The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-09-02
From the Unioptown Genius OF Liberty
John w. Geary and the Soldiers
of the Mexican war.

On Saturday, July 10Th, 1873, ana
shortly after the return of the Fayette county
volunteers from the war with Mexico, they
held meeting in Connellsville, at which the
following preamble and resolutions were
unanimously adopted:
Uhereas, The discharge and arrival home
of the remaining members of the Fayette
volunteers has again placed them IN the
uosition of citizens of the Commonwealth OF
Pennsylvania, and enabled them to speak
and assert their rights, they now embrace
this occasion, the first opportunity since
their return, to express their deep and AbID-
ING INDIGNATION at the conduct OF
JOHN w. GEARY, since he was elected to
the command of the End Pennsylvania Regi
ment { the city of Mexico. The said John
w. Geary procured his election by mere
plurality of votes by FALSEHOOD and
| DECEPTION. Whils he was prom ising to
give Company Ii the privilege OF electlng
their own officers, according to the laws OF
the State of Pennsylvania, he, the said
| Geary, bargained with Others for votes,
promising and giving appointment in said
Company FL to men from other companies
who might answer his peculiar purposes.
| The law of Congress of the 18th of May,
| lS46, calling for volunteers for the war with
Mexico, has this provision
SFc. s. And be it further enacted. that the
| said Volunteers so offering their services shall
be accepted by the President, in companies,
| batallions, squadrons and regiments, whose Of
ficers shall be appointed i'll the manner pre-
| scribed by law in the several States and Terri
| tories to which such companies, batalllons,
sauadrons and regiments shall respectfully
belong.
The said Geary, while he availed himself
of this law to get himself into high office,
refused the same right to Company ii. which
legally and properly belonged to them
Therefore,
Resolped, That we, the remaining mem
bers of the Fayette County Volunteers, view
the conduct of the said John w. Geary to-
wards Company Ii as an OUTRAGE upon
their Just rights, as secured to them by the
laws of Pennsy lvania as well as the laws Of
Congress. The whole course and conduct of
the said Geary being INCONSISTENT with
THE CHARACTER OF A GENTLEM n
OR MAN OF HONOR-it was treating US
as set of men who did not know their
rights, and who could not appreciate them
it was CORRUPT and MERCENERI IN
all its bearings, CHARACTERISTIC of LOW
AND GROVELING CREATURE, hunting
and seeking popularity for courage and pa
triotism THAT HE NEVER EARNED, by
bargaining with supple tools and mercen-
aries, one of whom at least was a notorious
blackleg.
Resolred, That the arrest and trial of 1st
Sergt John A. Cummings, by Court
Martial, for daring to assert his rights, and
those of the company, was A BASE AND
COWARDLY EXERCISE OF USURPED
AUTHORITY ON THE PART OF TUE
SAID JOHN W. GEARY-after be. the
said Geary. had SURREPTITIOUSLYa and
VILLAINOUSLY SUPPRESSED the order
of the Adlt General of this STATE. (issued by
direction Of Governor Skunk } directing him
to fill all vacancies in the End Regiment oi
Pennsylvania Volunteers, BY election-sak'
ing advantage of his STOLEN authority tc
cover up his WORSE and BASE MOTIVES
and to injure the hard earned fame OF g
brave and gallant officer.
On motion of Peter A. Johns. it was
Rssolred, That all the harm we. wish
Colonel Geary, is, THAT HIS DISGRACE
MAY FOLLOW HIM THRO' ALL THE
LANES and AVENUES OF LIFE. AND
THAT he MAY NEVER DIE OR GET
OLD.
John w. Geary is now the candidate o
the Republican party for Governor OF Penn
sylvania Read the foregoing proceeding
carefully, and say whether he is a prope
person to fill that high Office, and whether
be is led to your support. Remember
at the time the above proceedings were
adopted, Col. Geary was acting with tht
Democratic party. and the Fayette county
Volunteers were nearly all Democrats, st
that the said proceedings are entirely fre'
from any charge of having been instigatec
through political motives.