The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-09-18
BY TELEcRA.P Il.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT.
49, lF'iJfpi h19D :
Exclusively to the Intelllgencer.
Y (By the Western Union Line. y =
0 meO Northwest cor. Of Main and Monroe ID
PITTSBURGH. 5 d. .
The Veterans in Council.
.if' - = lyHs s' s'olaf :
First Days Proceedings.
Speeches by Gen. Sweitzer, Gov.
Geary, Gen. Burnside,
ar Gen. HaWley and 11.'oI
Senator Wilson.
First Days Proceedings.
Letters from Vice President COlfax
L, and Others.

| ~ ------- ....
Letters from Vice President COlfax
.L,.7and Others.
PTTsBURoH, September 16.-Delega.
tons continued to arrive on all the trains
that reached the city last night, and ma:
teriany increased the number OF delega.
tions that had arrived yesterday. The
delegations as they arrive arc escorted
to the bands and clubs that have already
reached the city. The greater number
ofthe delegations are first escortea;to the
City aAll, where the ladies' 4ot5 the Sub.
sistence Committee have made prepara-
tons for their entertainment. Tho mum,
Der fed yesterday was so much greater
than was anticipated, that 1t was feared
tho provisions would not be snfElcient to
supply the increasing want, Up to the
hour Of closing the hall last night, the
committee had fed 10000 soldiers.
Shortly alterj12 o'clock the 10th Ward
Club OF Pittsburgh marched to the Mo.
nongahela House, where several thousand
persons speedily congregated. In reply
to calls, Generals Burnside, Noyes and
Fairchilds delivered brief and felicitous
speeches, which were received with
rounds Of applause for Grant and Wilson.
The city is splendidly decorated with
flags, festoons, evergreens, wreathsF Chi.
nese lanterns and other devices ofian or.
namental character. Fifth avenue Is the
most deliberately decorated OF any Of the
streets or avenues Of the city. Several
large and tastefully decorated arches span
the avenue at the intersection of Smith.
field, Wood and Market streets. The
various delegations paraded the streets
during tho morning previous to the as.
sembling Of the Convention. The Con.
vcntion was called to meet at II o'clock,
but the delegations were not seated until
near half past. During the period spent
in seating the delegations, the bands in
attendance favored the audience with
selections from some of the favorite ma.
tional airs, after which tho song OF vel.
come was sung by Professors Louis and
Jones, Of the Welch Union Clubs, and
they were assisted by the entire audience
in the chorus. Then followed music by
the Marine Band of Washington, after
which was sung the Star Spaugled
Banner, by two hundred chorlsters,
assisted by the different bands and the
audience. At conclusion three cheers
were delivered with special JUNCTION. Al.
ter the cheering had subsidized, Major
Samuel Harper come TO the front of the
stage and introduced Gen. ]. B. Sweitzer,
who then delivered the welcome address
The General began: g. g.
ADDRESSES OF WELCOME. 'r.
CoMRADEs-In the name and in behalf
Of the citizens Of Pittsburgh and of the
State Of Pennsylvania, bid you well
come among US. ! greet you as the repre-
sentatives Of those hosts Of valiant patri.
OTIS who, at the call OF their country went
forth to battle for her honor and her tlsgl
With the trials Of war now over, and IN
the full enjoyment OF the glorious results,
nation saved and united, it Is pleasant
to come together again to keep up the
memory Of past events, to thank the
Providence that has carried us compare
lively unharmed though years Of fiery
trial, and to drop o tear over those whom
tho same Providence had appointed. to
die, in order that q great nation might
live.
What recollections throng upon us
as we look back to that day, but little
more than eleven years since, when the
blow struck at our country's flag by q
traitors hand thrilled like an earthquake
shock throughout the length and breadth
of our land, and the streets OF our cities
rocked under the tread oi a million OF
men who were in arms TO avenge II;
when tho strife was who should be
allowed to find place in the ranks OF
its defenders. Among the earlier Of the
more important engagements OF the war
was the battle Of Anlietaln, on whose an.
niversary We meet to-day. It occurred
Just ten years since, In the darkest hour
Of the Republic. Tho campaign Of the
Peninsula had terminated disastrously,
and the army Of the Potomac had been
withdrawn. Here the General went into
a description Of tho battle Ot Antietam
and reviewed the character oil the contest
In which the country was then engaged.
In conclusion, the General said that of
those who died, q nation saved would be
the monument so long as time endures.
The dead in such strife are scarcely to
be mourned Tor. Theirs is d crown i'm.
perishablc. II they arc not here to-day 1t
Is only because the glorics OF martyrdom
were reserved for them, while we are lett
to share with others the fruits Of their
great struggle. Honor to their memories.
To you who survive itwOuld be presump.
tious In me TO reheArse the stories ot your
marches, your bivOuacs, your battles, OF
your tolls, yout sufterings, and your sacri-
ices during tho years you gave to the re.
demption Of the nation. To do so, would
require detail OF the entire history Of the
war. These stories are already written,
and will be read by your children in after
years as lesson and an example. 1t only
remains for me to express the hope that
your visit may be pleasant end profitable
and that your action while here may con-
tribute materially 10 the maintenance Of
the objects and principles for which you
fought and 10 the vindication Of the great
captain who led you TO victory and who
at the head OF tho nation has been as true,
efficient and successful as he was at the
head. OF its armies in the field. And, my
comrades, may you long survive to enjoy
the consciousness Of duty well performed
and the peace you have so honoraoly
effected. l'd II Ill. l' ''t ~
Governor GearY followed in supple.
mental speech 70 General Sweitzer, In
which, on behalf of the State, he extend.
cd a cordial welcome to the national SOL
dicrs 10 Pennsylvania, .......,-.