Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-05-26
Soldiers and Sailors Convention at
Chicago. They Nominate Grant I'm
animously.

the Soldiers and Sailors National
Convention met at their respective
headquarters, where they organized
and marched to the Court House
square, where they were formed in
line, the Executive Committee in
front, led by Vass and Deans Light
Guard Band and the famous war
eagle "Old Abe" which belonged 10
the Wisconsin Delegation and was
brought to the city by them. Short.
Is after 10 o'clock the line took up
its march up North Clark street,
and in the course of half an hour af-
forwards the column reached its des-
tination, Turner Hall, where the va.
rious delegations were assigned seats.
Crouds OF people lined the streets on
either side, and for a short time eff
ectually prevented pedestrianism
with safety. The eagle attracted
a great deal OF attention and seemed
to take his position as one that be,
longed to him fright. All the way
from the Court House to the bali,
crowds ofpeople followed the column
and earnestly prayed for admittance,
but when it became know that
they could not be Accommodated, for
want of room, they slowly retired,
le-ving only few of their number
hanging about the doors eagerly
waiting for any news of the conven-
ton.
Inside the hail everything for a
moment was in confusion, conse>
quent upon the different delegations
finding their seats. At length quiet
was in measure restored and an or.
ganization entered upon. Previous,
however, TO coming to order, the
convention, on the suggestion Of one
of the New York delegates, gave
three cheers for Gov. Fenton. thre
cheers for Gen. John A. Logan, and
three groans for Anerew Johnson
Three times three was then produc-
ed for Gen. Grant, and given with q
will, after which the Convention was
ready for organization.
Quickly, 10 double rank. the old
soldiers marched in and filled the
hall. Side by side sat the veterans
from the decimated ranks of the he
roes OF the wilderness with those
who mounted to the heights of Look
ont Mountain, where the bugle S
thrilling signals woke the eagle from
its.eyrie in the early morn; those who
unfalteringly moved into the jaws OF
death at Frederieksburgh, with those
who day by day lay IN the trenches
and dared fate before the desperate
defense Of Vicksburg.
Depending from the center Of the
middle arch at the front Of the stage
the place of honor, was a splendid
portrait Of the hero GRANT, the sold
iers' choice, and above it, his famous
sentence. brief, pithy, and determin-
ed as a soldiers utterances should be,
1--WE will fight it out on this line"
The eagle, proud symbol OF American
courage and independence perched
above the portrait, and beneath stood
one of yolk's superb busts of the
martyr President Lincoln, the table
upon which it rested draped round
with the American flag, SO as to re-
semble pedestal. To the right OF
this suggestive grouping of emblems
dear to every patriotic beart, upon
one of the wings of the arch, was EN-
bIazoned the promise wisconsin
sold ers will vote as they fought-25,
600 majority for Grant" At the
back of the stage, in the center, were
two huge American flags, tastefully
draped on each side of these were
spread banners with inscriptions I'M
diving in fame as the name of their
illustrious author. That to the right
consisted of the closing sentence OF
President Lincoln's last inaugural
"With malice toward none, with char
ity for all, with frmness in the right
as we see the right, let us strive tC
finish the work we are in" What
more sublime declaration could q
party of proven patriots assume as
the utterance of their noble purposes
On the left, the inscription was the
memorable sentence addressed by
Lincoln to Grant, on July 13, 1868:
Here and there, in equidistant
space, on the front of the gallery
were displayed elegantly painted
canvasses bearing the seals and mot>
toes of the several States from Maine
to California, from Minnesota to the
Gulf, and between them as the links
which bound together the parts of
this glorious chain were crossed flags,
the symbols of the national 'many
in one" Evergreens were tastefully
festooned on the fronts of the gallery
and red. white, and blue bunting or
naments the pillars,
AS the soldiers filed into the spac-
ious hall and gazed upon the portrait
of their beloved leader, the great
chieftain of the age, cheer upon cheer
rent the air, and it was sometime
ere their enthusiasm could be sufi,
GENTLY controlled to admit of tht
taking of the necessary preliminary
steps toward organization.
After the various delegations be-
came seated, General Pleasanton
then called the meeting to order as
follows:
By the direction of the Executive
Committee, and the concurrent ac'
ton of the Chairman of the various
delegations, | call this convention tc
order. The convention will be open
ed by prayer by the Rev. John Fell
lows Of Wisconsin.
After prayer, Gen Fairchild, Gov
ernorof Wisconsin, was elected Chair
man of the Convention, on motion o
Gen. Lee.
Governor Fairebild was conducted
to the chair by Gems. Lee, Cochrane
and Toby, and then spoke as fol-
lows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION
On behalf the State of Wisconsin
whose soldiers you have honored to-
day, by the selection of myself a!
your temporary Chairman, | thank
you. | shall receive it as an honor
-, -.