The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-10-15
LOCAL DEPARTMENT

CofsgEyATivB Amy AND NAVY UNION
TuR PRESIDENT MAKES RBruBLIcAN
SrEEoH-Hg SUPPORTS GRANT AND CoLyAx.
"A regular meeting of tho Conservative
Army aud Navy Union was held last evening
at the rooms Of the Union, No 3p1 Pennsylrs-
ala avenue, Col; Jas. R; oBcirnc In the chair
The minutes OF the last meeting were read
The standing and special committees were
called, but NO reports were submitted.
BY this time the small number OF persons
present was considerably increased, and quito
a respectable crowd was present
Under the head Of unfinished business, Capt.
J. X. Mcdonnell stated that he had an amend.
ment to the constitution, offered at the last
meeting, but which under the rules should lie
over until the next meeting.
New business was called for, when the
Chair (Col OiBeirne) arose and said he would
take occasion to remark that matter peril.
before the meeting Before proceeding, how
ever, he would request a respectful hearing,
and hoped the preTogative Of an Ameriss an
would be heard here tonight. He said this
because he had heard 1t Inadvertently stated
that there would be VIZ d spr Saa here 20 re-
considerable length, and might not accord
with the views OF some present.
Lieut.. $. l. Wales moved to go into e1ceu'
The Chair stated that the motion WAS out Of
order, and that he would not put the question.
Lieutenant WALES In sisted on having action
on Ills motion, aud finally called for a vote OF
the members as TO whether Colonel O'Bsirne
should DO heard or not.
The ChairTemarked that II It was intended
TO Try to muzzle him, he would Inform them
that he meant to be heard.
Lieut. WALES moved to adjourn.
The Chair remarked that the motion was In
order, and that he would put the question,
when
nays thereon, which wereltsken, and resulted,
10 sgainst, and 2 for hearing the Colonel.
Most OF the members began to leave the hall,
when Col. OBcirne signihed his intention Of
beginning his address, and hoped that mem.
beTs Of the Union, ss well as others, would
remain and hear him.
A voice. "All Democrats will leave.h
Another voice. IAN good Seymour men
white mcn--will leave
Still another voice. "Tnr and feathers out
CAPTAIN J. II. Mcdonnell addressing tho
crowd) We will elect good seymour men as
officers Of the Union-men who will not go
hack on their record.
Col. O'Rcirne. Will be heardl
Lieut.. Wales. "You are traitor to your
Col O'Bcirne. 81 will hold you personally
Responsible for that remark outside"
Lieut.. WALES here proceeded to eNtinBuish
the gas, saying that hG rented the hall an" n.
was responsible for the rent, and that he
wanted the hall cleared.
hear him, and here offered his resignation ~
president OF the Union tothe secretary
To this objection was made on the grount
that the Union had adjourned, and no action
could be taken.
O'Beirne, provided the officers of the Union
would grant him the use OF the hail.
Lieutenant WALES Let him g 20 elsewhere
feel NJ sor, over the nomination OF Seymour
and Blair than do, but he should have ten
dcrcd his resignation at the proper time, ant
O'Beirnc should be accorded the privileges o
an American, however, and be heard. lie hs
done IS much, probably more, than any othe
Mr. Campbell did not like Seymour am
Blair as candidates for President and we.
President, although he liked them as indlyid
out and resigned before. He would not sta!
to listen to him. ami
At this point Detective George O. Mile
reared in the hall, with view OF preVentidl
any disturbance should their services DO re
CURED. ,
another vote as to whether Colonel O'Beirn
should speak or not a,
Lieutenant WALES said he would agree ina
members Of the association should vote OF
Tho vote was taken by yeas and nays, an
resulted-yenB Q, Rays0 .,..
desircd that his vote should be changed, whicl
gave the sanction OF the lIEion to hear w
address Of Colonel o'Bsifn s N =, fac, and In
yited any to stay who desired TO near the NJ
dress. a.. $780, ,...-,
when the CHAIR returned his sincere thanks T.
The Union for the courtesy they had extenue
10 him. lie should always tolerate any on
who would differ with nm poi,u na an Il =
disposed. He had written hts address, an
would read from 1t, rs BY II he would D
Judged, and by 1t he should stand.
Colonel O'Beirne then addressed the thlo
For A long time this organization OF soldie Ter
and sailors had acted rather as poiemitoN
otism OF Andrew johnson, and bold III INC ~
nouncement OF ito hearty support o. ms ht
ministration, and In annuneia'loh oi ms III H.
riotie course. II condemned, on the othe
hand, the extremists, or tho fHdtcals OF IN
Republican party, In their hot measured Z
rsPTgHHTFh FL IN .oem IfS to So pstots
rial Organization, having for IT'S object the u
tcrcst OF soldiers and sailors ana y hlgh ofue
OF conseTyatismi Ignoring parties anu psItl
sanshIp and endeAyoring to direct the tone 9
public opinion into channel oil pure ana III
eFsl nationalism. A.
Marty times, and many OF Republican ante
seients, alike with Democrats among us hei'
Joined hands to carry opt these ldeas. uradt
ally view of what is known 40 CoppeIheht
lam or ultra Democracy, not oohBenial 70 GU
war education, crept In among US, and som
or the members Of the ORGANIZATION p htt1T0
AZ tho Infection IN order to make ponies
eapital here for home consumption 10 IN
States, adaptable to communities when M
hpen 40 exceedingly Democratic Ms W w VI
noael to the soldiers OF the war, anu service
Able 10 tho aspirations OF those members 10
aeats in the Legislatures Of their states.
They unfortunately seemed TO nave ios
sight OF our true mission, and swinging oIeN
from former mooringE, gradually commence
To pander to the eXtremism of the DemOefac.
with a hone and view OF making fair Weatht
In, as they conceived, a party growing stronl
and promising as well rs being more eonsi
tent with our conservative views, At ono
the widely respected Individuality OF the o
gnnilation was sacrificed, and from the ster
high. minded instincts OF independence an
patTiotism, born OF the old army, the body, |
my absence, descended and became pandereI
to an element we had ever before stehdlly ~
fused to ally ourselves with
Finally, to cap the climax, through inc el
cheering Of a few, having tho held 10 then
selyes, and no doubt well meant, the Conser
atiye Army and Navy Union was student
transformed into \ tall lying to the KITE
the Democratic party and Its calm eel
RoTship II was suddenly tranbiormel I'M
gTatuilous and generous advocacy OF Sc
inouf and Blair. All conservatism W.
i0nt sight OF, and II came TO be sneeTed \
Knocked at, and no more to be thought or an
a large number left our FAnks In diBgust.
have observed this In no little concern, m
AT the occasional timeH when here hay
thought It my duty to attack the inside,
evil, and have 80 done.
II was not n milk,and.water disposition,
wenk-kneednelB that prompted thisi but ad
sire to keep this organization right, conAisten
dignihed, and respectable asa body OF soldie