The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-27

meeting Of the original Grant men was held
last night at Union League Hall. Mr.. A.
Watson, presiding officer OF the last meeting,
called the meeting TO order, and asked that
presiding officer DO selected, when the
company by vote chose Mr.. watson 10 coh-
tinue In the position.
Tho Chair read the following which had
been published Ms the call for inc neeling
The original Grant RcpuDncanS OF lnc
city, the departments, and soJonrhers rom
the States are invited TO meet again ~ nv .ilion
League Hall on this fHday evening ~
O'Clock, TO maintain thc rignt 81 ,, oaf ne
,,ud wcll-known Republicans 10 az tho uoN-
erp,, sent patronage. Original Shsso men
and don htful Republicans arc ihNlteu 70 stay
away,
Mi, Watson S. u tng ouJ J., u Tue meethg
was 10 ala the ADMINISTRATION 10 get rid OF
the rebels and copper !'oaas from oniclal po-
sitlon. During the two past administrations
such people had got into once, ana u was
but right aud proper That TINS meeting should
adopt resolutions which would be read In the
Departments and have their effect.
As there seemed TO he but little business 70
he brought before the meeting, the Chah m
yitcd DR.. Alfred Thomas TO address the aus
cncc. That gentleman said that he had
heard II said on the streets that these meet
inps we're held by few grumblers who had |
been disappointed In getting Office.
He did not believe this. He thought II |
was right and proper that efforts should be |
made 10 dlspossess the people from govern |
mental positions who for eight years past |
have been antagouistic to the Republican
party. He had heretofore uttered the seutl-
mcut. and here reiterated II, that ''tu the
yIctors belong the spoils."
The Republican party had completely an.
INITIATED the Democratic organization, and
he thought that to the men who had borne
the brunt Of the battle should be given what.
ever Government patronage there was to dis
tribute. He was an advocate Of political
prescription, no matter who was effected by
Il. He was In favor of rotation In Office.
He had been connected with the Republican
party ever since its organization; had fought
vallantly In its support, and as yet he had re-
ccived no recognition Of the service. He did
not say this 10 be thought that he was
grumbler because he had got nothing from
the Government, but he took the broad
ground that the Republican marty now In
power should see that the claims OF its sup
porters should be recognized. He knew from
experience that If proper men had been In
position throughout the South, In many cases
the work OF reconstruction would have been
much further advanced.
The speaker related, at some length, his
experience as au officer of the Freedmcn's
Bureau, and how he had been treated by the
citizens. He had heard that In many OF the
departments of this city there were hundreds
of positions occupied by men who are rebels
at heart. There were scores OF wounded
soldiers In this city who should be placed In
those positions, and II was burning shame
that they were allowed TO go needy. 1t was
debt OF gratitude that the Government
owes to their defenders. The Democratic
party, when In power, always provided for
their friends. and the Republicans should
understand II.
The Democratic party are working TO re-
gain power, and unless the Republicans pro-
vide for their friends, Il VIII be successful
''as sure as there j. God In Israeli" He
was in favor Of the unconditional repeal Of
the 'tcnurc-of-oilcc bill They had nought
to dlstrust in General Grant. lie believed
that the President would administer the
duties Of his position justly aud without
favor. lie would not elevate man to
position upon whose character was the
slightest stain. The fault OF men holding
Office in the departments, who are blatant
Copperheads, lies with congress. II mem
bcrs of both Houses Of the National Legis-
lature but properly did their duty, the
departments would soon be thoroughly
secured.
At the conclusion Of DR.. Thomas remarks,
Mr.. Watson CDR. Boyd In the chair offered
series OF resolutions cOndemning Mayor
Bowen, Mr.. W. A. Cook, Register Boswell,
{. s. Bates, and others, charging that they
were not original Grant men, but had orig
inal cspoused the cause OF Chief Justice
Chase, and recommending that none of the
parties named should be appointed to office.
The resolutions having been read, Mr..
Watson advocated their adoption In lengthy
address, In which he traced the history OF
the late war ana the acts OF President Grant
during the contest. At the close OF that
contest, the Republican party, as with one
Voice SAID that he must be President OF the
Nn.lcu States'
now was u III rms GHyf a strong party
"' uvH VINO ioTLhcu WIN oaycs d. bowen AT
the mead ana VIM \. COOK as second nun
hGN' VINO cnaeaNNrcd 10 pack meetings TO
G.Nr 'A'T voice Tor the nomination OF 3. J..
haSe' 10 40 TINS they slandered General
Grant; said he was common drunkard,
1 T o'h't ItuaThs equally as dlsreputabie.
Ivy N'u, 'tH''u Wy securing .he VOICE VI
~ vo'"'eu men OF ms Guy 10 nominate
Chase, 10 scud ii forth 10 the country that
tuv Oo'V,su NH'yr, desired Chase as the nom
,I " i I',, ,"H' thesc Hhvh W no were
lhEoI ~ N.n'IaI "raut nomination.
W." T r iH"n'.S s"n urea MN, was II just
,Tri,.'I g. ., ,i' "1yu shou.u nov o'
'CI ~ ~, l"e w ncs' Government positions
ho ,'iip Ia' Luu 'tl' 'nelr recommendation
.nou.u W s'H,H as 'n'd 1"H non Tor the
IocuLlnE o. ohIces ior theIr personal friends.
ne ~ ash W 1nI Ia naoIlloh OF inc resolutions.
hr; " L. higgins SAD That lie was sur
~ ''HJ''e - bONNu
ahou.u ot nrpuHht forward IN THIS public
manner WIN we charge that he had vllliHcd
ueh' uraGt' lie mad known Mr.. Bowen for
years, ana had Always found him stern
anu u'oellIonlslhs republican. lleaskcd
ior proof oil these assertions. In all cam
lAIgns man had right 10 his opinion; he
hdd rght TO Ills choice of a candidate; but
aiter the nomination had been made who
had ever heard Mr.. Bowen do other than as
squar", straightforward Radical and sup
porter Of Gen. Grant would do. He was
sorry that this matter had been brought nm
without any evidence In sLov thot there W.
a word Of truII in il '''''' '1S'' was
He asked rnr rronr and I, o,,.,,., NJ
Watson soid tI,ot bn IA ~ ~. :" ,.nl,,' II
Rowen hnwin,t ,,,i i,S T,u hot hnoM Vi mr.
Can Gran, Lr, I', me- ehaises 1salhs'
yHtcl no na any, ~ I"u'u gEe MN IN pr
who had made Tho aloisioie sentlei I ,n
NJ RN,xc, ''''''' Wv '''''''eh'S !" Fesaru W
Vr IJ,as,ts las, 81,
,i,i ,,,n NJ W., HTN,H"I"fn ol tne ya,I' Sniu
rc."r,,,i,,' ' Hn "nU nau pGen haineu III the