Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-16
VETERANS OF .46.
Convention of Soldiers of the War
with Mexico

vi IHc mtAlCdu war yesterday AFTER
noon, the committee on credentials reported,
delegates.
Colonel Tidball moved that a committee of
one from each State be appointed 10 report
permanent officers. Amended TO include one
from the army and one from the navy.
AFTER some discussion themotion was adopted,
and committee appointed to report at 10
O'Clock to- day.
Gen. Pike announced that the grafton would
be delivered and the poem read at the Metro
politsn NJ. +. Church at II O'Clock to-day.
\ letter was read from Gen. Patterson. OF
Philadelphia, regretting his inability to attend.
Interesting Exercises To-day.
The convention met at Wizards hall at 1OT
O'Clock this morning, Gen. Denver in the chair.
l ne committee on permanent organization re-
ported the following
LIST OF PERMANENT oFF1cERE:
For president, Gen. j, W. Denver; vice presi-
dents-Maryland, Col. j. II. Ruddach; District
OF Columbia, Major F. r. LaIly; Michigan,
Capt. ). P. Howlette; Iowa, j. W. Griffith;
Col j: II. Black; Kentucky, Gen. w H
Ward United States Army, Gen. 4. G. Pitcher;
Minnesota, Gen: w. A. German; California, j.
Z. huffman; Illinois, Capt L. NJ. Payne; Ala
bana, j. j. Martin; oregon and Washington
Territories, Gen. James Tilton; Ohio, j. NJ.
Todd; South Carolina, Capt. Win. b. Stanley;
NJ. Ocloud; Georgia, Col. John Jones; North
Carolina, f. Cantwell; West Virginia, n. n.
Hoffman; Virginia, Gen. Wm. B. Taliaferro;
Louisiana, Paul o. Hebert; Tennessee Gideon
j. Pillow; Pennsylvania, f. O'BrIen; New
Jersey, Chas. Bowers; Texas, Gen. E. Nj. Green;
New York, Gen. &. X. Graham; Wisconsin
Gen. A. A. Merdeth; Arkansas, Gen. A. Pike;
Nevada, Gen. j. 7. Ray; Indiana Gen. NJ d.
Maston. Secretaries-Districto of Columbia, A.
NJ Kenaday; Maryland Col. o. Il. Smith; New
York, Col VIM. TidbaIl; Kentucky, J. F.
Huber; Massachusetts, II. A. McGlennon; Mis-
sissippi, Gen. W. j. Smith; Wisconsin, Gen. A.
a. Merldlth; INDIANA, Gen. Manson; Arkansas,
Gen. A: Pike; Nevada, Gen. j. Gray.
Gen Geo. Cadwallader entered the hall at
this point, and was loudly cheered and invited
to the platform.
Col ID. 5. Johnston offered the following res
Olution, which was adopted: That the president
Linn Ildball, OF New York, is to be chairman,
TO draft memorial to Congress requesting
suitable legislation in behalf Of the veterans OF
the Mexican war.
The president appointed the following COM
mittee under the resolution, Messes. KidweU,
OF New York. johnson, of Georgia; Bies OF
pennsylvania; Hebert, OF Louisiana; Manson,
Of Indiana.
Col. HOughton, Col. Schley. and Capt. Bland
ing were appointed a committee to call upon
the President and make arrangements tor "a
visit OF the convention to him to, night.
EXERCISES AT THE METROPOLITAN CHURCH
The convention then formed in procession.
ana preceded by the full marine band, marched
by way OF the avenue to the Metropolitan
church, TO listen to the address and poem.
Upon the platform were seated Gen. Denver,
Gen. Cadwallader, eX- Senator and Gen. Henry
). Lane, of Ind; Gen. W. H. Ward of XIV:
DR.. Tiffany and Gen. Pike. The exercises were
opened with music by the marine band, after
which Rev. DR.. Tiffany invoked the Divine
blessing.
