Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-24
J LOCAL NEWS.

SOLDIERS Ann SAILORS, NATIONAL op.-
yfNTIoE-Spe.eh ey GesSroi BEfler-The SOL
League Hall yesterday nj noon. pur.usn. -
aijournmentof the previous day, Gen. y w
Kinks, Of Mas, presiding.
Capt. l.. Z. Dudley, from the eommIttee on
asylums, made q report in favor OF askinr
congress for the sum Of SIS Per snoath a. n
pension for each disabled soldier and sailor
1eneral White, chairman OF the commltee
On permanent organization, reported q const-
'"Sn, ,pn, winch, on motion, was accepted
81. anr onstitnticn provides that the name OF
Saurra' 'eaon shall be .sThe SOLDIER ana
Sanors NATIONAL Unlon.r IL also proy,des
tnNt the omcers of the National Unloa snail ~.
eiectsd annually by vote of Ststes ard lhat
,r. "a .a,.a.u,s.. o. tit ane me citing; the
uict OF Columbia; the officer. 10 ~. -, -,
sustain and ahide by the rules presrr,S.d ~
the National Union, and to perform tn 49,
OF their offices TO the best Of their ah,1,, :,
soldiers and sailors rho have been hony,,.-.sn,
discharged, and AL who NAV be ssrvtng a., -
srmy Al the time of their applicato and all
Staie Unions comprising one hundred me mosrs
10 be entitled TO n membership in the Nat1oraI
Union. There shall h. ~ least one annual con
Neniion IN Washington, ID. q. The Union "a
have power 20 alter or amend its by-lav, A.
any OF its conventions. No Statr 20 be rpnre
sented in convention tnat has less than se'xsn
Unions. State charters TO he granted nv the
National Union, and the State 10 grant shar
rIs 40 Iis subordinate Unions. Zach unton IN
he taxed for the support OF the National UnIon
&c.
business
Convention proceeded TO the election OF officers
OF the National Union for the ensuing wear
with The following result: President Cien p
links, OF Mass; Vice President Sen.
hi'e, Of Pa; Secretary. Mai 7. r. Darby,
formerly OF Hinn.: Corresponding Secretary
Capt James Cross, OF this city: Treasurer Mai
J. NJ; Van Buren, of tins city
At hali-past seven O'Clock the ConNenftoy,
metln the Hall OF the House of Representa-
lives, and The officers duly Installed
A resolution, directing the President OF the
II - a.aNHn nNFaHHH
issue an address 10 soldiers was adopted and
the Chair appoin ted the following: Gen White
OF Pa: Col Griswold, OF Mich; Col. Barr OF
Mass; Gen: Runkle, OF y. j; and Capt. ErAm-
mali, OF n. Y.
General Butler was then introduced and al
dressed the convention. He urged that a was
their duty 10 preserve the principles OF Freedom.
Justice, and equality before The law, and that
the country should provide tor the widows and
orphans OF those who had fallen. The peu-
slcns allowed by law he said were entirely too
small, and he hoped that the resolution of the
convention for an increase Of the pension rate,
would attain it's object. Land warrants should
be issued 10 each soldier 10 n sufficient amount
10 make has bounty equal to those paid IN the
latter part OF the war. If IL should be objected
that the public domain would not afford land
enough for this purpose, has answer was -
me0StTc S0ufhtCGTd."
He did not wish 10 he hard in his treatment
Of the South unless it WAS necessary. II the
country could afford TO do Justice TO the SOL
dlers without this measure. very well: bat let
Justice be done in any case. To our sailors We
give all they take: and why may we not apply
the same rule TO the soldier, at least 70 the ex-
tent OF giving him a few acres of the soIl over
which he has marched and fought so long. IL
the land were settled by the soldiers who won
il, the question of reconstruction could be
quickly settled. Then the Southern States
could be speedily readmitted and our repre-
sentatiyes in those halls would have no occa-
sion TO trouble themselves about questions of
loyalty. We might at least settle enough OF
our soldiers in the South TO supply the place
OF those who have fallen on the other side. IL
would be sound policy for 10 secure our
conquests thus, as did the Romans. Discuss
ing the right 10 adopt this policy, he said the
South staked everything upon the issue of the
rebellon-not merely their political destiny.
but their property, their liyes, aud their all
This being the case, it would not be manly in
them 10 whine when the winners come ~ claim
the stakes.
Referring 10 jefferson Davis and the rebel
Gen. Lee, he said that he desired the question
TO be tried whether or not IL shall be death on
the gallows for man TO desert "A civil or mill
tary post and take service with the enemies Of
his country.
He also advocated that a special distribution
OF land should be made 10 the loyal men OF the
rebellous States who had fought in our army
and intimated that similar provisions should
be made for the colored men.