The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-07-10
Vice Presidents.
REMARKS OF MR.. DERRICK, OF RAN
DOLPH,


"a soldier of The revolution, aged 70 years.
The following is a condensed and very imperfect
sketch of Mr.. Herlic remarks; given however, III
his own language. AS the details OF events were
more familiar to the memory, the Consequence is that
in this sketch they all retained, while much,
that more directly applicable to the occasioh'
is lost:
Mr. President, -however strange it may seem,
fell disposed to offer a few thoughts on the pres
ent occasion. | have not the oratory OF Dem"sth-
enes; am not favored with that tluency OF speech
or volubly of tongue, as are some gentlemen who
have lust spoken; but the substance OF which Wish
to remark is designed to impress the present and
rising generation with due sense of the vast ex'
pense our liberty, as a nation, cost u.s.
Mr. President people generally estimate any
thing in proportion to what it cost. Hence, SIR
we discov er that mothers set much by their chill
dren By the same logic, argue, that we ought
| to set very highly by national privileges; and
especially when consider the immense expense
ofblood and treasure those privileges cost us, through
the process of an eight year evolutionary struggle
most of which time was in the service, by land
or sea. And, sir, / think it becomes me 10 be very
grateful upon the consideration that some OF us nave
| lived to hear Congress adopt the language OF the
apostle-no goeth to warfare at mis- own charge,
| but the workman is worthy of his meat, and the
aborer of his hire; Whereas previously we got moth
| ing but rag money which proved to he good Tor
nothing .-Perhaps it would not be amiss briefly TO
state the course took 80 obtain pension. After
making out my declaration and sending 1t to the
Secretary of War, he wrote me back thatmy name
! not on any OF the rolls OF the regiments III
which stated / served and he presumed L new
err was there's and that if i intended still 10 obtain
a pension, l must take some other course Alter
riding $50 miles and not being able to find witness
es enough, sent him roll Of three ditferentregl,
ments was in, beginning at the brigadler general
and going through the line of ohicers-then calling
the roll Of privates alphabetically naming tn G
battles, the killed, the wounded the guards, com,
mandrrs of the guards, number of sentries day and
night the court martials, the crimes, the punish
ments the presidents of courts martial-marches,
roads, and the reasons why we went from place to
7 pace-how long remained at each place, with
Washngton's orders generally; all of which, and
much more, Judge Parish wrote off. L made oath
it, and stated at the close that by of old
age, consequent loss of memory and want of time.
should relate no more particulars; but if more
were required, l could send every mans stature
and complexion, with the color of his hair and eyes
On receiving this, the Secretary sent acertif
cate.
Mr. President, am still of tine Washington stamp
Oft have l beheld with pleasure his gentleman
like figure. In him beheld the general the hero
and the phanthro pst.-The sound of his pleasan
voice was music in my ear. Although hi
body has been nouldering in the banks of the Pc
,omac more than thirty-eight years, it seems
he was here--I feel that his spirit is near; though