The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-17
POLITICAL INTELAGENCE.


Legi0n-Speeches by General Chalmers, OF
Mississippi, ssand Others."
The National Mcclellan Legion held q mass meet
ing last night at Masonic Hail, In all the glory OF
national bunting, calcium lights, bombs and blue
fire. The call was especially directed to soldiers and
sailors, the organization being almost exclusively
composed Of men who have seen service during the
late war In the army or navy. Not less than one
thousand persons assembled within and in front Of
the hall, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed.
Shortly after eight O'Clock the meeting was called to
order by the President, Colonel Charles H. Pierson,
who oicated as chairman. The Young Mems
democratic Union Club two hundred strong then
filed into the hail. with their CLUB banners, and pre-
coded by brass band.
General Charles Il. Chalmers of Mississippi late OF
the Confederate army, was introduced as the nrst
speaker and proceeded In an address occupying an
hour and half in delivery and characterized by
commendable moderation and ability, to review the
issues and the principles which distinguish the rival
parties and their candidates. In speaking OF the
effects OF radical reconstruction he claimed that the
effect OF 1t had been TO embarrass whatever indus
trial energy and enterprise was left in the South
after the close OF the war; The supply OF cotton from
the South was no greater thus year than II was two
years age and those who could carry on business at
all were dong so on principle OF sef-preservation
which led them TO turn their profits into gold in
country through the oppressive system OF Congress
sional legislation. And thousands OF them had
already LEFT the south TO come ana settle NortheTa
people OF the North for their bread, while the
nelds of the South and the counting rooms were
abandoned The war had been fought for the pre-
servaon Of the Union rs an indissoluble conedera-
ton OF the States, and when that war had termi-
mated the question irrev0cably settled that no
State could by any means separate itself from the
federal allegiance. Then radical reconstruction
came upon the scene and undertook while saying
that no State could withdraw from the Union Con-
gress could force ten states out and keep them out
until radicalism had so regulated their Internal af
fairs that the negro should be clothed with power
which was the absolute right of the people of those
States, and OF which the people were deprived-that
the power thus gained could be used for
party ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, even at the expense OF
the nations welfare aud harmony. And this
power had only been grasped by the republicans
because the split in the Charleston Convention made
a breach in the ranks of the democracy; they never
had the strength to WELD that power before tn at
time 1t was the misfortune of the South at that
convention to reject the compromise candidate
put forward by the North, and it seemed that
dispensation OF Providence had now put 1t
man who could have preserved the peace of the ma
ton then and kept intact the Union should now heal
Horatio Seymour.) In reviewing the record of Gene
raj Grant the speaker claimed that he had no right
as conquered soldier 10 critcise his military
career He was willing for the present to accept the
doctrine that success is the test OF military Skill
But Grants refusals TO interfere with the partisan
acts OF General Pope and Governor BrownlOw were
acts OF his civil which he believed he had the
right to look into and could but condemn.
General Chalmers was repeatedly and enthusiastic
caly cheered in the OF his remarks and at the
close OF his address short speeches were made by A.
j. Rogers and General Nagle, after which the meet
ing dispersed
Address OF Ellison $. Keitt, OF Sonth Caro-
lima.
meeting was held on Tuesday evening in the
rooms Of the Young Mems Democratic Union, on
Broadway, near Twenty second street. In point of
numbers and enthusiasm it was very successful
The speaker Of the evening Ellison $. Kett, of
South Carolina, from whose address the following
extracts are made:-
sentiment and condition OF the mass OF the
Southern people there would be no difliculty
whatever In settling and readjustng in all Its parts
the great problem now before us for solution. II
there was a greater cOmmingling OF the masses OF
the people and less heed given TO political trickslers
who for pef ana self and power, spend their tilue
peddng ont seeds Of dissension, 1t would rebound
to the welfare OF both sections When the late great
war; from which trust our country viii soon sue
cessfully emerge, was inaugurated was not in po-
tica ife but when my state passed her ordinance OF
secession and called upon her sons to rally beneath her
nag and defend her, we went forth, and we heard
the first and the last gun OF the revolution fred In
that great contest we fought not TO destroy the
tutions fought not 10 interfere In your domestic
AFFAIRS, we fought for sefgoverhment, fought for
own native land, fought for the preservation OF
those great and grand principles which were EN-
cos a gse % ny and % an
ings prvations, defeats and victories, that we might
generations yet unb0rn-yes, that we might make
them perpetual and immortal You, on your part
as proclaimed by Mr.. Lincoln fought for the main
tenance OF The constitution and the preservation OF
the Union I'm Its integrity. ana not for the conquest
and subJugatiOn OF the South. This he proclaimed
was the only ground upon which he could rest the
justice OF the war, either with you or with for.
egn Powers. We have failed to achieve that
for which we fought. You, by overwhelming
numbers and greater material resO urces, have pre-
vailed. AS we were desperately sincere and earnest
I'm our determination to win when we went into the
contest, so when we sheathed our swords and
stacked our arms upon the battlefield and turned
our backs upon the vast armies OF Generals Grant
and Sherman, we did so with equal sincerity and
determination to go TO our homes and spare effort
In rebuilding our broken and shattered fortunes In
restoring our country TO law and order and bring
and in rendering every assistance In our power to
maintain the constitution and preserve the Union In
We not only acquesced in the abolition Of slavery
but we gave the black man all the cIvil rights
joyed by the white mamie was allowed To sue and
the State government upon wise and economical
basis. II took about 100000 TO administer 1t
s s nsn y SO rerene
ment to 100000. / will here state that In addi-
ton to giving the black man all the civil rights
which the white man has, the white people Of the
state held convention In Columbia last April and
adopted q platform in which they recognized the
negro as an integral element Of the body polite, and
pledge themselves TO give him qualified suffrage
the moment they have the power to do So IL was
not until the last days Of the fourth aud last
ment known as the fourteenth article of the const-
tuition came before that body. IL was not rejected
TO give the negroes the right vote or not count
them In the basis Of representation. That was the
least Objectionable feature. The main reason Of OBJ
lection TO IL was t tended 10 consolidation Of the
government by subordination OF the State judi
ciary to the judiciary Of the United States-and 1t
disqualified forever from holding ONCE every man
In the State, from Governor and United States Sena
tor down to constable who had ever held a civil
office, and given any aid to tho State In the war.
AZ the end Of the war the federal debt was some.
thing over 81 700 600 000 which to this great country
and her grand resources Is q small sum- and could
eaal 1y hn hpa M nd m
been put upon n wise and economical basis. During
the last three years 594 900 900 have been collected
from the people in the way OF revenue and taxes
average OF over $500 600 900 year-yet the debt
j. still over 81 600 0000 00 Although the people have
been drained OF more than one-haf OF the entire
debt by taxation In three years, yet the debt has
been reduced only little over s100, 100000 What
has become OF this vast sum which has been
tracted from the toll OF the pcopeS II the govern
OF Sl50 600 900 year, which IL LIBERAL $3.50 600
might annually have been applied to the reduction