expectations" which the
Johnsonites had, or protested TO have,
from the Cleveland convention, have col.
lapsed. A greater political fzzle than
that convention has not occurred in
many year. Few soldiers of any note
were there; in fact, the attendance of
soldiers ~ any kind was small, and the
proceedings were spiritless. They must
be very sanguine men who could have
expected different result. A conven-
ton of soldiers who had fought for the
Union against the bloody assaults Of
treason, contrived and regulated in its
proceedings by wire pulling politicians,
and intended to aid in surrendering the
fruits Of hard won victory into the hands
OF the traitors, was not calculated to
draw large attendance OF the Union
defenders, or to create an immense
amount Of enthusiasm.
The platform adopted by the conven-
ton consisted of two resolutions, one
approving the resolutions passed by the
August Philadelphia convention, and
the other declaring "that whenever there
shall be any armed resistance to the con-
stituted authorities of our national
Union, either in the South or in the
North, in the East or in the West, emula-
ting the self-sacrifcing patriotism Of our
revolutionary forefathers, we will again
pledge to its support our lives, our for
tune and our sacred honor" An ad- |
dress was adopted taking exceptions |
more distinctly to the policy of Con-
gress, and especially Directing to the
third section of the constitutional |
amendment, excluding prominent ex-
rebels from Office, which it is declared
the Southern people cannot in honor
adopt.
There was some show Of enthusiasm
at one time, near the close of the con-
vention, when there was an exchange of
congratulations with meeting of "sol-
diers of the late confederate army" at
Memphis. A dispatch was received
from Memphis, signed by Forrest, Chal-
mers, and others, as follows -
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Sept. II.
To the President of tie Soldiers and
Sailors Convention, Cleveland. The SOL
diers Of the late confederate army met
here today and deputed the undersigned
to congratulate your convention on its
efforts to restore peace and quietude to
the country, and to express their deep
sympathies with your patriotic purpose
and further to assure you that the con-
tederate soldiers are entirely willing to
leave the determination Of their rights
rs citizens OF the United States to the
soldiers Of the Union. On our part we
pledge security of life, person and prop
,rty, and freedom of speech to all A
mass meeting will be held here to-mor-
'oW night to give formal expression to
.heseipurposes and sentiments. Signed,
N. B. Forrest R. Chalmers, L. ]. Deep
sell, Levi Truesdale, NJ. c. Galloway,
M. Jordan, NJ. Jones.
This was received with much cheer
ng and the following reply was re- e
urned by the officers Of the Cleveland G
Convention
"The' National Union Convention of s
soldiers and sailors assembled here are {
grateful for the patriotic SEN g
lments expressed in your dispatch. We /
lail with pleasure every effort to, restore {
,eace, prosperity and brotherly affection
throughout our entire country. War t
las its victories, but peace and Union
ire blessings for which we will man j
ully contend, until harmony, and JUS
ice are restored, under the constitu-
ion"
Three cheers were also given by the L
cleveland Convention for "Ned Forrest"
igner Of the above telegram. The bare
tatement Of the fact that this Ned I
'orresL" is no other than the execrable Il
tlIaiO and inhuman butcher Of Fort 1
illow massacre notoriety, is more forci-
lie in this connection than would be
olumn o. comments. The hobnobbing
f Union soldiers with such brutal r.
nd cold-blooded murderer of loyal and
efenceless men. is burning disgrace to
le "boys in blue" And the pledge of
security Of life, person and property y
nd freedom OF speech" from such a source,
nd following so soon upon the Memphis
nd New Orleans massacres, is mock
y which would be ridiculous if it were =.
0t cruel. ~
But the boys in blue" will wipe out, V
Pittsburg next week, the disgrace or
hich few of their number would fas- r,
n upon them. We shall see there hs
invention OF soldiers worthy the name, W
Id they will pronounce for the Union, o'
r freedom and loyalty, with the same
and intensity and overwhelming en- m
usiasm with which they fought for of
EN- on many battlefield. The masses ca
the Union soldiers and sailors will de
ere be fairly and fully represented.
hey will speak as they fought, and
hen the time comes they will 'vote as 90
ey shot" ...s.. ~