The Portland daily press., 1866-05-18
The Soldiers and Sailors Convention.
Special Report for the Press. no liz fIrT

BANGOR, May 16, 1886.
Inc convention OF the discharged heroes of
the late war assembled this morning at Nor
ombega Hall in this City. The Hall itself
presented fine appearances, being capopied
and feStooned with the national colors, with
'Oid Glory" lnterspersed at numerous points,
and the names of the prominent officers from
this State who have fallen in the service con-
| spicuously displayed upon the walls. Over
the main entrance is placed finely executed
motto "OUR FALLEN COMRADES" !" and az nu-
merous points about the hall appropriate deco
rations are introduced The Bangor Band
was in attendance, repeating the stirring strains
under the inspiration of which those assem-
pied mad so often marched to victory
Inc attendance was very large, and many
pleasant greetings passed between the heroes
OF twenty battles thus meeting after their re-
turn from service
The Convention was called to order, by
prey. t1'S Brig Gen; G. w. Roberts, and Col J. +.
Miller, OF Portland, was chosen Temporary
Chairman. Col. Miller, ON taking the Chair,
made neat, eloquent and highly appropriate
address, alluding in feeling terms to the brave
| dead whose names adorned the hall He was
rapturously applauded. ~ I7--0T1 81
Ihe Throne OF Grace was then addressed
oy rev. Urlah Balkan, late Chaplain of the
Iotf regiment, IN an eloquent and impressive
prayer, the entire convention standing with
bowed heads and in reverent attitude. =
On motion Lieut.. +. G.. Patterson of Port
land, 1t Col. Il. M. Drew Of Brunswick. and
Capt. L. 5. Hutchings were chosen temporary
Secretaries. = AZ f.. e-7'l~ - -rr',-
committee was appointed to ascertain
and report the name and organization of all
soldiers and sailors present
A committee ofone from each County was
appointed to present a list of officers for a per-
manent organization of the Convention.
The Convention then adjourned to meet in
the afternoon at 21 Q O'Clock,
AFTERNOON SESSION. 800 1
The Convention met according to afliourn
ment, the body of the hall being filed with
veterans, and the galleries with interested
spectators -tr --i' - % II
Rev. DR.. Teft, late Chaplain of the 1st
Maine Cavalry addressed the Convention brief
ly, reviewing the events of the war and sub-
sequent peace. He declared that those whom
he addressed were not only the defenders bnt
rue sur1ors OF our Nation and Government.
and that as such their memory viii 90 down
to all coming time. He then alluded to the
present duty of those who had done this work
in the field, and declared that whatever NAV
be the legal status of the revolted States, Il
out OF the Union they must be dealt with ac-
cordingly, and il In the Union they are In it
as criminals and must be so considered. In
conclusion he paid an eloquent tribute to the
Flag Of our Country which was responded to
with The Star Spangled Banner " by the
Band.
The Committee on permanent organization
made the following report which was adopted:
PRESIDENT. gl f.gT lga
Gen. j. P. Cilley of Thomaston. 20
si ID VICE PRESIDENTS. a.la
Col. ii. M. Plaisted, of Penobscot Co.: Col
E. M. Luce, Androscoggin; Capt. VIM T..
dhomes, y. >; N; Col. Isaac Dyer, Somerset;
Capt. e. Is. Dow, Cumberland; Col Fl. G..
Staples, Kennebec; Gen. Thompson, Sagada-
hoe; Col Henry Rust, Oxford; Col Wm.
Macarthur, York; Col. Philo Hersey. Waldo:
Lieut.. Col. WIN. Z. Hadlock, Hancock:
Lit. Col j. H. Thompson, Piscataquis; Color
Serg't John A. Monk, Aroostook Serg't A. G.
Strout, Knox; Capt Geo. b. Remission, Lin
coin; Corporal George A. Smith, Franklin.
SECRETARIES. u .L5Ises
Maj. F. M. Drew, of Brunswick: Can't. Tn, q.
S. Hutchins, Augusta; Lieut. F. G. Patter
son, Portland. - IlH
Gen. Cilley was introduced and addressed
the Convention. His remarks were very sar-
castle in regard to the treatment of the re-
turned soldiers by those in power and his al
luslons to politicians and wire-pullers were
caustic and severe. .r 80 ll1ll-4
A committee on resolutions consisting of
one from each County was appointed. On
motion of Col. Luce of Auburn it was voted
that an organization to be known as the Sol
diers' and Sailors State Union be formed and
committee was appointed to draft a Consti-
tuition and BY Laws. -'~
A vote expressive of the sympathy of the
Convention with Gen. Connor in his renewed
prostration by accident was passed Addresses
were made by Coils Porter, Hersey and Plais
ted, and Gems. Hill, White and Hamlin.-
About five hundred soldiers and sailors were
present and amid the greatest enthusiasm the
Convention adjourned till seven o'clock in the
evening. il--'i1T'- ~
EVENING SESSION. .los
The Convention re-assembled at the bopr
above named. Notwithstanding the storm a
very large audience was present. The COM
mittee on names OF members reported that
the number of returned soldiers and sailors
present exceeded five hundred. representing
W different organizations of this State. one
rom Massachusetts, one from Wisconsin, the
regular Army and the u. S. Navy. The ear
" part OF the evening was occupied by elo-
9uent and thrilling remarks by different gen
| tlemen. --T--.T 80"
The Committee on Resolutions reported,
ana as many gentlemen were desirous OF leay-
ing IN the morning train immediate action
was taken and they were adopted. As the
| resolutions presented by the committee were
| not quite up to the general spirit of the meet
| ing and will undoubtedly be reconsidered and
amended in the morning your reporter will
include them, as finally adopted, in his report
of the proceedings of the second day.
1t is much regretted by many of the gentle
men present that many of the distinguished
officers whose presence was expected are not
present. Especially is this fact noticeable in
| the representation from Cumberland Co Had
Gen. Fessenden Of Portland, been present he
| would undoubtedly been elected President of
| the Convention. In his absence Gen. Ciley of
whose valor and patriotism none can entertain
a doubt was thus honored. LUTHER.