The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-14

ber, Of q. A. H. posts OF this state,
Ohio and Pennsylvania was> held in
GA r. hall Saturday night to take
,,lop on the pension question, Tho
j'cgtnerias was in pursuance OF call is
.aed July 81, BY committee consist
in,si Richard Robertson, ]. NJ, Confer
and George W. Clifton, who were APP
pontel for the purpose by Holiday
Post The call was printed in the In
rglLiGrScrR exclusively ut the time.
Richard Robertson presided over the
meeting and remarks were made by
number Of old soldiers. Tho commit
tees report was then unanimously
adopted. 1t was us follows;
WuERGAs, The new officials OF the
nresent administration are preparing
IL make war upon the admirable pen.
sionsyslem inQugurated and maintained
nv the patriots who have conducted
the affairs OF state for so many years,
aud
"WuEREAs, The public presa, that
should be the educator OF the people in
morality and truth, as well as the ex'
ponent OF public opinion, has been
lately engaged in publishing charges OF
fraud in the distribution OF pensions,
which charges arc not true, but are
gotten up purely for political effect,
and which do great injustice to the
Union soldiers. tending to belittle their
deeds Of valor in the eyes OF American
citizens, and abate the influence which
the ctorious deeds of our volunteers in
the late war would exercise upon the
rising generations; and,
"WnRREAs, These charges, original.
Ing IN the money Centers OF the east,
are propagatod by the reconstructed
rebels OF the south, who are envious
because their soldiers, for their efforts
to disrupt our glorious union, are not
also receiving pensions, they are
echoed by that portion OF Northern
ympathlzers known us Copperheads
during tho war, as also by those dem
agoguos who think that, by opposing
tue pay ment Of pensions, they will DO
chosen rs leaders OF the ex.Confederates
aud thus bring that element to the
leadership OF public affairs, therefore,
"Rrsoivcd, by tho Union soldiers OF
West Virginia and the contiguous por-
ton Of Ohio and Pennsylvania, in mass
meeting assembled, that wa most EN-.
phatically deny the right OF these Gu.
Iunuiators OF the heroes OF the late
war to have any voice in tho question
OF tho distribution OF pensions to the
men who risked their lives, lost their
limbs or destroyed their health in the
task Of protecting the best OF all gov
enmonts, while they ANONYMOUSLY
stayed at homo, thus aiding aud abet-
ting our enemies, slandered us through
the press or ranged themselves on the
side Of those who were arrayed in arms
for the destruction OF our government;
that our heroes who fought and bled at
Gettysburg, who rushed through fire at
Fort Donaldson, who left their limbs he.
hind them on many field OF battle,
facing death and destruction from
Nashville to Richmond, or who starved
and rotted in tho rebel pens OF Sails
bury, Libby and Andersouyille, are
surely entitled to some recognition at
tue hands OF the country they saved
from destruction.
"Raolued, That while We have faith,
however, in those in authority aud BIO.
lieye thatin the main they want to do
Justice to the soldier, We deprecato any
interference with the present system Of
distributing pensions, which was in
augurated by men who took part in tho
wrr and were intimately acquainted
with the deeds OF valor and heroism
performed by these men, as well as with
the privatons aud sutferings to which
they were subjected while defending
their native or adopted country against
the assaults OF a ruthless domestic foe;
Who, leaving their families without the
support and protection that can only
be afforded by the fathers, husbands,
brothers and sons, devoted their lives
and fortunes TO the salvation OF their
country.
"R,aoityd, That We emphaticOlly and
unreservcdlydeny tho charge that large
sums OF money have been paid out I'M
deservedly to men who were not, by
their OCts, entitled to such bounty ut
the hands of the government. For,
where, by some mistake, one person
has irandulonty Crept on tho pension
roll, there are twenty who have de-
served pensions that have failed to re-.
CGlve them.
"EoOlEd, That newspapers through.
out tho land be requested to desist from
publishing supposed clses OF pension
frauds until they have positive evidence
that such frauds exist, in which case we
pledge ourselves to do all in our power
TO seek out and bring to justice all such
offenders against law and justice.
"R@Oipd, That We regard as un-
manly, disIoyai md unpatriotic tit the
men who stayed at home when our
country was in danger, sheltoring
themselves behind our battle lines and
heapins up private wealth; also in
those who were yet unborn In those
terrible times, or were too young to
know anything about 1t, to Criticise or
malign tho noble men who came to tho
rescue OF their country In danger, up
ned her honor, preierved her institu.
tons aud made 1t possible for them to
enjoy the privileges and the protcc.
non Of their rights ut home and
abroad
"R8oirpd, That We, tho remnant Of
tI9,nt glorious band who preserved this
Union Intact, will use our utmost on.
deoyor9, Mt tho ballot box, by our intlu.
ehco upon our children, BY frowning
upon rcCrcNnt press, and In every way
legal and honorable that lies within our
power to enforce and maintain tho
right OF tho soldiers TO receive tho
SINAI and inadequate reward for his
services to his country, comprised In
mo pensions bestowed upon him by tho
government aud that wo will firmly
Oia perslstcntly sot our faces against