The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-20
HAIL THE MEXICAN HEROES
ANIMAL Meeting of the Venerable Vet
Grams of the Mexican War Yesterday.
General Manson Made President for Life
Resolutions on Pensions Adopted-yisit to
the L'gisla;ure-COl. Lilly Appears.


the assemblage was the seventeenth an
nual reunion of the Mexican Veterans AS
ISOLATION of Indiana. In 1874 these same
men. with hundred or SO more of
their comrades. formed an organization in
the old State-house. On that date General
Manson was elected president of the
society, at the suggestion Of the late Henry
s. Lane. and has ever since held the posi-
tion. Yesterday the Generals term of Of
flee was extended to life by the unanimous
vote of the association. The ranks of the
Mexican veterans OF the State have
greatly diminished since that first
meeting. and there are now only
few moro than a hundred of
the veterans LETT. Many were detained
from the meeting yesterday by sickness
and other causes. but the few who were
permitted to attend entered into the spirit
of the programme with all the enthusiasm
of younger men. Maj. Gill Jordan. of this
city. was made temporary secretary, posi-
tion made vacant by the recent death of
John Sullivan. The first business trans
acted by the members. after Handwriting
had been disposed OF, was the appointment
OF committee on resolutions. as follows:
Gen. George L. MoGinnis; Capt. A. j.. Ogg.
of Greenfield; Capt. James Catterson, of
Brownsburg; Capt. =. 5. Carson. of south
port, and Robert Davis, of Juiietta. The
committee submitted the following resolu-
tions which were adopted
Whereas, A State soldiers and sailors monu-
ment is being erected under the supervision OF
tho state from a fund contributed almost wholly
by the taxpayers thereof: and
Whereas, The commissioners having charge OF
tho work have placed thereon inscriptions giving
an eptOme or the historical record OF the yalor
| aud loyalty OF the state. and of the campaigns
| drove out the Indians the date lines represent
ing the Mexican war and the war for the Union
being placed In the upper bronze astragal upon
the shaft above all the rest, to show that above
all things the State Is loyal TO the Nation, and
has been through two wars in which its troops
| have been part of the national forces; and
Whereas An organized effort is being made to
| have said dates removed from the shaft that the
monument may become a memorial TO the late
war exclusively, In disregard OF all others, and
especially the Mexican war: therefore, be IL
Resolved, That we approve Of the action of
the State Soldiers and Sailors Monument Com
mission in making the memorial State monu-
ment. placing thereon the date lines as they now
are In the upper bronze astragal and the pro-
posed inscriptions on the tablets bellows ana We
earnestly protest against any change therefrom
as pervisOn from the intent and purpose OF
the law and as beneath the dignity aud great
ness of a State whose fame we assisted to main
tain anu whose loyalty TO the Nation we nave
| helped to prove.
upholds the flag Of his country in any cause, and
whether at home abroad, Ia entitled to equal
honor and remembrance. according TO his merits
such soldier, because il is the supreme test of
loyalty. principle that must he taught and ex-
| allied among the people, IL we desire the Nation
10 live.
Resolved, That the State soldiers and sailors
monument, as it stands and is proposed to be fn-
ished, is an object OF just pride to every citizen
OF the State OF Indiana, and is q constant re-
minder to us that our services as soldiers have
| not been in vain; that our country is rich and
Resolved. That ali soldiers. ofsevery war. who
| were loyal 10 the flag. and their children, have
an equal interest in this great memorial Ii being
the monument of the people, and dedicated TO
the principles of loyalty TO country and self-sac-
ritice TO the public welfare at all times, in oil
| places and under all circumstances; principles
that are not circumscribed by the limits OF one
war period, but include ail, and its teach
| ings and influence should be OF the same broad
and patriotic character.
| Resolved, That copies of these resolutions,
signed BIZ the officers OF this association, be sent
to the secretary OF the State Soldiers and Sailors
| Monument Commission. and 10 the two houses
Of the General Assembly without delay.
After the disposal of the above resolu-
| ton. General Manson delivered short adj
| dress. in which he spoke of the past record
| of the association, and detailed full
| history of all Indiana battles down to the
civil war. At the conclusion of his re-
marks. the veteran president was called
| from the room. and returned to find that
the following resolution had been offered
| and adopted:
| Whereas, 1t is proposed to erect statues of
| the representative men Of the four great mill
| tary epochs OF the State upon the grounds sur
| rounding the State soldiers ana sailors monu-
| Whereas. Gen. NJ d. Manson has been con-
tinuously, for seventeen years. and is now. the
president of the Indiana Mexican Veterans AS
ISOLATION, and has ever been citizen of Indiana
| and will remain such while he lives; therefore
Resolved, That We ask that the statue of the
| said Gen. NJ. d. Manson be erected in the monu-
| ment place as the representative OF the period
of the Mexican war.
Resolved, That copy of these resolutions be
| furnished by the secretary to the General As
| sembly and the State Soldiers and Sailors Mon
ument Commission.
| at o'clock were addressed by Governor
| Matthews, General Manson responding.
During the afternoon the entire body &C.
cepted the invitation of the Assembly to
] visit both houses of the Legislature and
| entered tho Senate conducted by Senators
Kern and Loveland, long line of hoary
heads marching two abreast. Mr.. j. Kriel,
| who was not among them, Is lying very
| sick at mis- residence on North Illinois
| street When they had been taken near
| the Speaker stand, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| Nye.. President of the Senate. spoke
| briefly. welcoming 'the brave heroes who
had barred their breasts to greasers bull
| lets.n and presented General Manson. who
| than ked the Senate for the courtesies ex-
tended. and regretted that he could not
| speak with greater degree of pleasure TO
| them and himself. lt was the tenth time.
| he had addressed the Senate. said General
| Manson. on the Soldier of the Mexican
war; He referred to Winfield Scott as the
greatest military man in the history of the
! United States. He was like an ocean. in
storm and calm lnyincible. A few Incid-
| ents of the war were retold. At the con-
| clusion of the Generals speech. Capt. A.
| l.. Ogg. of Greenfield, moved that Lieutent-
ant governor Mortimer Nys TO made an
| honorary member OF the Mexican soldie rs.
| General McGllniS was called. but the old
| General responded only by thanking tho
| Senate for the compliment. The old soldiers
| then retired TO the Honse.
| The veterans were led INTO the House Oy
| eX-Speaker Nlblack and Representative
| Brown. The House welcomed them by
| taking a recess for fifteen mInutes. and
| General Manson was led into the Speakers
rostrum amid applause, and said some in
teTesting things about the conduct of the
! Indiana troops at Buena Vista. He said,
| among other things:
| lam under obligations for this kind invitation.
! This is the tenth time have appeared before
the Legislature and addressed you this sub
| ject, and regret now that my health is such
that can do justice TO neither myself nor the
! great cause. 1 can only say few words in
gard TO General Taylor's life. The Mexican war
| was not war OF conquest, not a war for tie ex-
tension of slavery, hut n war for our country.
| American blood had been spilled upon American
! soil and Congress declared war. Under that dec
| laration the President called for live regiments
| from Indiana ana all five went out and were
action ON the Rio del Norte in that great battle
of Feb. 90, 1S47, when General Taylor com
inanded. Some criticism has been made OF the
| Indiana troops in that battle. The second regi-
ment opened the battle in grand style. firing
twenty two rounds, while under m eniilading
ire from arfi a m N iii