The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-04-23

from captured cannon, with a crimson plush
background and heaviy-embossed frame. A
plate on the lower side of the frame bears the
inscription:
Presented to the
Department of Minnesota
of the
Grand Army of the Republic,
ComTade L. G. Babb, Commander,
by the
National Encampment,
For Fraternal Courtesies received at the Elgh-
teenth Annual Session held at Minneapolis on july
%, "a and -, 1854.
The presentation took place at Market Hall,
which was crowded with Grand Army comrades
and interested citizens. Some 200 comrades of
Acker and Garfield Posts of st. Paul, who es-
corted Gov. Hubbard and the State officials
from st. Paul, the capital city, occupied front
seats. Shortly before 5 O'Clock Gov. Hubbard,
Commander Becker, Mayor Plllsbury, Gen. }.
w. Burst Of Chicago. eX Gov. Marshall, Gen. w.
S. Scrbner of Illinois, Col. K. G. Benton, Capt.
Z. c. Babh, Adi't III. T. Norton, George W. Mar
chant. Adj teen. Mccarthy, Col. III. q. Hicks,
ex- Commandment Chief t. b. Beath, Rev. J. Nj.
Bull, Henry Downs Gen. Daniel Leisure, Col.
Roberts, Mai. henderson, Col. NJ. ii. Sessions
and Judge Rea took their places on the plat
form, while the bands played national airs.
Department Commander Becker, of ST. Paul,
presided, and in opening he read the resolution
passed last Summer by the National GAL
Posts thanking Minneapolis for her hospitable
treatment. Then followed the presentation of
the testimonial to the State by Judge j. 7. Rea,
Junior Vice COMMANDMENTS Chief Who in be-
half of the Commander-in-Cn Chief of
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,
absent on his California trip, said:
II is now nearly 90 years since the great conflict
was ended, and the thousands of hlen who had
stood shoulder shoulder for four years returned
home. They had many relations III common; there
were ties that bound them together. Within q
n
Grand Army OF The Republic founded on the charity
that exists between its members and loyalty TO the
Union. Ii numbers now the greatest Generals and
the hGmblest drummer boy. The great Conn
mander-in- Chief, now struggling with death, sits
as a private IN our ranks, While the drummer boy
OF Mission Ridge Is its Commandment Chief.
The speaker then alluded to the EDcamp-
ment and the manner in which Minneapolis
had entertained the visitors last Summer, and
of the testimonial TO the State to be handed
over to the Governor of the State. The en-
crossed resolution, which stood covered with
a flag on one corner Of the stage, was then I'M
covered, and Judge Rea said:
Permit me- Gov Uubbard-ComradeH Hubbard
TO offer this testimonial i'll behalf OF the National
Commander-n-C Chief. The Grand Army aud the
people proud TO find at the head of this Com
monweath brother, comrade, who helped TO
write the name of this growing State in letters of
blood and glory the Southern battlefields, and
we are proud to commit to the care OF a comrade
this testimonial of graft uoe to your state
Gov Hubbard said:
1t is with very great pleasure that receive this
testimonial al your hands, and acknowledge on
behalf of the people oil TINS State their profound
appreciation OF the Grand Army of the Republic.
The pleasure of dispensing hospitality Is hight
eEcf by feeling that one welcome IS appreciated
and believed To be sincere. The people of the state
rejoice III the opportunity Of dispensing all her hos
pItalllies 10 all who from one cause and another
visit The State: never she moro so than when
she welcomed 5000 old soldiers TO her homes and
hearts. She will cherish the event and associate it
with that epoch when she sent her TO the front
and when she welcomed thCn home again, crowned
with the laureis OF victory. This effort To show
that her hospitality was appreciated Will be held
most dear anI. will be cherished as an emblem ever
dear 10 her hearts. Applause.
TO aiIENEAPoLIS.
After several patriotic airs by SidwelPs band,
Gen. J. w. Burst, Past Commander OF Illinois,
presented tho testimonial to the city. He said
it was one of the most pleasant duties of bis
life TO appear again in Minneapolis and try to
tell how the veterans had remembered the city
and its welcome. He then eulogized most
highly the city and her people, and said he did
not believe the people all over the country
knew Of the great aud flourishing city upon
the Northwest. In presenting the gift, he said :
/ charge you, Mir. Mayor, to cherish this tcs
timonai If this St Paul, which has way of
stretching out and taking in everything, tries
TO get hold Of il, L charge you to take ii to the
boundless prairie and call upon the GAR, and
we will build for il place of safety"
Mayor Piiis5ary replied briefly, saying it
bad been great pleasure to the officials and
the people OF the city TO have entertained the
national gathering of the GAR. If the city
had been successful, she was only the more
glad when the war broke out" said the
Mayor, our city was not in existence: when
you came To visit Us we were a hundred thou
sand strong. Your great pageant of 10000 men
marching To music WAS witnessed by 100000
citizens OF this State No other organization
could have brought out so many interested
spectators. We shall cherish this testimonial
and ! pledge you ] will spend the last drop of
my blood before | will see st. Paul take il"
[kpplausc.l
TO THE DEPARTMENT.
After songs by the Minneapolis colored quar-
tet, Past Commander-in- Chief X. b. Beath pre-
sentcd the badge To the Department, in which
he said that lie was present with his colleagues
OF the committee representing the National
Encampment of the GAR, and made a brief
statement as to the objects and growth of the
Order, and said that the members Of the Grand
Army who, 20 years ago this day, were sharing
rations with their late foes. who had surrcn-
dered to the Army Of the Potomac, under the
matches leadership Of y. S. Grant, were now
tie conservatOrs of peace.
He said that the hearts of our people were
filled with rejoicing that the hero of Appomat-
tox had passed through the 9TH OF April III an
improved condition, and whatever the result,
the name OF Grant would stand alone in history
as the enc leader OF great armies who, receiving
in his plain working clothes. as be had yestcr-
day expressed il, the surrender OF the Army Of
Virginia had the magnanimity, the forethOught,
TO say TO Gen. Lee, - Your men will need their
horses for blowing and hoeipg; let them take
them home: let the officers retain their side
arms and all return TO become good citizens Of
united country"
Col. Beath then, referring to the presentation
to both State and City, said that it was deemed
more appropriate TO express the good will and
fraternal feelings Of the Grand Army-the 5000
Posts from Maine to Oregon-by giving them
testimonial that would in years to come be
considered above any price. a fac-simile of the
membership badge of the Grand Army made
from cannon captured during the rebellion, and
now turned into an emblem of peace. AT this
point the badge was uncovered and its presen-
tation was received by rapturous applause from
the comrades, in which the whole audience
then heartily Joined.
Past Department Commander Babb for the
State Department, responded briefly, expressing
the hearty thanks of the veterans and assuring
the presenter that it would be held sacred. At
the close ofhis remarks, Sidwell's band rendered
several more patriotic airs, after which there
were several campfire speeches. w. Serb
ner, of Chicago, was first introduced. After
him. the Rev + NJ Rnll who made a sneeph