Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-07-24
TO THE RETURNED VETERANS OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
Speech of General Thomas Etciag, of Ohio,
at the Democratic Soldiers and Sailors
Convention In Neg York


Convention In Neg York
Mr.. Woodward, of Pennsylvania, presen.
ted the committee from the Convention Of the
Soldiers and Sailors. They were requested
to take positions on the platform.
This is the same gentlemen who, while
Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court Of
Pennsylvania, decided that you soldiers had
no right to goie, and that the draft to FIJI
your regiments was unconstitutional.
Mr.. Ewing said; If it were appropriate
for me, it would be impossible for lack OF
voice to express this convention the thank
fulness which /, aud the members of the con-
vention, and Of the committee, feel for the
cordial and enthusiastic manner ofthis recep.
ton. We feel that the members of the two
conventions, however widely separated their
paths may have been in the past
meaning the paths through Virginia and
Georgia
will march henceforth in one line. TAD.
plause. We earnestly wish to accomplish the
purposes of the war, as we understand them
applause THE truly cordial, unconditional
restoration of this Union. Applause We
have no sympathy for those purposes that
have been falsely and dishonesty substituted
by the Republican party for the avowed- OBJ
jects of the war. Applause. We care not
for the dogma of negro suffrage; we abhor
their measure of white Acknowledgement
Applause. We look upon them as enemies
of the Republic, when we see them endeavor-
ing, by means of that power which a great,
conhding people submitted to them, TO under
mine and overthrow the settled foundation of
our Government. Applause. We cannot
we shall not associate with them longer.
[Applause. We earnestly wish to associate
with the great body of the Democratic party,
North and South [applausel, with thousands
against whom we fought during the war Zap.
plausel-
meaning rebels who starved your comrades
to death at Andersonvile-
with thousands who, perhaps, felt coldly in
the North towards the Union cause while the
war went on
meaning the Nothem Copperheads who cal
led you Lincoln hirelings, cheered for JEFF
Davis, shot down your comrades in the
streets of Baltimore and New York, and
hanged innocent negroes to street lamp
posts
with all of those who now cordially accept as
the established theory of the Constitution that
the Union is unseyerable, and who win stand
by and defend the Constitution as interpreted
by the Government and the Supreme Court.
[Applause. Since our meeting here we
have had the pleasure of friendly inter
course
meaning champagne-drinking and hand
shaking with men who murdered your COM
panions in cold blood at Fort Pillow
with many Of the most prominent generals of
the Confederate army [appIause.
Confederate is pleasant term for ''reb-
el.
Knowing them to be men Of honor,
who stole the boots and coats of Union pris-
oners, shipped infected clothing to Northern
cities and attempted to destroy the city of
New York by incendiarism,
comparing views with them, and feeling that
their views and our views as to the present
and future policy of the Government coin
eide, we will take them by the hands as
brothers [applausel
the hand yet red with the blood of the i'm
mortal Lincoln.
Forgetting past issues and passions, we viii
recognize as political enemies only those who
are plotting to overthrow the Union Of the
States and our constitutional form of Govern
ment, and we will recognize as political
friends all of those who viii sustain US in en-
deavoring to overthrow that party. Zap
plause.
meaning the great party which sustained
you during the whole war
thank you, gentlemen of the convention, for
the very unexpected honor of being called
upon to address you, and beg you viii excuse
Three cheers we're then given for General
Ewing
W. D. Dowdell, of California, offered the
following resolution, which was adopted:
Resoloed, That the address Of the Soldiers
and Sailors, Convention, just read, be re-
ceived and entered upon minutes of our pro-
ceedings, and become part and parcel of
the proceedings of this convention.
In the name Of the veterans of the Grand
Army of the Republic we thank you, Gen.
Ewing, for you frankness. Philadelphia
Press.