The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-10-03

trOm LuG Ullbn VI bhS NaAS@AAA w 49,
last;
Modest and born of the angel hope,
Like our hope of success, 1t passed;
S. A. ].
Richmond, Va, June 2, 1865.
speech of Gov. ]. d. Cox, of Ohio,
On taking the Chair, as President OF
the Soldiers and Sailors Pitts6auyh
Convention.
My ow-C1TIzENs AND LADIES
AND GENTLEMAN: No one could be
much more surprised than myself at be-
ING thus called upon to preside over the
deliberations of this great body. For
myself, had fully and heartily coinci-
ded with what has been said to you by
the distinguished Chairman of the Com
mittee on Permanent Organization, that
in the great East from which we have
been accustomed to receive leadership
and instruction, we should find any one
who would have better claims to this
position than myself; and in the great
West only that distinguished Chief
whom I, with many others have delight
ed to follow-Gen. Logan-would have
been the choice of my own heart. But
many another would have seemed to
me more fit and proper for this posi-
ton. The only merit | can claim is
that of the most unbounded sympathy
with every man who has worn the blue.
Applause. From the beginning Of the
war to the surrender of the last Rebel
army, my heart and my word have
been with them, and hence my own
services could make me feel at home
with you. / feel that / am indeed at
home. I feel further, my comrades,
that we are here one in sentiment, and
that whether the Presidency of this or
ganization had fallen upon one from the
East or the West, SO that he were a
soldier of the great Republic, he would
have its support. Applause. We are
here as citizens soldiers and l remem-
Der time, and perhaps our distingu ish-
ed friend, the Chairman of the Commit
tee on Permanent Organization, will
also remember the time, in some of the
rather dark days of 1862, when it was
debated in this country, whether or not
the army, which seemed able to save
the Republic, could under any circum-
stances be made the tool of any Chief,
in or out of the army, to destroy those
liberties. And l know that there were
men in the Army of the Potomac and
in the Army of the Great West; there
were men everywhere to spring up and
say: Soldiers of the American Republic
are citizens first and soldiers afterward
[cheers]; that they recognized that
their paramount duty is the duty they
owe to their country; that no allegiance
to military or political chief could ev-
er under any circumstances, make them
forget that they have bound themselves
and pledged their lives and honor to
the support of the Government against
all its enemies So long as there is the
least danger that that Government
shall fall OF even be imperiled, if any
foe within or foe without, whether he
be a military man or whatever may be
his political sentiments, should strike
at the perpetuity of this nation, the ar
my of the Republic will be found ar
rayed as one man against all such foes.
1t is a great satisfaction to me to meet
here not only our comrades, of the Vol
unteer Army and Volunteer Navy, but
also our comrades of the Regular Army
and Regular Navy. We have come to
thank God to-day, that although there
are instances in which men who have
faithfully served the country through
the war may have been brought to oc.
cupy such unfortunate positions that
they may seem to have been bought
by the hope Of preferment; yet The
great mass of all those who have worn
our uniform, whether it has been the
uniform of our boys in blue, on land OF
water, are true in the principles thew
were fighting for during the war. LAD.
plause. The old Proverb saws. "Excep.
lions prove the rule" and SO l think we
at least, who live in Ohio, and have
seen how pitiful the array of exceptions
has been, are prepared to ayoW and
prove that they are only such as make
the most positive proof of the rule
Applause. As citizen-soldiers. then
we meet, determined that what has beer
done during the war shall continue t.
pear It's fruit; that our labor, toll. an6
blood, shall not have been wasted tba,
the Union which our fathers have tanob,
us to love with patriotic devotion shall
ever continue to exist and grow NOR,
and more vigorous upon free principles
we recognize the fact that about tn,
Union Of these States is clustered al
those causes for patriotic devotion which
IN other lands may be concentrated
about families and the powers of Gov
eminent. That spirit Of LOYALTY an,
attachment means with us EVERYWHERE
not attachment to position, to an off
&c, to any or all the offices that ma,
represent the Government of the coun
Try; but it represents attachment t
the unity Of those United States unde
our glorious Constitution and SINGER
1oyefor the nation In its unity. TGrea
applause But greatly to our regre
we have had forced upon US a recogn