The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-16

tcAuGTeWS, T9neral AleCIernapd, Ten
Fisk. General Ruggles. and General
LippincOtt.
g a Committee was appointed to per-
feet the organization of the corps,
and a badge adopted which contains
the monogram, 13 A. G."
- The meeting then adjourned until
o-morrows at the Opera House.
The Opera House was crowded this
evening to the utmost with soldiers
of the grand armies and our citizens.
Major General~G III. Thomas pre-
ifsided, and, after music by the Great
Western Band and drum taps by
ENevins, introduced Lieutenant Gen.
eral Sherman, who made the weleom
ing address.
GENERAL sHERHfAN's WELCOME.
FeElol0- Soldiers-It is made my pleasing
duty to address You, this evening. words
or welcome tOf the dee that have been
spread before you. From the city ami
fiOm the country, from the town and the
village, you nave come together, The repre-
sentatIves of your grand volunteer at mics,
which responded TO the country's s call
In her hour OF danger, and fought her bat
ties sometimes 81 ie by side aud som stimes
IA apart, yet always in unison. lChseTs ]
At her bIdding you returned 90 your
homes as farmers and merchants, as arti-
you have again assent bIed as il were upon
a pinicle to look bacs toward tnat vale
wherein YOU stru ggled so long, to point
out to each other the spots OF creates, IN
TERESA, and TO live over again those hOuIs $
andtlays and months O. deepest anguish
or Joy.
/ Tknov that you have laid aside forever
the feelings of animosity and anger VIII ch
you may nave entertained, and that you
bave dropped into OBJ ivion the bitter jeal-
ouSfesiand Fivafries OF the hour. You now
stand neIe with Hand extended In fTater-
nal friendship o those who gioried in ter
right 10 defend the flag OF your country
on iand and sea; you have fought or the
Union of our fathers. (Cheers.) No more
SELF glorifichfiOn now animate you, but a
tust pride in your own actions, ana IA deep
and Intense love of the comrades who
stood by your side in the hour of deadly
strife, and stood with you In he hour of
Victory. lCheersl. Happily, my friends,
you did not belong To that class of our peo-
pie IN whose hearts was planted, flom
youth, the pernicious doctrine of State
power, and that the citizen should love
part II tue country better than the whole.
Yiu were reared In a better school and
tailght to revere the Constitution of your
whole country, and to love the wise and
genial Influences under which we are as
suEed the largest measure of security and
happiness. consistent with the safety of
the whole, exists. We believe that the
Will ofSfhs majority should rule; we be-
lieye that in this we have discovered a
panacea for the Ills that have from the
earliest history of the world ravaged
buc@we were exception to the general
rRie. that mi critics viii always bow
peaceably to the decision OF the majority,
and foHnd that we must maintain the
privileges eff our hirthright by force You
may arch history in vain for q more
fiagrapt violation OF faith than that which
result ed in our civil war. Never were a
people more TuJhlesSly, more unWilliugly
drtggeds into long and bloody conflict,
and never was the occasion so utterly un
prepared tor. The attempt to prepare for
the danger was called cowardIee,
taught to believe that the broad
stripes on orSr flag we're to be tratled
in the dust; the stars sunk forever from
Union were broken up beyoad recall; our
attempts to reason were laughed at; our
laws were derided to scorn: the public
properly seized, aud war begun. Men
wasted their eloquence III the vain at
temp TO avoid this storm. staf esTnen eN-
hauS;ed the last peaceful remedy, and not
until this time was the last arb lrator re-
sorted TO. The volunteer soldier then step
ped forth into the field and offered his
life and his serYi' eS TO defend ana
maintain the Government against ali its
enemies, and ssvaefe an oath that rebellion
and anarchy should not rule this land of
ours. but that liberty, justice and law
should be restored to their rightful throne.
TCheerS.l He mas KEPT his word, and you
now behold the good Shin OF state again
fall rugged and once more on her free
course towards n glorious future. You
Know that flag Is still there. ICheeTs.l
There has bee lost not a strip. That
same flag we have followed so often in
tine glare OF a scorching sun, by the
moons pale beams. by the light
of the blazing pine torch, now waves aloft
in victory and peace, shall I, not then,
claim for you, who represent this ideal
volunteer, the highest honor-vea the
highest honor that is conceded by mortal
on earth. You can easily recall now long
the war seemed to as in its progress, but
how snort, even now, looking back on il
after period of little more han three
years. How lnconceiVably short then, viii
it appear to those who, a huudred
will OTOD9 flFOuEn the
pa ges of it's history to learn of the
events and causes tnat led five millions of
people 10 rebel, when no single act OF on
preston or tyranny was ever alleged We
owe 1t to tnenl whilst still IN the Vtgor of
l,le and health, TO record ne parts we
the motives and feelings that actuated us
-throuan its various stages. Many a time
ana oft You have lam upon the bare
Attlsst OF heaven with its hosts of glttering
stars, and know you nave dr. AIMED OF q
time to come, when seated III peace and
security, surrounded by admirtng friends,
you would be csowned with tiara of
light. Sucn as now hangs over yLur heads.
-Accep5 this. then. aS the fruiJiOu OF your
DREAM and enjoy the hour. LCheers !
Four of your comrades, one rom each OF
4 the Al miles specially rep 'esented here, viii
ADDRESS you and tell you OF the deeds you
have done. Give them a willing ana at
rentlye ear and when you 90 back to your
homes tell them all tnat these armies.
idhough disperSea in the 1ieSh, yet live IN
the spirit as strong and enthusiastic as
ttEii1N were 1OhN S1taAo stEs1s. " hNA III b1O
VERY death grasp with the enemies of our
epnntry and OF c1ViiizattOn; and nows in
the name of the committee that has made
these prs spaFattoDs, extend TO you Al, q
hear.y greeting TO the veteran of 1Sjls to
the recruit OF 1865: yea, 10 the convert OF
the very last hour of grace.
~ IN the name of the people OF Chicago,
I who have provided the means, bli you
4 weleoIae, and assure you that a seat
awaits YOU at every nreSlde, and in the
name of every patriot of the land, L give
you welcome, aud tell you that the light-
ningiS fash is not swift enough TO satisfy
4 their yearning hearts to know what IL
done here this night. The presence of the
I men about me-their high Office, and the
dEties they have left To be with you here,
all attest the interest and grandeur OF the
OCCASION and in their names, too, COM
I rades all I bid you thrice welcome. Tire
mendous applause.
Z Song by the Glee Club-"America. :"
General Belknap spoke to his COM
rades of the Army of the Tennessee.
IT all seemed like dream-the in
snIt to the flag, the Presidents call
for troops, the uprising of the people,
to the breeze from every
mast and staff, by the patriotic spirits
of the North, of the nations emblem,
the enthusiastic meetings of men to
devise WAYS and means to strike a
/ blow to save the nation, the prompt
response of the young men Of the
-t.fa aTs-rH