Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-09-25

liiH. uearl a7r1-- g -
The CLEVELAND CONVENTION.
Presentation of the Resolutions and AID.
dress to the President-HisR eply
The committee appointed by the Soldiers,
and Sailors Convention, recently held Ar
Cleveland, to proceed to Washington and pre- :
sent the President with official copies of the
resolutions and address adopted by that body.
performed that duty this afternoon at three
O'Clock. ..-.- r. -,
The committee was as follows. Maine. Gen.
Charles w. Roberts; Massachusetts, Col. Eli
Z. kinsley; New York, Gen. Chas J. Graham:
New Jersey, Col. j.. j. Craven; PennsyIya.
MIA, Gen. w. w. Duffield: Col ASHER l.. Siei.
dy, alternate for Gen; w; w. DufieId; Mary.
bia- Capt. f. X. Mexican; Virginia, Col J. D .
Brady; Ohio, Gen. Thomas kilby Smith: Ind.
ana, Gen. s. Meredith; Wisconsin,. Lieutenant
Smith: Kansas. Coi.O A Bassitt; Kentucky,
Gen. +. H. Hobson; Nebraska, Major J. w
Paddock; Georgia. Col. 5. b. Prssdee; renues-
see, Col Fry; Illinois, Gen. George c.
nate for Gen. Or. w. Denver; Michigan, Gen
e. A. Custar; Louisiana, Gen. w. b. Benton.
Upon the Committee's being ushered in to the
Presence OF the President; General Granger, as
proceedings OF the Convention. Gent t}rar-
ger promised bis reading by remarkine that
The object of the Convention, composed as il
bad been Of patriotic soldiers and sailors, who
had fought solely for the restoration of the
Union. wss 70 devise means for an early res
toratIon Of confidence and good feeling among
the whole people, and a restoration of the
Union, not merely in theory, but in fact,
based upon the Constitution. The men who as.
sembled at leveiand were men whose IoyaItv
and love of country had been tested on every
battlefield of the Republic during the rebel.
lion. They were inspired by no other motive
or ambition except the nat onal welfare. They
met at Cleveland aetuated by the same mo.
uves which guided them in the field The re
suit Of their deliberations was summed nm in
the following resolution THAT our object iu
taking up arms TO suppress the late rebellion
was 10 defend and maintain the supremacy of
the Constitution. and to preserve the Union.
WIN all the dignity, equality, and rights of the
several states uniln paired, and not i'm any spirit
Of oppression, or from any desire of conc uest or
sublugation; and that whenever there shall lie
any armed resistance to TIE lawfully con stItu-
ted authority of the nation, either in the South
in the Nor,h, in the East or in the West emu
lating the self-sacrificing patriotism of our
Revolutionary forefathars, We will again
pledge 10 Its support our lives, our fortunes
and our sacred honers.', =
In conclusion, General Granger said he be.
lieyed that in the proceedings Of the Con ven
ton were reflected the sentiments OF the or, at
mass, not only OF those who had borne arms in
the canse OF the Union, but of patriotic men
throughout the'whole land; and expressed the
hope that under President Johnson's admins.
tration the Union wouli be restored, and that
IL would De as enduring as time.
THE PRESIDENTS PRPLY.
The President SAID in response:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Ccamit:ee .
l have no formal reply to make. but the pre-.
sentation Of the recorded proceedings of the
Cleveland Con vention is peculiarly acceptable
10 me. To receive the encouragement and the
expression of, confidence in me OF gentlemen
so intelligent and patriotic inspires me with
increased confidence to progress in the dis.
charge ofmy duties in strictly adhering to and
maintainlng the Constitution OF the country
You have performed your part in the field
That has become part Of the country's
history; but after having done that
there is. as you have just evinced, an equally
important part to perform, as citizens. That
duty you are doing, and the part that Won are
performing now is equally important il no
of superior moment II that which Won dis
charged as folders and sailors OF the Union.
While the war was physical contest, con-
nected, OF course. with intellect and intelIi.
gence es far as the science Of war was con-
eerned, the struggle now is purely of civil
character for the establishment OF a basis upon
which our institutions are to rect hereafter.
The Query which now arises is, whether the
character and genius Of the nation is to be
subver;ed or whether ii, is to be settled upon
the principles Of the Consultation. To each
and all OF you is known the part that have
borne since this civil war commenced, both in
the campaign and apart rom it. 1 must refer
you to that as evidence Of what my conduct
will be in the future. have been cooperating
with you in every capacity in which you
have been engaged since the struggle COM
menced. .. .--.
I think we-sare now at the most i'm portant
crisis Of our country's history--when we are
TO fix a subsiantia and enduring basis upou
which the institutions Of the country are to rest
We are to return 70 the E stitutional limits
establishing the great fact that this is q Gov.
eminent Of limitat;ons-that it has q written
Constituston, and that 1t boundaries are to be
observed and strictly guarded, IL free Govern.
ment is to exist. And. coming out OF q rebel.
lion, we ought to demonstrate to mankind
that a free Government cannot exist
upon hatred and distrust. and ill.will
and that with us the time has come for re-.
establishment Of all the relations OF the States
to the Federal Government. This look upon
as being Of equal importance with any part OF
the war, if not the most important part
I have said more than iniended; but re.
peat that the encouragement, the eountenance
and the confidence given me, coming from the
source 1t doe, is peculiarly acceptable to me:
and, God being willing, will, with your
help, pursue the course / have been pur
suing In the effort to save our Government
know 1T has been said that the founders n.
government are entitled to the m ost couspicu-
Gus place in history; but my opinion is thatthe
preeersers OF government should occupy the
most important page. Let US all perform our
part according to the theory and genius of the
Government, and the result will be the pre-
servat'on OF our institutions, and we will take
the place TO which history will assign us.
The members Of the committee were then
severally introduced to the President, and after
q pleasant interview they withdrew.
-.-s ARRIVAL OF TROOPS.
The arrival of troops IN this vicinity has
given rise to exaggerated rumors of the intend.
ed concentration Of large military force from
twenty five to thirty thousand) here. The fart