Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-09

government. The armies Of Scott and
| Taylor foEght ten great battles, and
never lost One, and never met with a
single reUerse.
| The Mexican war was carried on In
| foreign land, and against foreign ene-
my. This war illustrated the military
genius and heroism of our people, and
developed its military talent in re-
markable degree.
Where, in the annals of our race, can
! lie found greater herOism in the rank
and file, or higher strategy and
skill IN its officers than was dis
played by the officers Of these two
armies? 1t was in this war that Grant
aud Lee, and the officers of their armies,
learned the art of war as science, and
qualified themselves for the d;stin-
guished parts they bore in our late civil
war.
By the conflicts Of their armies they
shook the continent. If they had been
united they could have withstood the
world in arms. With few exceptions,
the great and successful leaders of those
two armies were officers of the Mexican
war, and were trained in that school.
1t is now over a quarter of a century
since the termination of the Mexican
war.
Where, now, is that gallant army of
| Mexico? 1t has been estimated that
| from disease and death on the battle
fields one-half of that army was left
on the plains of Mexico. The
half OF those who returned home
have since died-that the half
of those remaining perished in
the late civil war. This would
leave one-eighth living at the
end of this war, many of whom have
since died. 1t would probably be not
far from the truth TO estimate that not
more than One-twelfth of the Mexican
army are still surviving. Most of these
are old and infirm, and living in power
| ty. Some were manned and disabled
for life, while nearly all wore honorable
scars, won in the battles OF Mexico, in
vindication of the national honor, and
uphOlding its flag in a foreign country.
! / congratulate you, my comrades, after
the lapse of so many years, in meeting
once more to interchange greetings-tO
renew the courtesy Of old companion
ship, and 70 forget the bitterness engen-
dered by our four years late civil war,
and to avOw to the nation the pride we
| feel in the greatness of our country. Nor
should we forget the greetings due to
! two of our old mpaniOns, one OF whom
now resides at the White House, and
directs the energies of this great nation,
with judgment and silent dignity, while
| the other is now the general of our
army, and has proven himself to possess
| great ability as a commander.
When we separate, it will be to meet
no more, perhaps, forever.
| In laf IL
the blessings of the Great Ruler OF the.
universe upon our country, upon its gov
ernment, and our people, aud that he
will so overrule our national affairs as
| to perpetuate cur liberties aud the bless
ings Offree governments to the remotest
| period.
RESOLUTIONS.
Captain J. l.. Sharp submitted the fol-
| lowing preamble and resolutions:
WHEREAS, In republican govern
ment the nations strength is in the pa
| triOtism of the people; to cherish this
principle is therefore the highest duty of
| the government. Indeed, so he
cessary is this duty that all
governments, republican and monarch
cal, wisely look after and keep the aged
soldier who has devoted the prime of
his life to lis service, and see that in his
declining years, when he has ceased to
be able to provide for himself and his fam
lily, he does not want iOr the necessaTies
of life. To let the aged veteran soldier
linger and die in poverty; and to allow
the names of those who fell in battle IN
foreign land to be forgotten, and their
bones to bleach and mOulder on the bat
tle-fields, and their families come to
want, without aid from the govern
ment and without sympathy from
the living, is neither wise nor just.
The policy of our government in refer
eDce to the soldiers of the revolution,
those Of the war OF 1872, and to those Of
our late civil war, has been just and
wise, and Well calculated to foster that
| love of country which gives strength and
1 durability TO government; but we, sur
vivors of the war with Mexico, feel that
/ toward our comrades who fell in Mexico
and their families its course has been less
| lust, less wise. Over a quarter of
/ century has passed since we were called
upon, as patriots, to leave our families,
/ homes, and all that was dear to Us, and
march into a foreign land, known to be
/ sickly to men of the north, to defend the
honor and uphold the flag Of our govern
/ ment. How tuat duty was performed, the
! greatness of the country, and the extent
/ of its domains, and its renOwn for mill
| tary prowess, testifies. Yet the govern
ment OF our country has, by no mark OF
| respect fOE the dead, or for their families
/ by no act of kindness or sympathy for
the survivors of that army, ever recog-
nized the value of its services. We
feel that we did not, when put to
the test, fslter in that duty, and that
| the time has now come for the govern
ment 10 recognize the value of our sue
cess by having erected, at the
national capital, a monument upon
which shall be inscribed the names Of
those who fell in the battles or died Of
sickness in Mexico, and that it ought to
grant pension to those who still sur
vive and to the families of the dead;
| therefore be il
Resolved, That we approve of the ac-
ton of the survivors Of the Mexican war
everywhere over the country, in organ
izing themselves into associations, with
the view of asking of congress justice to
the living and the dead of the army Of
Mexico-jRstice to the living by grant
ing them a pension, aud justice to the
dead by erecting at the national capital
monument, upon which shall be in
scribed the battles fought and the names
of those who fell in battle or died of dis
ease in that war.
Resolved, That we organize ourselves
into an association similar to those or
gauized in other States, to be known as
"The Tennessee Association of the Vet
Grams of 1886" and that we elect pres
ident, secretary, and corresponding sec
retary and treasurer, for the purpose of
cooperating with other similar organi-
zatiOns, in furtheTance of the purpose
| above declared.
! ResOlUed, That it is expedient and
| consistent with proper sense of respect,
and is demanded by justice, that we me-
| morialiZe congress in furtherance of the
objects above stated.
! ResOlUed, That this organization will
| continue its existence until the objects
of its organization shall have been ac-
complished.
ResOlUed, That a copy Of these pro-
ceedings be forwarded to Hon. Barbour
| Lewis, representative from this district,
with tEe request that he lay the same
before congress, and each member from
| Tennessee.
! Resolved, That committee of three
! be appointed to prepare memorial to
congress on this subject, etc.
ReSolUed, That the secretary provide a
! book, in which those who wish TO join
this organization may register their
names.
ReSOlUed, That we adopt, as oul own,
| the constitution of the Veterans OF 1916,
of Washington City.
Resolued, That we appoint delegates
to the national convention to be held in
Washington City on the fifteenth In
slant.
ResolUed, That the president of this
association be requested to furnish copy
ofits proceedings to President Grant, for
his respectful consideration, with the