The Portland daily press., 1885-06-25

CdlllIiS5 Ol bue IOll anu OF
and counting to proceed with the regular
order of business, and in that way, in his
opinion, the encampment could greatly eX-
pedite matters.
Comrade Monroe said that he was well
aware that that had been the way, and he
was likewise well aware that things slip
through these conventions that ought not to
for that reason, and therefore he should say
attend to one thing at time
The motion was lost failing to receive
twO-thrds vote.
At this point in the proceedings, Gen
Logan made his appearance in the hall, and
his coming was the signal for general up
rising OF the delegates from their seats and
prolonged cheers.
On page - erase words and say
The reports of Judge Advocate General,
Inspector General and Surgeon General
were presented and referred
The report of the chaplain-in-chief was
read and referred.
The report of the adjutant general was
presented.
Inspector and Judge Advocate Generals
presented ther reports, which were referred
to the committee appointed for that purpose.
This closing up the regular business Of the
morning, the encampment by loud and per-
slstent calls, insisted upon speech from
Gen. Logan, and upon his arising in re-
sponse thereto, he was greeted with three
rOusing cheers Gen. Logan said:
Comrades-In the hour of business it is
not good time for speeeh-making. l can
only say that am very glad to be here in
your midst This is once of the largest en-
campments of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie since its organization, and in its growth
we ought all to take pride. | am informed
lhat now this organization numbers about
2S7, eco members in good standing Probably
is numbers are over 100000 | hope ana
trust that it may continue to increase, as
| have often said, until every soldier in this
land who bore an honorable part in the pres
ervation of this great nation of ours, Shall
be one Of its members, entitled to all the ben
etltS that may be showered upon it.
There is one thing only that desire to say,
1t Is this, and always when think of it, it
brings to my memory sad reflections. You
and |, all of us, are moving along with time
on the downward road to eternity. We are
now growing old instead of young. The heads
OF nearly all are becoming Whitened A few
more years the Grand Army Of the Republic
Will only be known as one of the things
that are past. So, while we do live, let us
live 50 that when we die future generations
shall remember that we lived life of honor
and patriotism, and defended the best repub-
lie that God ever created. Applause.
am sorry to find that the youth of the
land, in growing up, many Of them, at least
ask: Why is this assembling Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic? For what does it
meet? What is the meaning Of all this?"
Let each and every one that belongs to this
organization, OF who participated in the
slightest degree in the great cause that was
nearest the hearts of all the loyal people of
this land, read history from his memory to
every child he meets, [applausel that he
may learn that patriotism which lives in the
hearts OF good, true and brave men,. NY
comrades, 1t IS from you that the truthful
history in the future be written 1t is not
the man who writes for the benefit of the
many, but he who writes and tells the tale
that al may know the facts So let it be
with us.
am glad to have met you. hope we may
cyoi mo ~
plauseL and that our meetings may always
grow in interest, and that they may ever be
as pleasant as this one has been. fGreat and
prolonged applause.
The Encampment then took recess until
4 O'Clock in the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
IN calling the Encampment to order in the
afternoon, the Commander-in-chief used
gayel, concerning which he spoke as follows:
This gayel, with which have called the
Encampment to order this afternoon, is pre-
sented by Comrades Ransom and Pond of
Michigan. 1t is made from piece of the
stockade at Andersonville prison..
Vice Commander-in-chiefR Rea took the
chair, and thereupon Department Command
er Hall of Maine advanced to the stage with
the following presentation speech to the En-
campment;
Commander-in-chief: l am requested by
Dr. w. III. Eldridge, of Burnside Post, No
A. Department of Maine to present through
you to the National Encampment Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic, this gavel
which hold in my hand. 1t is manufacture
ed from wood from every State and territory
OF these United States [applausel, and the
DOX enclosing if iC fao i,,t tboe
way, from wood from every State and Terri
tory in the United States. And he asks.
Commander-in chief, that this gavel shall be
accepted and held as the property of this
eneampment SO long as it shall exist; and
then, when it shall terminate by reason of
there being no longer comrades enough to
compose a National Encampment it Shall
then, be turned over to the organization of
the Sons of Veterans, and held by them for
ever" Great applausel.
Senior Vice Commander-in-chief Rea ac-
cepted the gift on behalf of the encamp-
ment. He said:
Il am instructed by the Commander-in-
chief on the part of the Headquarters Of the
Grand Army of the Republic to receive and
acknowledge the gift of this beautiful pres
ent. Composed as it is, as you have stated.
from wood taken from the forests of all the
States and Territories, it is in fact typical of
the Union which is the result,-the grand re-
suit of the great life work of the army to
which we belonged in 1861 and 1866 1t has
to-day a character, and in the days to come
It will have history. 1t will be placed in
the archives of the Grand Army of the
Republic, and eventually turned over as
directed to the organization known as the
Sons of Veterans. tApplause.l
Past Commander-in-chief Merrill from
the committee on pensions, submitted its re-
port, which was referred to the committee
on resolutions, pending the consideration of
the resolution introduced by Comrade Loring
in regard to pension legislation. The report
was as follows:
PORTLAND, June "a, 1885.
10 the National Encdmlnlent:
The committee on pensions respectfully submit
the following report:
Early during the winter session of congress the
coinmlttee met III Washington, the cOmnander-in-
elleI also being present We found that owing to
the breyity of the session and the consequent
pressure of public business, it was impossible to
age, OF just such pension bill as met the approval
/ OF your committee.
10 the Mexican pension bill, as passed by the
mousse OF representatives, lhe senate had attached
several amendments directly in the line OF the
recommendations of previous committees and the
action OF the National Encampment Although
not altogether what was desired this bill included
SO many excellent features that your committee
united IN urging its passage, as the only measure
possible to succeed in the then state of lepisla-
1--WE business. The bill really failed of passage by
only few votes. ~
We recommend the pursuance In the futuse of
tne well defined line of action concerning pension