Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-22
GENERAL MEADE AND THE GEORGIA
CONVENTION

The following is full report Of the firm, sens-
BILE and soldier-like speech of Gen. Meade to the
Georgia convention on the 10th inst. -
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
CONVERSION II appear before you to-day in
compliance with the courteous res olutions YOU have
been pleased TO pass inviting me to a seat upon
your floor. | came here principally for the pur-
pose of returning to you in person my thanks for
the kindness and courtesy Indicated by your reso-
lntions. At the same time it appears to me that
this is a suitable occasion for to state to you,
and through You 10 the people of Georgia. la
bama and Florida, certain points in regard to
what conceive to be my duty in the position as
signed to me by the government OF the United
States. | am assigned to the position now occu-
py, under a law of Congress- by direction OF the
President Of the United States and the Secretary
of War. My duty is to execute law which has
been passed hy the Congress Of the United States.
As a soldier, ! conceive that | have no right TO
question the validity of the act from which | de-
rive my powers nor can permit it to be questioned
by those under my command There is a proper
TO be pursued in testing the validity of all
acts, but au not the agent for that purpose.
The question arises what my duties under this
law? In the words of the law, it is " to protect
all persons in their rights of person and property
to suppress insurreciion, disorder and violence
and 10 punish, or cause to be punished, all dis
turhers OF the public peace and criminals y and
when this cannot be done through the proper func-
ions of the civil officers, then the law makes il
my duty to assist these officers and afford the
proper protection. and this duty shall be Faithfully
and honestly performed. Applause. Further.
more the law requires that an opportunity shal
be given to the people of Georgia, Alabama and
Florada, to say whether they will accept the con
situations which the conventions of their respec-
tive States may frame. My duty is to see that
" all the registered and qualified electors in The
State have opportunity TO vote freely aud with
out restraint, fear, or influence of fraud so as to
enable them to state whether they will will not
accept the terms offered. Now, that duty shall
10 the best Of my ability endesvor to execute
! Applause Your duty, gentlemen, which you
are called upon TO perform is to frame consti-
tuition and civil government for the people OIL
Georgia, and, IL accepted by the people of Geor-
gia, then to be- submitted to the Congress of the
United States. | trust that as military command
or, we shall cooperate as far as may be necessary
do not see. however that there is much cooper
alton necessary Your duty is specific, and mine
| is similar. | do not consider that your ordinan-
ces, within the limits of the acts necessary Tor this
discharge Of the duties prescribed by Congress
are to be enforced by me pending the adoption oil
I the constitution; but | conceive the powers will
which am invested are sufficient to authorize m,
adoption of any of your acts as my acts, in cas-,
in my judgment the well being of the people i'm
peratiyey requires such action on my part, and
among such measures, have under consideration
the relief laws as prepared by you. In conclu
sion, beg you will pardon so much reference tC
myself and actions. But coming among ) GU as
do stranger, never having been IN your Stat,
before except passing through a traveller, il
has occurred to me that this plain expression Of
my views as TO my duties and determination to
conscientiously discharge the same, would serve.
perhaps, TO remove some of the obstacles that
might otherwise be placed in my way. | trust,
gentlemen, you will proceed to frame a constitu-
ton and frame a civil government which shall he
acceptable to the qualified voters of Georgia Il
is not my duty to dictate, TO recommend or to ad.
wise; but feel justified in counselling modera-
ton and earnestly hoping that wisdom, calmness,
aud reason will govern your proceedings. Again
thank you most sincerely for your courtesy