The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-05-28
Editorial Correspondence.
FREMONT HOUSE, CHICAGO. J
May 10Th, 1868.
DEAR CouRIER:-

ana were fortunate in having thai
poiitest OF conductors-James Frame
AS our master of ceremonies. We
found the farmers en- route TO Bnr-
lington doing much more than any.
body else in the legitimate work oi
saving the country in their active
operations for the coming crop. Ev.
cry where, from here to Ottumwa,
grasses, Wheat, and Oats, give prom.
ise of bounteous harvest, and if
the favorable weather continues this
month out, it will witness more Corn
planted than any other year in the
history of the West.
AT Burlington we were compelled
to remain over two and half hours,
and what was more than the DELAY,
had to undergo the torture of mas
ticating one Of those sole-lcather
steaks, Of the Barrett House, which
were tough enough to have come out
of the rump Of Noah's off Ok. If
any body is desirous Of buying work
cattle to cross the Plains with, we
would recommend them to Hooper,
of the Barrett House, Burlington.
Our trip over the c. B. l. Q. was
pleasant enough as we took one of
Pullman's gorgeous sleeping cars,
and were oblivious to everything un-
til our arrival at the suburbs of Chi
cago, this morning.
Too much cannot be said in praise
of the condition of our b. a. M. RR.,
and the G. B. h O., and its most gem
tlemaniy and careful conductors,
who do everything in their power to
render their passengers comfortable
and secure.
We found Chicago literally run
ming over with people this morning
in attendance at the two great Con-
venticns, to come off inside of the
next three days. At the present the
late soldiers of the Grand Army that
subdued the rebellion are greatly in
the predominance.
At 10 o'clock to-day the Soldiers
and Sailors rendezvoused at the
Court House Square and with the
renowned Great Western Band in
the lead, formed procession, the
Wisconsin delegation leading the
column bearing aloft the famous old
Grey Eagle of the sth Regiment of
that State, proceeded to Turner's
Hall on the West side, where the i'm
mense crowd that filled every nook
and corner Of the spacious Hall was
called to order by who called
upon Rev. DR.. Fellows, of Ind, for
prayer which was offered up in the
most fervent and affecting express
sion Of a christians heart, and on
whose motion Gov. Lucius Fairchild,
of Wisconsin who lost his left arm
at Gettysburg was made temporary
Chairman with private Will Shorter,
of the District of Columbia, as prin-
cipal Secretary. On assuming the
chair, Gen. Fairchild made an ex-
tremcly appropriate and eloquent
speech, which brought the audience
to their feet with round after round
of applause.
The stage was appropriately deco
aated, prominently in front being a
bust of the lamentcd Lincoln, while
hung over it, and plainly in view OF
the entire audience was a large life
size picture of the Soldiers idol, Gen.
u. S. Grant.
At the entrance of the Hall was
the appropriate motto from Burns:
"For gold the merchant plows the
main,
The Farmer plows the manor;
But honor is the Soldiers aim,
The Soldiers wealth is honor"
A handsome banner borne by the
Wisconsin delegation, and which was
prominently displayed on the plat
form, had inscribed on il "Wisconsin
votes as she fought :.nd will give
Grant 25,00O.n
On the right of the stand was the
question from Lincoln's immortal
second inaugural, "With malice for
non, with charity for all, with firm
ness for the right, as we see the
right, let us strive to finish the work
we are in" And on the left, quota
tion from q letter of his to General
Grant, congratulating him upon the
brilliant close of the Vicksburg cam
pulHH AS iohOWh. WTlbc tIhS uOW
as the greatfal acknowledgment for
the almost inestimable services you
have done the country While in
front of all staring the audience in
the face in portentious language was
the famous dispatch of the heroic
Grant from his bloody Wilderness
biyoaac an fight it out on this line
if it takes all Summer"
After the appointment of cmmit-
tees on permanent organization, cre-
dentials and resolutions, Gen. 10.
Hawley, Of Connecticut, delivered a
splendid speech which aroused the
audience to splended pitch Of en-
thusiam. He was followed by Gen.
Halsted, who was succeeded by our
own Henry OConner, who fairly
out did himself in the best little
speech for human rights he ever
made; at the close of which be re-
ceived three rousing cheers from the
Convention standing. By this time
| the clamors for Gen. Sickles could no
longer be resisted when that officer
! hobbled to the front on his crutches--