The National tribune., 1885-07-02

IN this country III tne laSG lew years. Two
ballots were taken, as follows:
Whole number of votes-...-.................. 4S5
Necessary to 24o
Burst !V9
Reynolds. III
Burdett Zl9
Fa1rcnllQ. IL
The second ballot resulted:
Whole number of 434
Necessary to a 223
Reynolds I36
Z39
BurSt W.
During the progress of the balloting, the COM
mittee appointed to present testimonials to the
Department of Minnesota made its report, and
exhibited to the Encamphent the immense
badge heretofore described in The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE
There was also discussed the resolution to so
amend the Rules and Regulations as to admit
into the Order those Union soldiers who had
been conscripted into the rebel army, but had
deserted as soon as possible and joined us. The
Committee OH Resolutions reported adversely,
and minority report presented an amendment
to the Regulations providing for an elaborate in
vestigation of such applicants, when, if they
were deemed to have rendered nothing but
involuntary service to the rebels, they might
be admitted to the GAR The proposition
was voted down.
As soon as the result of the second ballot for
Commander-in-Ch Chief was announced, and Com
rade
sUMUEL 8. BURDETT
declared elected, the nomination was made
unanimous, and he was presented to the En-
campment as the next COmmander-in- Chief.
Comrade Burdett spoke as follows:
COMMANDMENTS Chief and Comrades: There Is an
old record that contains the history of the first
known, perhaps, of the conflicts which man has
Of 1s aad
Gideon" Whether that was patriotic war, in
the sense that we estimate patriotism we cannot say
but it must have been grand conflict in which the
sword of the Lord present But all down through
subseQuentageS, my comrades, man has been called,
upon a battlefield, to salute the name of the king
and to do homage to a crown. The soldier has
taken his place in the ranks because he must; and
when he has done the bidding of the sovereign, he
has then gone back to his ,hovel TO be peasant
and a slave again.
Almost for the first time in all the history of con-
flicts, when Abraham Lincoln [applause] sent
forth his proclamation which was prayer as well
call to arms,-for the first time in the history OF
the world, a nation of gentlemen marched TO the
front. Applause. For the first TIME in the history
of the world the aspirations of the nobest and the
heartbeat of the grandest were under the tent
for four long years and more. tGreat applause.
To be called upon, not to preside over comrades.
but to be the servant of the remnant of such host
Is an honor which falls to man nowhere else
than here.
And looking back over the past century in which
have been permitted to dwell among men, can
but reflect at this proudest hour of all my life and
grandest of all my anticipatOns [applausel, that
war was to me greater in its issues and greater in
its results, far my feelings and fate were
concerned, than could almost conceive 1t to have
been for the Union. remember back over all the
years. when bound boy for my board and clothes
and three months schooling there before me
the the noble road which is open pen only In this grand
worse than slave If l had not been willing to
pledge my own life for those that should come
Comrades. the duty you have laid upon me is a
most pleasant one: 1 am to stand with you for
that loyalty which is our glory; am to bear with
Loyalty say the easy burdens, for learned of
Fraternity from the lips of Him who, standing on
Mars Hill, declared, Give thanks to Him all peo-
pie and all nations of men that dwell all the face
of the Garth" learned of Charity from the lips of
Him who taught me how to pray. lApplause.] 1t
took 100 years Of disregard and trampling upon
Fraternity and Charity to drag the men of the
South into want of Loyalty. IApplause To us
who have had this education how easy it was and
how easy my task is, comrades
We shall go across the continent few months
hence, there to exhibit to the people of the further
shore of this our great country the remnant Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic
1t seems to me that the real. the beneficial the
| anxious labor of this great organization is just
| about begun. l think we have had easy road.
We have come together while strength was yet in
our bones. We have been able to sit up until very
late at night, and sing strange songs, and drink
strange drinks laughter and talk of the days that
were past and gone, mingiing our tears and min
Cling our joys and sorrows as well, and having
done this, we have gone away. We are on the
platform nOw we are on the dead level OF our
lives; we are beginning in year or two to go the
| other way. The world admires the fierce. the
strong arm; 1t turns away from the weak and the
palsied one; and the time is coming, therefore,
comrades, now, that soon shall be growing old
when l hold it to be the duty of every man who
ever bore musket or took the oath to the flag to
gather with us into this organization that we may
show our fraternity and strengthen the hand of the
falling comrade. lCheers.l The only invocation
have to make 70 you is to pledge all the earnest
left in me to aid you in that cause. AS you return
hence say to every veteran that crosses your path
that the door OF the Grand Army Is open; that the
feast is spread; and ask him. if not for his SAX
for the sake Of his comrade and brother, to join
with u.s. SO that, hand in hand strength to strength
road and make it smooth for the weak, and COM
peling If necessary that respect that is our due.
Applause.
Commander md comrades for this expression of
your good will thank you most heartily. will
serve you to the very best of my ability Applause
On motion Of Comrade Loring, and at the
| request of the Ohio delegation. the rules wero
suspended, and Comrade Selden Conn0r, of
Maine, was elected Senior Vice Commander in
Chief by acclamation:
Henry ID. Pierce, of Massachusetts,; Gen.
James Allen. of Georgia; E. A. Dueby, of New
York, and Joseph A. VaDsyke of New Jersey,
were placed in nomination for Junior Vice
Commander-in Chief. Gen. Allen was elected
on the third ballot, and his election was made
unanimous.
III. y. ~. IuChCtJ VI SaiiIoIuiiS, WIS eIcCtc't
Surgeon General, and Rev. L. II. Stewart, of
Ohio, Chaplain-in-C Chief
Commander in Chief Kountz issued the fol-
lowing (his LAST order:
HEADQ'Rs, GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,
PORTLAND, ME-, June 25. 1885.
General Orders, No. 49, 1G
In surrendcring the command you placed in my
hands one year ago, IL is done with heart full OF
gratitude for the courteous treatment the generous
sympathy, and the abiding confidence which have
been extended to me. Such consideration, born
| only of that comradeship which characterizes our
organization, has lghtened the duties of this hon
orable trust, sweetened its memories, and made
deeper and more enduring the love borne for our
Order.
The comrade who succeeds me has long been
known as one of the most able. devoted and ear
nest of our MEMBERS and in delivering to him this
symbol OF authorize, the same cordial support and
confidence extended TO me is invoked for him.
By command Of JONI s. KOUNTz,
Communicating Chief.
W. w. ALCoRN, Adju!ant- General.
The report of the Adjutant- General was re-
ported back by the committee to whom it had
been referred, and adopted saw" that several
recommendations contained in the report were
not concurred in.