The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-08-26
Tsrms, BY Mail, in Advance
A SOLDIERS DUTY.
What the Volunteers Accomplished
What They Should Now Aim At.

! SIR-lhe signature OF UeueIal a'-
uon Is Minnesota. TO a call for q
Ie-,,:. ,3 So;lor0 70
oon'en'ion y, 9U , c.~,.,.l.~
be held IN Plttspurgn' III oep'enoef'
has led to some misrepresentation
omonc tho friends Of that distinguished
uh;oh 7 ru;,L
Sen'eman' anu iny o"n' "'N
to correct. 1t is matter OF no pnolic
moment, but as it has been deemed
worthy o5 occasional mention in the
,-o.a Jr,u r.. tho ceuse which T sunnort
r>''' ivy " .,;o.;o.. ;.-i,
auu my personal oo"' '''io'' '"pei ne
TO state that do not concur IN the call
referred to; that l cannot, as soldier
or citizen, listen to 1t nor vote for the
candidate in whose interest 1t was Is
sued. ..
1t would always give me the greatest
pleasure to meet my comrades of the
war for the promotion of any social and
patriotic purpose; but could never
countenance the perversion Of such a
meeting to the purpose Of reviving and
sustaining the bitterness and animosi-
ties of the war. With many thousands,
believe the war an inevitable and I'M
avoidable struggle between two distinct
| and conflicting social forms-a democ-
racy and an aristoricy founded re-
spectively on the dignity and degrade
ton OF human labor. The persistent
inroads of the Democracy on the South
had Imperfect their social structure,
and in time would have destroyed 1t,
thus rendering separation its only sal
walton. Our material interests and
never failing devotion to our nationality
impelled us to accept the issue of war
to prevent disurion. In the conflict
that ensued, those who fought on the
Southern side were no more to be re-
preached for living under and believing
in the social system which they had in
herited, than we who shed our blood in
maintaining the purer democracy in
which we had been born and educated
| The South was ready, willing and
strong, Her strength was measured by
the 100000 men and S3,OOO,OOO, 900
required to crush her. The strength OF
the North was not measured.
Our nationality WAS saved and labor
made free throughout the Ia nd. These
results which cost rs so MANY lives
and - mucb money. were accented nv
the South The people, with the habit
Of copce otratipg all praise or all blame
an on individual selected General Grant
% ,ha ;SeaI on wbon thew bestowed q II
Lonnr and all mower Sine GEORGE
Wosb;ngton 70 m American citizen has
hoen q ffordad snch great onnortunities
~ - ITIysSeS 6 Grant and M man
i;y;no or dad has ever exb;hiteJ snch
absolute lack of intelligence to under
stand ar NJ will 70 embrace them. That
he has had the necessary power has
been shown by his ability to make ex,
traordinary exertions for the success of
MANY unworthy and unconstitutional
schemes without provoking articles
- ;mna.cbmant His frst great
onrortnnitv to reconcile this
nspnIe to heal the national
wounds by the first intention, was ut
terly disregarded. What had he to
fear? No human power could alter
the results of the war. Union and
Democracy were assured forever. The
soldiers OF the South mad not only laid
down their arms, but had at once gone
TO hard work at various occupations
formerly despised, showing that they
had we'll learned the lessons OF the war.
Every consideration of honor, dignity,
and even of mercy, demanded that we
should encourage them in their struggle
for life and peace, no less heroic than
their conduct IN battle. The shattered
fragments OF their former social struc-
ture were ready at hand to reconstruct
society on Democratic foundation,
but those fragments have been ground
to dust under the vlndlcnve heel OF L..
S. Grant and the men who con-
troll him. Ignorant, superstItlous
negroes who will abide with us forever,
have not been instructed in the duties
of selt-government; but by the special
efforts OF the President and OF his
Cabinet and other officials they have
had their apprehensions aroused and a
race hatred begotten. II this be peace
then the tirmest rallyingcry OF his par,
tisans, LET us have peace, Is a cruel
mockery. The peace promised four
years ago was national demand, a de-
mand more imperative to-day thah
ever. 1t is not to be approached I"
attained through the meeting OF fsy
soldiers at Pittsburgh to revive TIE
grievous memories OF civil war long
since concluded; l believe IN no DIS
tiuctive class. The soldier who eore
arms and the citizen who ena-
tributed Of his means to preserve tht
Union, each performed only his duty.
A gathering OF soldiers for the parpsne