Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-03-13

olunder when they delegated Mr.. D. B.
WHght 70 present the medal 10 the heroic
Rust. They should have selected Rev. VIII.
liam s. Plumer. or one Of the editors of the
Ne" York Observer. We can imagine With
what PiOus JUNCTION he would deliver the pre.
ssntatiOn speech. But as this appropriate sc.
lection vas not made. and as the speech vas
not delivered. We may be pardousd for imaQiu
ing what h would have been. He would have
said: "sir. by dispensatioa OF wise and
'oenebcie1t Providence. have been selected
'as the humble instrument to present to You
This we'll earned taken of respect and admira-
'Hon. II would be useless for me to disguise
the emotions of gratitude which gil nv heart
when reflect on the goodness Of the great
author OF our being 10 giving you strength
and iOrtiIude to enable you to meet our terri.
ble adversary without quaing 10 his presence.
Sir, you have achieved a great and notabl.
victory aud your name will go down to our
children as the man chosen by the Lord Of
hOsts to smite the impiOus enemy Of hi,
chosen people and of his halIOweI iustitu,
'tions.
'ln an hour when the fortunes Of slavery
seemed darkest, and when the courage of
other men was shaken, you. sir. invoking the
smiles of Heaven on your efforts. assaulted
the 6ercest and most malevoIent of our foes
Mindful Of the lessons Of prudence which Won
bad learned from your parents. you Commen.
'ced the terrible combat with the caution of
one who was conscious of the claims of his
country on his precious life. You excited no
suspicion by your manner. Your adversary
was not aware of danger I'LL il feel upon him.
"A just Providence. in punishment for his man.
led crimes. had weakened his sight, so that
he did nos see you ill your fist descended up
'ou him. Before he had time TO recover from
his surprise, you repeated the blow. He reel
ed under the stroke, and, az i in defiance of
his power, you struck him again without Civ.
ing him an opportunity to resist.
"You had beaten the srch.enemy of slave.
very you had achieved the proudest victory
of your life; you had established an impsrish.
able reputation in the lsw.abidiug and Bible. |
loving South yOu had struck Horace Greeley
with your fist. Any other man would have
been satisfied but you, like the holy warri |
'or spoken of in the book of inspiration. deter |
mined not to put off your armor while your
enemy breathed. Following swiftly in his
footsteps, and this time armed with trustv
club, you renewed the perilous fight. He was
utterly unprepared to resist the furyof your
'attack aud staggered beneath your well-di-
'rec!ed blows. His arm was bruised, his head
was cut, and his spectsCles, with which he had
impiously sought to cheat the judgment of
Heaven. we're broken in pieces. And had not |
'envlOus fate intsrposed. and brought to the |
rescue of the wicked man arms which were
too strong for you. we might this day rejoice
that OUT beloved country vas freed from the
presence Of the great mischief.maker.
" And now, sir, allow me to present to you
this testimonial from the pious citizens Of E asst.
port. 1t commentaries an event of which |
you may we'll feel proud. Mississippiis proud
'Of you. Arkansas is proud of you. The whole
South is proud Of you. Your praises shall he
sounded wherever the hcly institution of slave
ry is cherished, and BY the voices Of those
yet unborn. May you live to win other
medals, and may your arm be strengthened.
$50 that none of the wicked advocates of
freedom shall ever be able to prevail against
YOU C2ev. Leader.