American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-10-03
THE LATE CONVENTION.
Social, Moral and Political AS
poets of the Great Gathering.

SOSEdls hOEaE NHu n OEEttCssh fn5
poets of the Great Gathering.
No feature of the great gathering of
the Boys in Blue and the loyal citizens
who desired to co operate with them-a
gathering which has made this week for
ever memorable in the history Of Pitts
burgh-was more worthy of remark and
attentive consideration than the fraternal
unaninity of feeling which everywhere
seemed to prevail. If the people of the
city cordially welcomed the visitors from
every part who thronged our streets and
public places, what shall we say Of the
reciprocal enthusiasm of those to whom
that welcome was extended? They
we're guests whom it was our duty to de-
light to honor, and they must have felt
we would have been recreant to our well
known principles had we neglected to
show them how high we held them III
our estimation. But the whole-souled
hearty manner in which our hospitalities
were appreciated, and the genial way in
which these strangers whom we enter
tanned sought to, and succeeded in,
meeting and pleasantly neutrallzing our
efforts to treat them worthily, by The ar
dent sincerity of their Acknowledgements,
was delightful episode in human inter
course, not 10 be readily forgotten.
We cannot refrain from again advert
ing to the moral aspects OF this grand and
glorious demonstration. 1t was prac-
teal exposition of the political views,
feelings and intentions Of the men by
whom the war was fought and won. 1t
was a clarion note of apprehended dan
ger that will be heard and needed over
the whole land. 1t was terrible voice
of warning to an unscrupulous and am
bilious faction that would seek to subvert
our most cherished rights and to bring to
nought all the dearly bought results Of
sanguinary civil conflict. This time it
was not clique of aspiring officers of the
regular army which spoke; neither was
IT the wire working Of hide bound or
reckless politicians, who woald sacrifice
the best interests of the country for
Naval Office or a Foreign Mission. 1t
was, really and truly, the Boys in Blue
who were heard from this time, Most Of
the direction Of affairs they conceded to
their former leaders in the field, in the
same spirit as they had yielded obedi-
euce to them when in active service. 1t
was recognition Of the superior genius
or talent or tact of those who could as
sumo and maintain supremacy Of milf.
tary rank. Men who can command in
one capacity will be allowed to do so in
others, But there was no idea Of inc
quality OF caste in this. The men who
had shouldercd muskets met without
distinction, men who had worn their
double-stdrred shoulder straps a prl-
vata soldier Of admitted intelligence aud
education was chosen mporary Chair
man Of the Convention, and many 9TH
er5 occupied prominent and responsible
positions on committees. All were once
moro citizens--once more come to the
same level, except where native ability or
supe-io shrewdness irresistbly asserted
itself
The people of Pittsburgh have light
to feel proud of the widespread reputa,
tion for sterling loyalty which caused it
TO be selected as the place Of meeting
for this representative congregation OF
the flower of our late Union armies
Thousands of them knew by experience
how warm and encouraging their recep-
ton here would be. All knew by report
that if they could find an inspiring vel
come anywhere, th-y were sure to find it
in the Iron City. And they were not
Disappointed Wherever they came from
whether from various portions Of our own
State, from States Of the East or the
West, OF from those Southern States that
had partially remained true to the Gov
crnment and Constitution, they found the
right hand of fellowship held forth to
them, and sympathy evinced in their
behalf that was almost universal
What good we did unto them shall re-
turn to us an hundred fold In making
them our honored guests, in showering
upon :hem every courtesy and Kindness
in our power, we made for Pittsburgh a
name that will long be green-in the mem
ores of the best men that ever congrega-
ted from all parts of tae country in any
one place. We have extended the fame
of the noble pre-eminence we had earn
ed, as law and Union loving communi-
ty, to every corner of the States whose
favorable opinion is worth having, and
have established our city as the centre of
that uncompromising spirit thro' which
the Nation and its liberties were saved
in war and which we, at least, have re.
solved shall not be permitted to stsgnate
or die out in time Of perilous and un-
settled peace. Our position will hence
forth be known and recognized, and it is
a position that will be glorious to us in
our own time and shed lustre upon our
posterity in generations yet to come -
Pittsburgh Commercial.
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