Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-27

q | IEtuCllSe nearly al tue men IN Ll'
a South who have influences over tht
masses of the people. If none were
u 10 be disfranchised except officers of thu
e rebel army, We still could not expect tht
I South to adopt it. For large majority
3 Of the men in the lately insurreetionary
States, through compulsion or choice,
severed in the rebel armies, and their votes
I alone would overwhelmingly defest it.
e Would Union soldiers, to receive political
! | privileges, disfranchise their leaders, whom
they love and revere for their heroic vir-
tues How then can we expect Southern
soldiers to disfranchise and degrade their
old commanders?
] As there is no probability that the
amendment will be ratified by three
fourths of the States, the plan of restora-
ton which Congress appears to have de-
termined on is ct best impracticable; that
proposed By the President and approved
by the National Union Convention is feas-
ible, and we believe, safe. We have no
fear that the South can ever overthrow
the Federal Govern ment, or even disturb
its career Of power and glory. They will
be the last of the States to rebel, and if
they should again rise in insurrectiOn the
loyal people can and will subdue, and if
need De Gestroy tnem.
The Government has asserted its power
for self-preservntion, and the devastation
and misery of the South proclaim TO this
generation, at least, the crime and the
terrible penalties of treason. Beholding
their woes and contrasting their weakness
and our strength, we could afford to show
the confidence and courage ofmaguanim-
ity. We might well let our vanquished
opponents arise and like James Fitz
james at Coiltangle ford, staunch their
wounds and forgive their treason. But
We are nut asked TO be magnanimous, but
only consistent and Just. This we cannot
refuse to be without violation of the
| Constitution of our country and a risk Of
its utter overthrow.
We seek aud will have no association
| in political action with men North or
South who are not avowedly in our opin-
ion sincerely faithful TO the constitutional
| principles for which We fought. But if
men who have taught or practised treason
now openly renounce their errors and
maintain with us the true principles of
our Government, we shall not reject their
co operation, when the restoration Of the
| Union and the preservation of our form
of government are in issue. However
much we regret to sever cherished politi-
cal associations and 10 cooperate with
former enemies, We must prefer to act
with those who have been wrong and are |
now right, rather than with those who |
we're right and now are wrong.
Believing that our Government is again |
in peril, we appeal to you who have fought, |
10 save it. and who hold it dearer and |
more sacred than all party ties, to come 10 |
the rescue. Let the soldiers and sailors |
-sss-----e, a=iAA- -Gls- in sen.iment and suhn !
cannot in person attend, send delegates |
through the action of their societies or |
through their conventions. Let US meet |
in force at Cleveland on the 18th of Sep
tember, the anniversary of the day when |
the Constitution was proclaimed by our
forefathers, and let US aid in restoring the |
Union it created, and the liberties it was
ordained TO secure.
G. A. CUSTER, Mai Gen. U. s. A,
A ID. McCooK, Maj. Gen. us. Az
L. H. ROUSSEAU, Maj. Gen,
s. MEREDITH, Bvt. Maj. Gen,
THos. EWING, Jr-, Bvt. Maj. Gen,
Committee on Address.
Washington, Aug l9, 1866.
We cordially approve the call for the
convention, and recommend the holding
of local conventions to cooperate in the
movement.
Major Generals John A. Dix, James B.
Steedman, F. P. Blair, H. w. Slocum,
Daniel E. Sickles. Gordon Granger, John
i'll, Il. T. Davies, Jr., Orlando B. Wilcox,
a. S. Williams, Gresham Mott, Hugh Erv-
ing, Theodore Ruhyon, Thomas Kilby
1
den, II. r. Patrick, Alvan c. Gillem, J.
J. Bartlett, G. K. Warren, JEFF. c. Davis,
Joseph T. Knight, and A. L. Msrkland,
Superintendent United States mail.
Brevet Major Generals S. MeMahan,
Il. H. Heath, John NJ. Oliver, VIM. G.
Ward, Henry A. Morrow.
Brigadier Generals George P Este, G.
c. Maxwell, Anson G. McCook, George
Spalding, J. B. Swetzer, w. W. II. Da-
Wis, Walter G. Whitaker, John L. Crox-
ton, Wm. McCandless, A. B. McCalmOnt,
Samuel Beatty, VIM. Hsrtzhorn, J. S.
Fullerton, G. Winters, E. Is. Brown, ].
G. Parkhurst, George H. Hall, r. a.
Vaughn, James Craig, Morgan L. Smith,
James c. McFerron, Joseph w. Frizell
Ferd. Van Derveer, Lewis c. Hunt, Jas.
Il. Ford, Thomas Curley, E. S. Bragg.
Brevet Brigadier Generals g. G. Hal
pine, Henry 5. Commager, Il. c. Hobart,
L. C. Dunlap, C. o. Loomis, Cassius Fair ,
child, Henry Bertrand, Charles W. Blair,
james h. Mills, Charles Black, Durben
Ward, John Lawrence Colwell, Quinn Z
Morton, David Murphy, John NJ. Rich
ardson, Marcus Boyd, James o. Brodhea /,
w. B. Rogers, Jas. Peekham, T. 7. Crit
tenden, Samuel R. Mott d. f. Baker,
P. Il. Alback, James Mum, Henry
Barnes, Richard MeAllister, d. W. Bliss,
Surgeon United States Volunteers, John
Atkinson, Colonel Graham, NJ H Fitch,
Henry Starr, VIM. D. Lewis, o. F. Morse,
Levi A. Harris, George Gray, W. d.
Ent, John Il. Linton, James George,
John Heacock, John d. Ward, VIM. r.
McCreery, Il. NJ. Bulkley, c. D. Penni-
booker, james c. McKibbin, John F.
Phillips, Miles E. Green, John NJ. Glover,
john E. Phelps, NJ. Flesh, Colonel Byrne
and fifty other officers
The change from Chicago to Cleveland
as the place Of holding the convention was I
made at the solicitation of gentlemen in t
the ses-board States, who consider the for
mer more desirable as a central location 4