General Sherman and General Mcdowell en-
tered the church and were Immediately invited
to the pulpit, and shortly afterward the COM
mittee entered, escortng General Negley orator
of the day. After music by the band, General
Denver introduced General Negley, member o
Congress from Pennsylya nia, who came Tor ward
and was received with applause.
GENERAL HEGLEY's GRAFTON.
lie SAID that the place which he now occupied
should have been filled by General Cushing
and 1t was but very recently thu he had con
sented to ill General Cushing's place. This
meeting was no less unusual than interesting,
fell into line TO defend the honor of the govern
ment in its third great war. Grand has been the
fulilment Of the destinies of our race since Tay-
Tor and Scott tented theig first battalion on the
soil of Mexico. In little more than a quar-
ter of century great states nave
grown up on the foundations laid by the
humanity have been INDICATED, the rights of
the American citizen guaranteed, and the
grandeur OF cur national union preserved. After
referring to the absent ones he proceeded to
relate the circumstances which led to the war
in which they were engaged, stating that in the
space of ~ years Mexico was cursed with 81
different presidents, dictatOrs, and military
rulers. Mexico had then IS 900 troops while
Taylor arrived before Matamoras with only
5000 combatants out of $500 men. With this
small, but effective force, he inaugurated the
brilliant campaign that led to the victories of
Palo Alto, and kesacca la Palma, the siege and
capture of Monterey, and the battle of uena
Vista, when with 500 men and Is cannon he
routed and nearly captured Santa Anna
with 20 600 of his best troops. lie then referred
to the movement of Gen. Scott on Vera Cruz,
and his triumphant march 10 the capital, when
the Mexican flag was hauled down in the CITY
of Mexico, amid the salv0s of artillery by the
Mexican guns now in our possession. The
speaker could not, in the brief time allotted TO
him to-day, recount all the personal feats of
gallantry and daring which filled the history OF
that campaign. The treaty was ratified March
10th, 1oiS, and the United Sta es was enriched
by the vast country now inclu d in the states
and territories of California, Nevada Utab
Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, in adj
dition to the peaceful control of Texas
AS the result or their successes he referred to
the growth Of those states and territories and
said Reason and patriotism sanction the
exulting pride of the old Mexican soldier His
services have brought within the influence of
civil and religious liberty grand realm in a
favorte cline with the wealth OF the Indies"
lie asked on what principle OF human Justice
shall be the reward bestowed by a grateful
country upon the few survivors, and cioseC by
saying ii he had the power he would write their
names on the unbroken columns of his country
and inscribe their deeds on the cousecrated
folds of the flag of our Unisn, which to-day
commands the respect of every nation of the
The Marine band again played one of its
choice selections; after which Gen. Denver
came forward and said: "You all know Gen
nv nv 10 INV pelOIS YOU 10 deliver
poem upon this occasion"
GEN. Fixes POEM.
Gen. Pike then read the following poem,
When California was a foreign land 20
How many shadowy. ghost-like figures stand
Between that then and now /! Forms of dead
years,
Old, meager, pale and from all blood and tears
Such faces full of pain and agony,
Ana sitting bowed in SPECIFICS misery;
Ana three, the tarthest from us, laurel
crowned,
The years of victories over foreign foes re-
nowned.
comrades and friends, the glorio pas. recall;
Live in 1t again; in memory upon ali
Your well-known fields of battle stand again,
Young, hopeful, eager, proud, as you were then
rebels against the tyranny of time,
Ride through the hills, the mountain passes
climb:
Camp on the streams through fertile wales that
flow
From the broad beds of everlasting snow;
Hear once again the Aztec eagle scream;
See once again Santana's lances CLEAN;
The tolls and hardships of the march endure
win glory, and your country's thanks secure.
when California was a foreign land!n
II tunes not measured by the dropping sand
That counts the silent moments as thew fit
But by the great deeds that are done in it,
Then, comrades, It is q century or more
Since Yankee arms the tag OF glory bore.