Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-11-20

| people ought to read, to show what was
in the heart of this army at that time.
Kindness and charity pervaded every
| line and SYLLABLE. The Society meets
once year, not to celebrate victories,
not to glory in the achievements of
arms, but to do acts of kindness, keep
alive kindly feelings and memories. We
are society named after the Army of
the Tennessee; proud of its record, glo-
| rying i'll deeds and social in our nature,
and we have resolved to come tOgeth-
er annually, and have effected that pur-
pose for thirteen years. We are tonight
assembled to make good the welcome
of an old comrade and friend and our
| first commander, Gen. Ulysses 5. Grant.
| say to him he can look upon these
men and recognize friend in every one
"a little older than when he went away
but the same old fellows returning
thanks to the kind patrons of to-day and
evening. l will allow the proceedings
to go on in the order presented in the
programme.
Judge Gresham then made the annual
address.
| Gen. Sherman announced the conclu-
sion of the session, when the audience
set up shouts for Grant. This was per-
sisted in until Grant suggested that it
was better to follow the programme, but
as he was not down for speech, the au-
dience laughed and renewed their de-
mands for a speech.
Gen. Grant deliberately drew from his
pocket u manuscript and as deliberately
read the f0llOwing-the longest speech
of his life:
After an absence of several years from
the gatherings of the Society of the Ar
my of the Tennessee, it affords me
heartfelt pleasure to he again with you,
my earliest comrades in arms in great
conflict for nationality and the Union of
all the States under one free and always
| to be maintained government.
In my long absence from the country,
| / have had most favorable oppOrtuni-
ty for seeing and comparing i'll my own
mind our institutions with those of all
European countries and most of those
of Asia; comparing our resources, de-
velOped and dormant, the capacity and
energy of our people for uphOlding the
| Government and developings its resour-
ces with most of the civilized people of
the world. Everywhere. from England
to Japan, from Russia to spain and Por-
tugal. we are understood, our resources
highly appreciated, and the skill, energy
and intelligence of the citizens recOgni-
Zed. Ny receptions have been your re-
ceptiOns. They have been everywhere
kind, and an acknowledgment that the
| United States is NatiOn-a strong, in
dependent and free Nation-cOmpOsed
of strong, brave and intelligent people,
capable of judging their rights and
ready to maintain them at all hazards.
This is nOn-partisan Association, but
composed of men who are united in Il
determination that no foe, domestic or
foreign, shall Interfere b,tween us and
the maintenance of our grand, free and
enlightened institutions aud the unity
of all the States. The are,l # our cOun-
try, its fertility, the energy anl resources
of our people, with the sparsiiy of our
population compared to area, pOstpOneS
the day for generations to come when
our descendants will have to consider
the question of how the soil is to sup
port them, how the most can be produ
ced to support human life without ref
erence to the taste or desires of the peo-
pie, and when but few can exercise the
privilege of the plain luxury of selecting
the articles of food they will eat. the
quantity and quality of clothing they
wear, but will remain the abundant
home of all who possess energy and
strength and make good use of them. If
we remain true to ourselves, such a
country is one to be proud of. | am
proud of it-proud that am an Ameri-
can citizen. Every citizen, North South,
East and West enjoys "a common heri-
tage and should feel an equal pride.
| am glad these society meetings keep
up so long after the events which in
sense they commemorate, have passed
away. They do not serve to keep up
sectional feeling or bitterness toward
our late foe, but they do keep up the
| feeling that we are Il Nation, and that it
must be preserved, one and indivisible.
We feel and maintain that those who
fought, and fought bravely on the oppO-
site side from us, have equal claim with
ourselves in all the blessings of our
great and common country. We claim
tor them the right to travel all over this
DlOtu oOlCCG IhOJ pICstoO
the right to settle, become citizens and
enjoy their political and religious con-
vigtions free from molestatiOn or Ostra-
cism either on account of them, or their
connection with the past. We ask moth
ing more for ourselves, and would re-
joIce to see them become powerful rivals
in the development of our great resour-
ces, in the acquisition of all that should
be desirable i'll this life and in patriot
ism and in love of country. APPLAUSE
There was song and then the presen-
tatiOn of an elegant banner to the SOci-
ETY.. 1t was presented in an eloquent
speech by Gen. Logan, and accepted on
behalf of the Society by Gen. Sherman.
There being calls for Sheridan, Pope,
Oglesby and mark Twain these gen.
tlemen responded, the exercises lasting
until a late hour. Then came the tat
too and adjournment until tomorrow.
CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAMS FROM
SOUTHERNERS.
The Daily News having invited Gov
ernors of the various States and promi-
nent Southern men to send to its care,
congratulations on Gen. Grants return,
has received a number number of such
congratulations, including one from Hon
Alex. II. Stephens, another from Gen.
James LOngstreet.
TOOKBS STILL UNRECONCILED.
The following was received from Hon.
Robert ToOmbs.
ATLANTA, Ga, Nov. 12-TO NJ. E.
Stone, Editor: Your telegram received
! decline to answer except to say, pre-
sent my personal congratulations to
Gen. Grant on his safe arrival to his
country. He fought for his country
and won. l fought for mine and lost.
am ready to try it over again. Death to
the Union.
[Signed II. TCOMBs