Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-24
A Solder Rejected by the Aiber-
ais for Signing the Soldiers Gail.

A Solder Rejected by the Aiber-
ais for Signing the Soldiers Gail.
The feeling shown towards Mr.. Henry c.
Houston by the Liberal Republicans OF Cum
beliand county. in convention held at Fort
land on the 20ih (Which by the way is another
manifestation of the grand uprising of the
people in favor of Horace Greeley. composed
as it was of sixtysix persons. is worthy of
notice. The Democratic Convention was also
held on the same day. the two embraced, and
a committee OF conference was appointed to
report nominees to de supported. Among
the names was that Of Mc. Houston for Reg
ister of Deeds, the nomiaee also tor the same
office by the regular Republican Convection,
and Il gentleman of charac'"r. good military
record and vel, qualified for Tia position. but
was disabled duriGg he var, The report of
the Conference Committee was accepted by
botl, conventions with tie exception of lious-
ton by the liberals. lie was rejected by them,
and here are the reasons given for so doing.
He would throw discrsdtt on the convention
because Of signing the call for the Conven
ton of Union Soldiers to be held on the 9th
inst. One of the grand reform chiefs, Mr..
Henry T. Carter, said he would never give
his vote for man who had outraged the lib
eral republicans in this manner. Now what
does the call of this convention contain, the
signing of which was such an abuse to Mr..
Carter and others? We will quote:
| -. I,o1l,
extended to all Union soldiers of Maine:
| Who cherish the great principles for which
| the war was fought to victorious end;
Who believe that Union soldier who
fought to save the Republic has larger claims
upon the Government than rebel soldier who
fought to destroy it.
Who believe in extending just and gen.
erous hand to defeated foe, but who are op-
posed to granting amnesty and pardon to such
rebels as Jacob Thompson, who plotted the
destruction Of northern cities by the most
cruel incendiarism involving the destruction
of women and children;
Who believe that the Union soldiers are
entitled to the largest pensions the Govern
ment is able to pay, and who view with alarm
even the remote intination of placing the
rebel soldiers or the same basis, which if ac
complished would not only withhold much
needed aid from those Union soldiers who
were rendered helpless by their wounds, but
would utterly confound all distinctions of pat
riotism and treason, and would deprive the
Government in future eXigencies of that 10y
atty and love on which it must always rely in
times of great public peril
Here is the call, and hence it is outrageous
to cherish the great principles of civil liberty
and equal rights "for which the war was fought
to a victorious end" Outrageous because
the thousands of MANNED and crippled soldiers
who fought for the Union dare assert that
they have larger claims upon the Government
than the rebels who fought to destroy it.
Outrageous because they will not clasp hands
across the 'bloody chasm" with such men as
war plotted the destruction OF our larger
Northern cities by cruel iEcendiarism. Out
rageous because they do not think that all
distinctions of patriotism and treason should
be forgotten, from the fact that in any future
exigency of the Government not loyal
hand would Use in its defence. These are
the reasons which Mr.. Carter gave for refus-
ing Mr.. Houston his support, and now fellow
soldiers in all candor would ask how we can
consistently act with a party which instead of
having us cherish the principles which the
call contains would have us forget every YES
| tige of the war, forget every noble and patri-
otto impulse that led us forth; forget all the
sacrifices made. and the suffering endured !;
forget with what jealous care we defended
the "dear old flag when we heard the can
mons roar and the clash of arms; and more,
forget the brave myrtrs who fell by our side
on so many fields of battle, crimsoned and
hallowed by their blood. All this is necessa-
ry to a reconciliation of the South. But this
advice comes from the party that are willing
to kneel in the dust before unrepentant reb-
els and ask pardon for past offences, and
to offer aid in nourshing the tree of rebel.
lion with new life; therefore, fellow soldiers,
| by every emotion that can influence us as hon.
orable and patriotic men, let us spurn the coun-
sells of such men and such party, but let US
stand by the old flag until the victory is Sc
curely won. Let US give our influence to
that party that sustained and supported us
during the terrible days of conflict And,
finally, let US cast our vote for the military
chieftain who never was defeated on the field
of battle, and who in the Presidential chair