Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-14
!. GRAND Army OF THE REPUBLIC."


We have been requested to give publicity
to the following call. Other papers through
out the State are requesiedto copy:
HEADQUARTERS DEPT OF ILLINOIS, GRAND Ar
NY OF THE REPUBLIC, ADgUTANT GEEERAI's Or
VICE SPRINGFIELD Octf 81. lS66.-Capf. John NJ.
Palmer: Ny Dear Sir The Grand Army Of the
Republic viii meet in National Convention at In
dianap0ls. Indiana. on the 10Th Of November.
and We viii expect 10 meet a good delegation IRON
Tennessee.
Give notice throughout tls State, and urge all
Jyo. NJ. PALwRR.
Commanding Dept Ii. g. A. r.
For Gen. THOMAS. Col. MAGNAgS, Col. stokes,
and all other soldiers.
The above appeared exclusively in the
Radical organ Of this city, yesterday morn
ing. We copy il. 'by request We would
cheerfully aid the late Federal soldiers
North and South, in any scheme or organi-
zation having in view the restoration Of the
country to the principles on which its
trainers launched it into existence. II this
be the object Of the "Grand Army of the
Republic" we are ready to bid it the best Of
speed.
We confess, however, to suspicion on
the subject not altogether pleasant. We
have heard great deal ofthis Grand Ar
my" since the close of the war. Ii has, ac-
cording TO the above notice, all the ear
marks of regular and compact military
organization. 1t has Department Head
quarters IAN "Adjulant Generals Office "
and =" Commanders Of Departments "-the
circular is addressed alone to "soldiers"-
and it seems only to contemplate military
objects. Although we have heard much Of
the "Grand Army of the Republic" we
have not heard its objects fairly defined
nor have we heard that it had any relation
to the regular army Of the Union.
Under these facts We should be pleased to
ascertain from some one informed, the char
acter Of the organization and what may be
its distinctive purposes. We should not
have made the inquiry had it not thrust it.
prominently before the people of Tennes-
see by The above notice. 1t now concerns
them to degree that justifes the interroga-
tive and demands an answer. History re-
cords the fact that an endeavor was made to
create and continue a purely military So
ciety or organization in this country after
the close of the Revolutionary war for our
independence Of Great Britain, separate and
apart from the Government Of the United
States. On being submitted to WASHING
TON, it was spurned by him, and denounced
as in effect most mischievous and in
tolerable. WASHINGTON held that in
8 free country the military must
be confined to the regular army and to the
army of the people-called the militia
and that any other or separate military
organization was improper, unauthorized
and dangerous to public liberty. The same
is true at the present day. If we do not
hold it so, if we depart from this teaching
of the great defender of political freedom
and the exemplar of political virtue in
America, we go to sea in an open boat with
out udder or compass, in the midst Of wa
tiers in oommotion, and without single
hope Of safety.
We have a right, therefore, to inquire
what is this Grand Army of the Republic?"
of whom it is composed? what its numbers?
how organized? how supported and what
its purposes and designs? We put the
questions respectfully, and on the part of the
whole people demand an answer.