Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-15
MEXICAN VETERANS.
Opening of tho National AssOCl-
ation at Nashville.
The Boys Enthusiastically for the
Old Flag and a Pension.
Interesting Programme for
To-Day.
spealal 10 &c courier- Iournal.

Special to the courier-JournAl
NASHVILLE, September 13.-The
veteran politicians are comparatively
silent. For the present the city is
turned over to the Mexican veterans,
about 300 Of whom are present. 1t
was a most impressive and interesting
scene at 5o'clock this afternoon, when
3 large number of the veterans met on
the old Female Academy ground 1.-THE
building itself being in ruins) to listen
to q short address from Rev. G. d.
Elliott on the very spot where. thirty
six years ago, the Doctor addressed
the members Of the First Tennessee
regiment, on their way to the fields Of
Mexico. AT the same time a Miss
Taylor, a relative Of General Zachary
Taylor, presented bright, new banner
to the bold soldier bows in brief but
beautiful words. Thai same old
banner, tattered and torn, was this
afternoon unfurled over DIR. Elliott as
he spoke, T~hirty-six years agol Gray
heads were bent to-day where boyish
brows all flushed with liie's young
pulse knew then no furrow Of care.
Many met who had not looked into
one another's faces since they parted
at the close of the Mexican war.
COLONEL JOHN S SAVAGE
was called out, and made a short but
stirring response A few years ago,
be said, among other things, brother
rose up and slew his brother and raw
aged his lands. To-day the winning
side were voted 500, 0OO, 900 for arrears
Of pensions, but the few bent and
broken forms he saw before him were
remnants Of that great army who
added to our country a grander empire
than Tamerlane or Alexander or
Caesar had ever bequeathed. He did
not envy the Northern soldier his
pension; he was glad he had il; but it
did look hard to see these old Mexican
veterans, spite all the wealth they
had added to the country, go down to
poverty, to unremembered graves.
The Democrats in Congress blamed
The Republicans for the failure of the
Mexican Pension Bill, but he blamed
the Democrats. They we're timid,
cowardly and careless. If they had
gone to work determined to win, the
bill would have passed years ago. he
advised his hearers to turn out every
Congressman who had been lukewarm
in the cause and elect better men to
represent them.
The applause he received indicated
that they we're about willing and ready
to do it.
THE VETS POURING IN.
The headquarters we're thronged at
an early hour this morning with vet
Grams registering their names and re
eeiving their badges. A party Of fifty
veterans arrived oVer the Louisville
road this morning from Ohio and Fen
lucky. The Secretary and his assist
ants will hardly finish the work of
registration before tomorrow. At
noon to-day about $50 veterans had
received their badges. Some
CURIOUS OLD RELICS
have been placed on exhibition.
Among them may be mentioned a
Mexican escopeta, a cavalry gun
brought from Mexico by Daniel John
ston in l847. The gun has an enor-
nous bore, and carried a ball about
the size of a mans thumb, together
with a charge of buekshot. 1t was
used at short range and generally
proved very destructive. Near the
gun has been placed a piece of coral
taken from the Castle of San Juan,
Vera Cruz, Mexico, by H. W. Hart,
Of the First Tennessee, Captain Wal
toms company. This piece of coral
was torn from the wall by an Ameri-
can cannon ball. A wooden knife and
spoon, made by one of the Mexican
prisoners while in chains, are on ex.
hibition. They we're made with a
broken blade knife out Of a stave Of a
stranded vessel, and are artistically
carved.
GENERAL FRANK cHEATHAM
was the central figure at headquarters
ID. day. All the veterans remember
l"Old Frank" and were glad to take
him by the hand once more. Some of
the veterans look quite vigorous and
time has dealt lightly with them, while
others are bent with age, and the
frOsts Of many winters are plainly
visible in their silyery locks.
In attendance upon the reunion is
a Spanish gentleman who fought on
the side Of the Mexicahs. He is as
cordially treated as though he had
been an American soldier.
To.DAY's PROGRAMME.
The following is the programme for
Thursday: All veterans will meet at
headquarters at $50 am, form in
line and march to the Capitol, where
they will organize for business. At
l0:l5 I'm. the veterans will call on
Mrs. james X. Polk. At IL o'clock
the veterans will take a free train at
the Chattanooga depot for Belle
Meade, where a barbecue will be pre-
pared for them, and where an address
Of welcome will be delivered by Col.
Thomas Claiborne, responded 10 by
General Denver, President Of the
National Association. Att pm. the
veterans will return to the city. AT
Z pm. General Bate will deliver an
Grafton at the Capitol, to which the
public is invited. G. 4. NJ.
Cau from Zealand