The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-23

Anniversary OF the Battle OF Lexington and
Concord.
The anniversary Of this glorious commencement
Of the American revolution was celebrated at Con-
cord, Massachusetts, the 10Th instant. with be-
coming pomp and circumstance. We learn FROM
the Boston papers that at am early hour people from
all the region around began TO flock into Concord,
and the successive arrivals by the railways soon
enlarged the crowd Of vsiters, SO that on the de-
barkation Of the Legislature, from the special train
in which they were conveyed from Boston, several
thousand persons had already assembled.
The streets all around the town were decorated
with flags, comprising those of several nations, and
including many standards emblazoned with armo-
rial bearings Over the grave of the British SOL
diers who fell in the conflict at the north bridge,
the English ensign was displayed at half mast.
But every where, a matter of course, the "Stars
and Stripes held the most conspicuous position
We observed, too, the Spine Tree Banner" in ma
ny places of honor.
Among the people gathered together, were large
delegations from Lexington, Acton, Lincoln, Sud
bury, Carlisle, Bedford, West Cambridge, Cam
bridge, Danvers, Woburn, Pepperell, Roxbury,
and Charlcstown; and also several military com
panies with ranks well filed, frem many OF the
above named towns.
The Governor and Council, Senate and House of
Representatives, arrived, in special train from
Boston, shortly after ten O'Clock, under the escort
of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, Col. An
drews, of Salem, commanding. On this occasion,
the venerable company looked remarkably well,
turning out nearly eighty guns.
At about eleven o'clock procession was formed
in the large square between the house and the
Middlescx hotel, which embraced all the military
and dignitarics, and amounted in numbers to about
two thousand. Conspicuous in the cortege was
carriage drawn by four black horses, in which
were seated four survivors of the fghtall that re-
mains, save one, who participated in the struggle.
These four were Messrs Jonathan and Abijah Har-
rington of Lexington, Thomas Hill of Danvers,
and DR.. Preston of Bilerica. The fifth was MIR.
Amos Baker, of Lincoln, now aged ninety-four
who could not join in the more laborious part Of the
ceremonies but appeared at the dinner table, where
he was warmly cheered.
The procession marched from the square to the
battle field at the north bridge and then to the pa
vilion Here the Hon. Robert Rantoul, jr., pro-
nounced an able and eloquent grafton, which occu-
pied nearly an hour and half in its delivery. He
was frequently interrupted by the warm plaudits
of his hearers.
At the conclusion of the Grafton the assemblage
was addressed by Mr.. HoAR, tho president of the
meeting, and he concluded his remnrks by announc-
ing the first regular toast, to wit:
The 18th of AprI, I775--Lexington Common and
Concord North Bridge-their fame belongs to all
who manfully stood up, on that day. in their coun,
try's cause--too sacred to be the theme Of local
jealousy, their glory is our common inheritance.
Hon. RuFUs CHoATE responded to this sentiment.
He said he should experience great pleasure In at,
tempting to respond TO sentiments 30 beautiful and
30 Just, If he did not feel difficulty in attempt
ing to do SO, which he dared say he shared with
those around him, and that is this-that under the
influence of what he had this day seen and heard,
his heart was 30 crowded full with emotions, his
memory was so overburdened by details, his reason
80 impressed by the moral grandeur OF the place
and hour, that he at unable to say all that
he could desire to say, and was equally unable TO
select, upon any rational choice, what he would
sneak and what he would leave unsaid 1t seemed
to him moment, not so much for words as thought;
not 30 much moment for speech, even Of such elo-
quence they had hung deiig hted upon to- day, as
for meditation-as for Thanksgiving to Almighty
God-as for solitary tears-as moment for emo
tons deeper than tears, personal, solitary, and in
communicable. For one, at least, he felt that all
he would desire to say or do would be only the hon
To unite with the thousands present beneath that
Gag which fioated over them, among all those old
glorious symbols, upon that turf so recently wet
with 80 much precious blood-unitc with them in
relieving their oppressed hearts by uniting IN e]ac
with noble thought, which Samuel Adams uttered,
"What glorious morning is this!'
MIR. Choaie then proceeded, with magic eloquence
and power, to portray the stirring events immedi
atey preceding and attendant upon the memorable
events of April 10, l775.~ No sketch could do him
justice Towards the close Of his remarks he spoke
mainly as follows:
That was q glorious morning, the 18th of April,
l775; and wherein, he would ask, consisted the
specific, transcendant glories of that day? Where
in lies that strange charm that belongs to every
thing connected with this place, its incidents and
detailss Why IL il that our hearts grow liquid, and
hat rs,ilr theI mt aa listen
again TO that old story older than the words OF our
mothers love, needing none OF that brilliant ge-
MUS which had that day touched their cars, to
invest them with power which should never dier
Why was it 30 pleasant TO come up here from the
miserable strifcs and chickering's Of everyday life,
to dwell and worship for short space Of time in
such charmed presence as this What Is 1t that
makes the specific transcendent glory of the day
II was because it event so rare, 30 strange,
so ominous of good evil 10 future generations OF
man. IL WINS from these instruments, and from
these flags, borne by these trembling hands; 1t
was that essence, 80 subtitle, rare, SO extensye,
so mysterious-that free, and that stirring spirit,
the sentiment OF American nationality, which was
first breathed into the life of this people, and made
TO pour itself through and about the body Of the
people, and which should last until the heavens be
NO more.
Let then, he added, the events of which we are
reminded by these scenes, and these men, mark the
strong birthlove Of the American people. On that
day. within the space of twelve hours, the old colo
NAL party passed away like scroll. The veil Of
the first temple was that day rent from top to bot.
tom. That day American Liberty was then and
there born. Sir, our aged and revercd friends of
Concord, and Lexington, and Acton, OF Carlisle,
Sudbury and the surrounding towns, went into that
battle British colonists; the baptism Of fire was laid
upon their charmed brows, and they rose from their
knees American citizens. The Flag Of Massachu-
sets the Pine Tree Flag, that old Flag, carried
into battle in the morning, and II the survivor who
rolled it up that night had noticed it, be would have
seen cleaning through blaze Of light on one side
the Pine Tree banner, and on the other the glori-
GUS stars and stripes.
Mr.. Choatc concluded his eloquent and fervent
address, of which the above is imperfect sketch,
by Offering the following sentiment
The sentiment Of american nationaiify-it awoke
10 life on the 10Th Of April l775 the banks of the
Concord, and on the green Of Lexington. II has
grown with the growth and strengthened with the
strength Of America, until il holds together bro
therhood Of twenty millions. and blends, as kim
dred drops, two oceans into one: wrought into the
intimate nature, composing part Of every drop
Of blood Of every heart, the cosions OF local in
terest and local feeling more dsplace IL than
a thunder gust a snow storm in April can dis
solve the golden bands of gravitation that hold the