Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-25
DEP PARTMENT OF DELAWARE
Annual Encampment of the
Grand Army.
WAR VETERANS MEMORABLE DAY
Old Soldiers in Conference
and at Banquet.


ne l3tn annual enCampmenl OF the
Department Of Delaware, G.. A. r., was
held on Thursday In honor of the
veterans many buildings are decorated
with flags.
The Council of Administration met at
the Clayton House at o'clock and
audited the finances of the department.
AT $50 o'clock the committee on ere
dentials met at the headquarters of
Grant Post and examined the credentials
of the delegates.
The encampment opened at 10 o'clock
with Department Commander A. j.
Woodman presiding and about 1S0 dele
gates in attendance.
Soon after the opening of the encamp-
ment Department Commander Wood
man read his annual report. Abiding
to the selection of department COM
mander for the ensuing year, he said:
"May the comrade whom you select be
your unanimous choice, so that he may
feel that in adversely as well as in pros
perity, he will have your hearty sup
port"
"My position to-day as department
commander" he continued, "is some
what peculiar, as | was not candidate
at the last encampment OF the trouble
that existed at that time have nothing
to say, except that | believe that both
sides were sincere in their convictions
and that each had the good of the Grand
Army of the Republic at heart. | wish
to thank all the comrades for the sup
port they have given me and ! bespealx
the same cooperation for my successor.
II is my hearts desire that he may have
O prosperous administration; where /
hnr al In I
have succeeded may he excel If it has
been my good fortune TO retain the con-
fldence and esteem of the comrades
! am rich indeed, although
bankrupt in my ability to pay in
kind title of the generous hospitality
that has ever been showered upon me
by You during my administration. /
have received many encouraging letters
which l prize very highly, coming as
they did from comrades with whom, at
the time, had not the honor of an ac-
quaintance. / have been SO cordially
received in the various post rooms that
have felt as much at home there as
do at my own fireside. 1t is in the post
room that the general and the private,
the millionaire and the laborer, can sit
side by side as comrades, bound to each
other by ties which, outside the family
circle, are the tenderest and the most
endearing of any in the world"
''It has been my aim," he added, "to
treat all the comrades with the same de-
gree of respect, regardless Of nationality,
sect or color If | have failed to do so
1t has been an error of the head, not of
the heart. have had complaints from
many of the posts that some of the
comrades do not pay their dues. That
class, trust, is small. There are some
who fall behind for want of means.
Cannot some way be devised to relieve
ehis class, to lend the same helping hand
tothem now that you did to the unfortun-
ates on the battlefield or on the marchY
While dealing justly with all let justice
be tempered with mercy"
He called attention TO general orders
No. 6, in relation to honors paid the
national flag in and out of the post
rooms, and recommended that the sug-
gestions of the commander-in.c chief be
adopted by the posts.
In regard to pensions he said, "The
men who offered their lives willing
sacrifice upon the altar of their country
have not yet been too literally deal
with by the national government, il
fact they have not yet received in al
even what is their own. The aggregat,
loss to the soldiers who suppressed the
rebellion, in the purchasing power o.
the money in which they were paid, wal
$507 ,636,06S. Add TO this interest tC
date and you have nearly $4,000 1000
more money than can be paid in pen
sions in 100 years at the present rate
Pay the soldier what is due him, ant
what by right he ought to have, anC
then, aud not bet.-e. may Congress re
peal It's pension laws
"The Grand Army of the Republic,
he said, "adds to its laurels by adoptin!
as an auxiliary such an organization u
the Sons of Veterans" He also spok
enthusiastically of the Women's Relic
Corps.
He alluded to the death of Past De
partment Commanders McNair an,
Dunn and said two posts were institutes
during the year To the members of hi
staff he expressed thanks for their col
dial support. He specially thanked th
assistant adiutant-general for his excel
lent services.
The report was referred to a com
mittee.
Next the reports of the assistant adiu
tant-general and assistant quarterma!
ttT-Etutlui hciO ithNt oiit NNopeIh' , "
former reported that there are in th
State "a posts, with membership {
1869, an increase of about 100 durin
the year. The report Of the assistar
quartermaster-gener presented fin
showing of finances.
After roll call the encampment, ;
1880 o'clock, took a recess until
o'clock. During recess dinner ws
served at the headquarters OF du Poi
and Grant Posts.
GENERAL PALMER HERE.
General John Palmer, commander-il
chief of the Grand Army of tho Repu'
lie who is the guest of the Departmel
of Delaware, arrived early in the afte
noon and was met at the Delawa
avenue station of the Baltimore & Oh
railroad by u committee composed
Col. William B. Norton and Past Po
Commanders Moses We'll, Joseph Boo
Richard McCelland, d. II. Duncan az
George w. Bull, accompanied by Col
j. w. Agnew and p. j. Donnelly Of Il
commander-in chiefs staff, who co
Quoted him to the carriages in waitii
and escorted him to the Clayton Hous
where the party, augmented by Depai
ment Commander Woodman and sta
partook of dinner.
At the annual encampment of q
Department Of Delaware, G. A. /
Thursday afternoon, there was adopt
resolution thanking A. j. Woodmi
for the efficient and impartial mann