A “Grand Union Rally” was held in Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on September 29, 1866, in support of the candidacy of Gen. John W. Geary, the Republican Party candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania. Geary was running against the openly racist Democratic Party candidate, Heister Clymer. Clymer and his supporters openly called for the denial of citizenship and rights to the new freedmen who had been emancipated by the winning of the war by the Union forces and by the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865.
Rallies like the one held in Millersburg were held throughout Pennsylvania. They called for the ratification of Constitutional amendments on citizenship and voting as a means of reconstructing the nation from what the Southern rebels had done in the years of war. Specifically, what the soldier had sacrificed and accomplished in winning the war, should not now, or ever, be surrendered to the losers.
The gubernatorial election in Pennsylvania was one of the most racist campaigns in U. S. history. However, the result of the election, which was held on October 9, 1866, was that the Upper End went for Geary by a much greater margin than Geary won by statewide.
The following reporting on the Millersburg “Grand Union Rally” is from the Harrisburg Telegraph, October 2, 1866:
GRAND UNION RALLY AT MILLERSBURG – THE LOYAL FREEMEN IN COUNCIL
MILLERSBURG, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1866
Mr. Editor: — This was a glorious day for the people of the Upper End of Dauphin County. One of the largest and most enthusiastic meetings ever held in this region was assembled here this afternoon and evening. The neighboring towns and the thickly settled valleys sent large delegations to join in the gala occasion. The farmer left his plough, the miner his torch and spade, the mechanic his tools of industry, the merchant his place of business, and the canal man his boat, to participate in the exercises of the day, and to do honor to the soldier, Gen. John W. Geary, and the cause of our country. The great hart of the people was filled with zeal for the success of the issues involved in this contest. All felt that the contest of today is not simply for the ascendancy of any political party, but a contest for national life, national honor and national faith — for the maintenance of civil and political liberty, and the establishment of justice to all men of whatever race or color.
The procession commenced forming on the public square at 2 p. m. Captain Jacob Bassler was Chief Marshal of the occasion; Lieutenant B. M. Frank; Sergeant C. S. Marks; and Private Harry Eberts were Assistant Marshals. The Liberty Cornet Band, of Millersburg, lead the procession, together with the Monroe String Band of Liverpool. The leading feature of the procession was a large, open wagon, most handsomely decorated with flowers, evergreens, flags and banners. To the wagon were attached thirty-six horses, with miniature flags on each horse. In this triumphal car were thirty-six sweet and handsome young ladies representing the different States of the Union, one of whom impersonated the Goddess of Liberty, bearing the Star Spangled Banner. Then followed a large delegation from Mahantongo, with a wagon crowded with people, having fastened in the centre a large, handsome flag. Then came delegations from Liverpool, Lykens, Wiconisco, Cross Roads [Elizabethville & Loyalton], Berrysburg, Gratz, Fisherville, Halifax and Mount Patrick. After parading through the principal streets of the town, the procession returned to the square.
The meeting was organized by calling Simon S. Bowman, Esq., to preside over the assemblage. A very large number of vice presidents and secretaries were named. Prof. Leo Miller, of New York, was introduced, and delivered one of the ablest, most exhaustive and eloquent orations ever listened to by the people of the upper end. If there were any doubts in the minds of some as to what plan of reconstruction was the better, they went to their homes fully convinced that the only way to insure peace and tranquility to the nation was to incorporate the constitutional amendments into the chart of our national life. Many of the honest yeomanry did not properly understand the restoration policy of the thirty-ninth Congress. The inimitable and eloquent Professor, with all his wealth of language and conception, showed to them the justice, the wisdom in adopting them and the happy influence they would have upon the future of the nation. Prof. Miller has done much good for the cause in upper dauphin. Peter Meyer, Esq., of Harrisburg, then followed in the German, which was intensely listened to by all who heard him. His German friends were much amused and pleased with “hits” at the “humble” individual, and the bread and butter brigade.
The meeting adjourned to meet at 7 P. M., when a torch light procession was formed. The order of the afternoon was followed; everything looked grander at night; large delegations from the mines had come in provided with the lamps that lit them through the dark caves in the mountains, where the black jewels were exhumed that would glow on the hearthstones of many happy homes in the land during the cold blasts of winter. The wagon freighted with happy young ladies with torches in front of them, and behind them, at the side of them, and above them, was a scene of more than ordinary beauty. Then transparencies and banners all along the line, with appropriate inscriptions, made it interesting and exciting. After parading through the main streets, the meeting was again called to order by S. S. Bowman, Esq., who introduced Col. George F. Smith, of Chester County, a representative of the army, who bears upon his person the marks of many battled. He talked particularly to the soldier, and asked his comrades to vote so that the nation shall not be robbed of the legitimate fruits of the ear with rebels. His speech was full of pith and moment. Prof. Leo Miller was again introduced and spoke with power and eloquence. He was not permitted to conclude his speech from the stand, in consequence of a small shower. The meeting was adjourned to the porch of the Freeland House, where the professor mounted a large box and continued to discuss the issues of the hour. Hundreds stood in the rain to listen to the words of truth falling from his lips. I must confess that I never heard a man who so held the attention of the people — so chained his audience and moved them at his will. The meeting was a perfect success. There was nothing to mar the harmony of the occasion.
The Upper End will do its duty. Geary is the password, and Congress is the explanation. Every man will be at his post of the 9th of October.
UPPER END.
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