Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-21

The Annual Convention Begins at the
City Hall.
WELCOME IRON Mr.. wISE-coMRADEs RE-
LATE PRIsoS EXPERIENCES - PRESIDENT
Loses ANNUAL ADDRESS CONTAINS soME
IxrrREsTISo STATEMENTS

The annual convention Of the National Aaso-
citation Of Union ex-Prisoners Of War was called
70 order in he old Circuit Court room at 10 80
this morning by President S. VI. Long of New
Jersey He introduced Chaplain John s. Fer
guson. who led in song and prayer.
~KLCoMED By Mr.. WINE.
Nr Louis Il. Wine of the citizens executive
COMMITTEES Of this city then presented by
the president and welcomed the convention to
the city on behalf Of his people. He said he
was not a comrade. but he was with them heart
and soul, as were the citizens Of the whole Dis
trict.
He came not to make speech. bu, merely to
assure them that no body Of men deserved more
% their country. and he trusted that God
would protect them and grant them the pit
lance they asked at the hands OF Congress.
PRISON ExPERIESsE-
Comrade Geo. II. Stone Of the 104th New
York was introduced and gave an interesting
account Of his experience in the rebel prisons
Taken prisoner at Gettysburg, he was sent to
Libby prison. He was of the 1O9 who
made the memorable e-cape through the famous
tunnel. but Was recsptured the next day. tie
was then sent to Macon. Ga. He escaped from
there hut was again recaPtured and sent TO
Columbia. :. e. He finally escaped from there
and reached the Union lines in Tennessee He
concluded bv suggesting that the best means of
reaching Congress would be 70 place the
S STli'sn experiences OF s1-pri'On0r' IN their
After calling the roll Of officers and deciding
that local organizations were entitled 10 mem
be-Ship IN the national body az the ratio of one
delegate To every ten members OF the local
organizations. Comrades Chamberlain. Matt
ingIs. Grant. EIker and Hollinger were
appointed a committee on credentials.
PRESIDENT LONGS ADDRESS.
President Long then read his annual address.
He said
Comrades and delegates TO the twentieth an
nual convention Of the National Association of
Union eX-Tri-0neTs OF War: ! am glad to vel
como = manv Of our comrades a. | see present
before me Daring the past year death has
been busv in our ranks and many of
our comrades have answered their last
earthly roll call. and for them taps"
have been sounded. and they have passed away
20 rest until the final ''reyeille shall summon
all 70 the r. al roll call. One OF The most prom
inen; OF our comrades. who had met
with u for manv wears. Col A ID.
S,reIght. The hero of Libby prison" died
few months ago at his home in a
western CITY. and the feeble step and gray
hairs of many before me remind ali that the
tune l. not far distant when for taps will
be sounded AID We shall pass to our reward
We have indeed much to be thankful for that
orr lives have been spared and We are again
permitted 20 assemble in a CITY = filed with
memories Of the DAYS when We stood shoulder
% shoulder for he success of the right and
foagh for he land we love that there should
b. but "Oue las 10 wave over these United
Sta.
A. memory turns backward to the scenes and
incidents of twenty-seyeu yes.-s ago. when oc-
CURED a -eeicw of returning victorious troops.
IL Nhi b mauy IF those present took par-. our
heart I'll red vi hin u. again hear
the -hOut- and plaudir- Of a people. thankful
tha tn ended orr CRiol preserved
AMI a. Ia .'the boes were coming home"
But memory turns further backward. we
see before u scenes Of an en- irely different
natire the = rl-0u peas of me south. and
r-ailze hat W" are again pacing through the
da-- Of sUfferIrg and s,Eli-h. such n those
alone can picture who have a>-ed through
And -.ouVile. Libby. n renee. Belle Hand
an IL. mlry e-h.r 3A-s spots IN The south.
where men -u.7eIed and died that their country
night IL sssei.
Fp.5IvF. BIT NOT FORGET.
wli,e Cd IN. Iii iGEui.e justice NAV call on
rs o. forgive. lie docs nos AK Il to forget those
days % ui-e-y ar,f suffering. second to none
IN the history 4 the world.
Rebel hIs-"-~ a;-rupts 20 deny it, vet time
has BIZ more e. Iriy proved 70 the. Disgrace
of -E0-e vhp Issued il. the in ary1us ard
cr--i order 81 rne Bob. L. Is ~de- who
y l~t4 i~-lla4l Az p-.ia- che - n receiyiu-
notice Of ;hr .rI -l.4. l. Vi liz E-iH. .-OOps %
within 30. mn. OF -.tr --.H 81 T. = bat
81, Id oivu Gre ou tAa .---- ----a-e-- wish
graFe shot In-l! az sen, e---------.-L'
Ti-I- -lHn au a-.1r "a .--.-l 4 lasting
G.---scc on ,hs '.5I,-- q ~ -1-ya.leI con
f-ler4sg. N-.- wears asrs gs--e-l -.-ee the
clu-e - ths wa. AMI TIE -tsr. cyl ?. lrsr- of
wa have l--.--s- tAll tE=s Ne-- yE-i,lad TO
special F-ce..ltinr q. gree ~ -L-i- suff@rin.,-
q o.
dav f.r Ire slime the spent in
th. hell hoo - he ..u.h was but a snail
IaTt Hf wLI- was tl- -r. %. bJt year b. year
the hive received r ---,-E ru- Froini-eS. and
who -he et-r--- -uI rnu -.Ja. OF ri. a.-oria-
tiO- have hl.-ei -ai u...l.. Tor The passage of
the 'P-I-ortr- 1f E.r III. Sc 20 Thu d..e we
have been ut.-Gc.cs-lIi IN securing its final
pas-ge.
The bill adopted al vo1r last session a;
Detroit vs. Ifr-. MED To he pension com
nitCe 81 tr- gre IN AUrIi last. and able
a-gim"a;- wee made b. capt Mckee and
oth-r m~Hber. aai written statement 1f our
ca-e wa Sl-u sUBm ted. bgt. a. j. well known.
the prr-eut Congress ha- been opposed
To all pension lecI-iatIon. and IL can be
really -ecu huv HtIie pro pect have of the
passage % uIr bill when II j. known that
ssveatv-thrre members of this Congress have
served IL the rebel army. and a. long a. hat
proportion q oar former enemies occupy the
place of ''iawmaker- il will be impossible
But as the wears g b. and the true history Of
the var l. written believe that in the
future the I-tne~- Of our claim viii be recog
niled aud We hall Vet receive from a grateful
people the small pi;tance we claim our right.
Why TIE ENCHASGE WAS STOPPED.
Recent Official publications have brought out
the fact. not heretofore generally known. that
the exchange Of Union prisoners IN 1854 was
stopped on side by high military authority
and comrades left To- .uffer and die. "a
an exchange would restore to the rebel
army men. hearty and well. who would
sgaiu enter the rank and greatly help
tO build up the armies ~ the south. Hence.
military necessity required that the Union pris-
orers should b. sacrificed and remain rs priS-
oners Co suffer and The that he var might
sooner end ki- done. and while il was
. great fNctor IN Fastening the conclusion
Of the war. how many Of our comrades
were thus sacrificed the records alone
can tell In the name Of the a. 900 Of our com
raaes who lie buried around -Outhern prisons
and who 80 freely gave their lives for the Just
ness of their cause. and who IN the high. OF re-
cent eveut- were thus sacrificed fer the safety
Of The living. We a-k that the survivors should
be recognized by Just people.
In the language % former President:
"COnld cCr comrades VINO so willingly gave
their lives to suffering for their country speak
heir Lee la hit he tha