The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-18
Celebration Of the Anniversary
Of the Battle of Antietam.
Immense Gathering Of the "BOys in
Blue" at the Cooper Institute.
Speeches of Generals PleasantOn,
Sickles, Fitzpatrick, Senator
Sherman and Others.

Imposing and Brilliant Torch
light Procession.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF ANTlETaM.
The LOYAL veteran Grant Club celebrated the an
niyersary of the battle OF Antietam by mass meet
ing at the Cooper Institute last evening" For an
hour before the time appointed to commence the
proceedings the hall was densely crowded by an
audience mainly composed Of the veterans Of the
war, many Of whom were fine specimens Of physical
Vigor aud manhood Seats were reserved in the
'front.' for ladies, whose presence gave additional
6cedt to the occasion The building was tastefully
Jestooned with nags and beautifully ornamented
notices commemorative Of the victories Of the war.
over the platform were suspended portraits OF Gen.
erals Grant, Sheridan and other distinguished
generals.
At eight O'Clock Major General PLEAsONT0N, the
president Of the club, made his appearance, and
was enthusiastically applauded. He poke as fol-
Ows:-
SPEECH OF MAJOR GENERAL PLEAsANToN.
This being the anniversary Of the battle OF Ante
tam the Loyal Veteran Grant Club OF Boys In Blue
propose opening the Presidential campaign OF 1868
n favor Of their candidates for the Presidency and
Vices Presidency Of the United States-Grant and
Cofax. The campaign opens under the most favor.
able circumstances On the right Of the line the
battle has already begun with successful results.
Vermont and Maine have turned the enemy's nank
In glorious style. The West is responding
with monster mass meetings all over their wide
S0man, and only remains for us here in the centre
70 make one strong, vigorous charge in November to
complete the rout, horse, foot and Dragons. The
NAM opoo noadf IN url. nf
me momentous isues Of this campaign Therefore
the democracy have avoided the main issue Of their
platform and have skirInished with the subjects of
finance, the public debt and the alleged extrava-
Gance Of Congress. They wish to turn the public
MIND nom investigating the declarations con-
tanned In the platform Of the Tammany Hall Conven-
ton Of July last. Now that platform states that all
acts Of Congress in reference TO the South passed
since Lees surrender and commonly known as the
Reconstruction acts are TO be put aside ss usurpa
tons unconstitutional, revolutionary and void and
this declaration Is thus made by the South In
Wade Hampton, who was member Of the Tammany
Hall Convention, stated on his return to the South
rom that Convention that he and his friends from
the South had insisted upon that declaration being
placed in the platform, and 1t was done a conces
non to the South Besides this, General Frank Blair,
Hall Convention, also says in his letter To Colonel
Brodhead OF June 60 'rhat the army is to be compel.
led to undo these usurpatons In the South, TO dis
perse the carpet-bag governments and to allow the
white people TO reorganize their own governments
All Of po, which means that when Seymour
yhole government. No Congress or Supreme
Court viii be required. They Will do the
whole business themselves with the help Of the
army, which will be reorganized with sunicient
rebel elements to carry out their programme. After
own government-that IL, after the rebels have re-
established slavery-they will be recognized loyal
Union debt are to be turned over to The tender
merces OF unreconstructed rebels such IL the plat
people II is nothing more than rebel platform.
and for a rebel platform 1t IL very good one.
Wade Hampton, who Is the plotter Of t. did the
best he could under the circumstances be and his
friends in the South wish TO regain the power they
had lost by their rebellion and thought that by JOIN
ing forces with the democracy OF the North IL could
be DONE II was their best chance and like drown
Ing men, they caught at straws. But they should
put down the nrst rebellion are ready, able and
willing to put down a second one even II II does
spring from coalition OF rebels, copperheads and
scented in the Soldiers and Sailors Conven-
ton in this city In July last. What
that Convention How hard they la6ored to iin,i a
candidate for the Presidency How they rackcd
their brains with Bascoms best Bourbon in thehopes
of being inspired, but none came. They murInured
something about their impaired confidence and love
for Mcclellan, and then threw themselves al the feet
Of the Tammany Hail Convention begging them for
Q candidate. The bold sachems OF Tammany, who
like q Union soldier or man who has been IN the
coaS no or re- this ne " Of p"sc
Jupiter to the frogs, so with queer humor they
named the man who has insisted for the last four
years that our soldier boys OF the Convention
Of July last were failures Of the war,
and only left them the rltImstum OF playing
the part Of Dogberry who was anxious 10 be written
down an ass. Mark the contrast of this convention
and that glorious convention which met In Chicago In
Nay last That convention had but one purpose and
object. They determined that the principles for
which they had fought and suppressed the rebellion
should govern this country, and that the man who
represented those principles more fully than any
other living man should he their nominee for the
Presidency. He their FIRST, last and only choice,
and was nominated by acclamation, and today the
20 the Gulf and from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, have accepted him as their standard
bearer for the next four years. In this the
Boys in Blue were true to the Union true to the
cause for which they fought true to themselves and
But It In not only 'sThe Boys in Bluen and the re-
publican party who desire to have General Grant for
the next President Of the United states II IL large
desire II because they wish for peace end the perpet
nation Of our republican form OF government. They
ore satisfied the calm, steady, immovabe resolution
and nrmness which 20 distinguish the character
Of General Grant, with his pre-emnent devotion
and loyalty, are the highest guarantees for the at
There are periods when IL ~ vital to the existence
Of republics that representative men should direct
and govern their public affairs. Already I'm our
short history these representative men have shaped
and directed our destiny, and by their great per-
sonal qualifications have preserved TO US our nstitu
it was the character Of washington which enabled
m to pass through the war OF the Revolution. ZAP
plause.) For seven long, weary years we fought
against great odds and. with insufficient material OF
war. Often cast down. dispirted and disheartened,
We sometimes dcspaired OF success but the her0ism
and grandeur OF washington inspired fresh hopes
that finally led TO peace and laid the foundation OF
this great nation Such services the people
acknowledged by electing him twice to I'LL
the ONCE OF President, with the proud sppela-
ton Of ''the Father OF his Country" the first in
war; the first In peace and the first in the hearts OF
his countrymen." loud cheers) Again, when
General Jackson was President the notification
doctrine OF Calhoun and the growing power OF the
Bank Of the United states threatened TO overshadow
II not overthrow our government. But jackson,
with the point OF the sword, defeated nulli1cation
and his resistance to the Bank OF the United States
brought about one OF the most bitter and exciting
political contests ever seen In this country. The
bank was beaten, but the victory was due TO the
indomitabe courage energy and intelligence Of
General jackson and his intuitlve perception OF the
desire OF the people. lie gave impulse to popular
ideas, and soon In his own person and by his strong