Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-09-18
HE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CONVENTION

Soldier and Sailors Convention, in response to
call from these favorable to the policy OF
President johnson and the action Of the Phll-
adelphia Convention of August a. met IN TINS
city to-day. .z.......-
Previous to the organization quite spirited
scene was witnessed, the delegations rising ana
cheering with all their might, succesS7ely, LOT
the old flag, Generals Custer, Rousseau, Wool:
Mcclellan, the Constitution, the thlr'y-slx
States, and Andy johnson. ..
: After brief breathing spell cheers were
given for Grant, Secretary Seward, the Amer
lean army, General Steedman. and Governor
Bramlette, of Kentucky.
Governor Rramlette nominated Major Gen
cral John e. Wool, as the Oldest major general
in the United States, aud probably in the
world, as temporary president.
General Wool was received with loud cheers,
and addressed the convention as follows:
GENTLEMEN: Grateful thanks for your
welcome; more hattering and agreeable posi-
ton could not have been assigned to me than
the one Just conferred as presiding officer,
although but temporarily, over this assemblagee
Of patriots and heroes, the true defenders OF
their country and the Union. Be assured 1t
will ever be remembered and appreciated as the
most precious incident ola long military career.
The object of this great Military Convention,
# | understand it correctly, is to consider the
principles demonstrated by the National Union
Convention at Philadelphia and the restoration
policy of President johnson. On these sub
jects [ would simply remark that the sooner
Congressrecognlzes the States declared by
majority of its members to be out OF the Union
as constituent parts Of the Union, aud admits
their loyal representatives to seats IN the halls
of Congress, and permits them TO participate IN
the national legislation of the country, the Soon
or will be aayed the fears and apprehensions
of the people of the dangers which again men
ace the peace of the country and the perpetuity
of the Union with the most bitter and Vlndlc-
tive feelings. .. .......
a war of words for thirty years was carried
on between the Northern Radical Abolitonists
and the shareholders Of the Southern States.
and everything was said and done to keep alive
the controversy, until it finally illuminated in
Il rebellion, in the spring OF 1861, which, tor
atrocty, the sacrifice Of lives, the expenditure
OF untold millions of money, the loss OF prop
erty, followed by pcstilence, famine, and desc
laton, has no parallel in the history OF nations
It may be asked with propriety, What has
President johnson done that he should lie de-
nounced is a traitor and threatened with I'M
parchment; is it for anything more than tor
the exercise OF the most noble and generous
efforts to conciliate and bring back into the
folds OF tie Union Il brave people, and make
the United States what they should be, uni
ted great people? 1t ought not to be forgotten
that slavery, which cngcndercd the rebellion
has been removed, and three or four millions OF
slaves have been declared free by an amend
ment Of the Constitution. Those Of the South
crn States most interested in the abolition OF
slavery, which deprived them Ola large amount
of what they called property, and which they
had considered all important to their inter
est and welfare, quietly submitted to the
amendment.
Those who proposed the amendment omit
ted to guard against what would follow, when,
too late, it was discovered that the freeing Of
1900, 900 slaves would increase the Southern
representation 10 Congress from twenty-five to
thirty representatives. This was to be oyer
come, lest the abolition Radicals should lose
that control of the Government by an act OF
Congress or another amendment OF the Con
stituton Failing in these efforts, all that
bitterness of feeling has been revived which
existed for thirty years between the Radicals OF
the East and North and the Southern slave
holders
Another civil war is foreshadowed, unless
their former masters. If this cannot be &C
complishcd, the Radical partisans, with a
raging thirst for more blood and plumber, are
again ready to invade the Southern States,
and to lay waste the country already desolated
with the sword in one hand and the torch, In
the other. These rcvengcful partsans would
leave their country bowling wilderness for
the want Of more victims to crafty an unspar-
ing cruelty. IF they should succeed in in
ficting on the country another war, 1T would
be more terrible than the one from which we
have Just emerged It would not be confined
to the Southern States, but would extend itself
throughout the length and breadth Of the Uni
ted States, and only close with the overthrow
-of the best Government devised, and the des-
truction Of the finest country on the face OF the
globe. If such should be the fate OF our great
Republican empire, the cause Of it must not be
sought for in the military companies, but in
the forum, thronged with infammatory orators
and aspiring demagogues, with souls dead to
their country honor and spoiled with corrup-
ton. [ will tell this great assemblage of Off
GERS, soldiers, and sailors, most of whom have
been engaged in many peri lous battles, defend
ing their country and their country's honor,
that war is great evil, and the greatest that
can bctal any country.
General Wool took his seat amidst great ap-
plause.
General Ewing addressed the Convention at
length, after which the Convention adjourned
until tomorrow, when permanent organiza-
ton will be effected.
VISIT OF OFFICIALS TO THE PRESIDENT
Yesterday afternoon the heads of bureaus Of the
Treasury Department called on the President