The daily union., 1854-12-17
THE BARoK DE KALB.

Tho memories OF the ulue010uo 0eAu AIo ~ ~"y o"-
during monuments of the tumphs Of freedom When we
fall cherish them fail to be worthy OF the respect Oh
the world When the national heart ceases to papitats
with grateful emotions the deeds Of departed heroes ano
saees are recalled the decay of the republic is at hand
When party like that which aspres to the high re
sponsbties of the State wins its victories at the ballot
box by ridcung and ignoring the services Of the gallant
dead have to fear that in the midst OF
and freedom, enlightened counymen may iorge'
those who shared the bloody dangers of the past and who
saked their lives and lost hem oo upon the momen'ouS
issues of the revolution.
The scene in the House of Representatives Of the United
States ON Friday last upon the bill for the relief of the
heirs and children of Major General DE kale proved
however that though fanaticism may rail- the recollection
of the great men of other days has not yet been ex
tineuished The speeches in support of that BILL and
the vote by which it finally passed, will be re-
garded by the country as significant expressions At
a moment when that country is insulted by secret
order that sets itself up rample upon those sacred
memories which perpetuate the deeds of daring the
sacrifices, and the suferngs of the who sustained
feeble people struggling, through war and oppres
son into the light Of perfect freedom such proceedings
as those of Friday speak with voice potential What
bolder rebuke could prescription have received than
this HOW Will tnObe EuIc Ch1uoh "Ho "o~A" ~'o'
out our American past and annihilate all the emotions
of patriotic gratitude and erect new standard by winch
to test the merits of the citizenhow will they understand
the action the peoples representatives in favor OF the
brave and beloved De Kalb We have them scandal
izng the memory of Lafayette by their sneers and
doubts The brave Irishman Richard Montgomery, the
refined gentleman and the fearless patriot who fell fight
ing for freedom before the walls of Quebec recalled only
a. ;rd; ro~
formers would have us cody forget the scochman MeT
GER who fell Trenton and who just before his death de-
that he desired the of the of the colo
MES "and God witness" he added "how cheerully
would lay down my life to secure it, And what of
the chivairic Count Pulaski who fell at Savannah? No
patriotic throb in the of the secret order
spends to the Of Kosciusko the companion OF the
immortal Washington who fought bravey from the Hud-
SON to the Potomac from the shores Of the Atlantic to the
lakes Of Canadahe hero who remained to see the great
work of liberation accomplished and then returned to Po
land to risk his life in trying give her free consttu-
ton We hear nothing of him and his comparots from
such leaders of this order the imported priest Gavazz
and the rowing adventurer "Angel Gabriel who have
come to our country excite dssensions among proud
and happy people These the who appropriately
call upon us to forget the existence Of such champions
The scene in the House Of Representatives Friday
was terrible rebuke upon the monsrous idea of violating
the memory of the ilustrious dead and would have
been glad if the whole American people could have wit
messed it, The speech of Hon. Henry May, of Maryland,
in defence of the claim the heirs of De Kab will long be
remembered It revived the recollection of the eoquence
of Henry and of Lee, and the House responded to it
| by vote of commanding emphasis Mr.. May was pre-
II ot.,o t, of
eoquence and power Mr. Ket and Mr.. Boyce, Of South
Carolina spoke on the side with marked ability.
Messrs Peckham and Corwin, from the committee, made
forcibe speeches in support of the BILL and presented many
valuable facts All prejudirna seemed to be forgotten in
moment of spontaneous enthusiasm and great majority
of the House could hardly wait for the question hat
abled them to do justice to the family Of the brave up
right and seisscri6cing spirit that sleeps in death
There something peculiarly interesting in the history
of Baron De Kab Let recall of the incidents of
| his career now when demanded by an arrogant
party to annhlae the recollection of the brave and
GUS men who from other lands to suffer and to die
for the cause independence twice assaed by
the strongest power of the Old World. He German
by birth lie in France knight of the order of mill
tary merit and brigadier general in the French
| army He TO this couatry with Lafayette; was
appointed major general by Congress, and served
Mt the head of the Maryland division. He command
ed the right wing of the Americans at Camden, South
Carolina and in that fearful conflict he fell in his last at
tempt TO achieve victory pierced wM 'eren ,counds
He was rescued from immediate death by the Chevaler
du Bysson his aid land also oyegne who embraced the
PROSTATE general and recesed his body tie bqyon
intended for his friend excaiming Save the Baron De
Kab; oh save the Baron De Kab.n The brave veteran
survived the battle but few days Before his death he
spoke these noble words die the death always prayed
forTHE SOLDIER FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF
MAN" What commentary upon this language are the
doctrines of the secret order 1t is voice from the
grave of great soldier pleading against the passions and
the preudices and 10 the justice and the gratitude of the
present generation When Gen. Washington visited Cam
den many years after be TO the grave Of the German
patriot After gazing upon 1t with countenance marked
with deep thought he exclaimed with sigh. So there
lies the brave De Kalb; the generous stranger, who
blood the Of liberty Would to God he had hired TO
share its fruits ~
Little did the immortal hero and sage suppose that a
day would arrive in American history when such man
as De Knlb would become mark of prescription when
his children would have been dsfranchi.ed by fanacal
party and when his services would be denied by set Of
modern reformcrs whose ambition only be saated by
upon all born abroad whether naturalized or
not and by crusade upon the religious belief of aarge
portion of the American people!