Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-02-14
M MISCELL A NY .
Thrilling ElOquence.

The following tOucnlng passages are cOnCalueu
10 the speech OF the Hon. Mr.. Boteler, delivered
in the House on Wednesday. We honor the
head and the heart from which they proceeded.
The incidents narrated cannot fail to moisten
every eye by which they are perused. The Ian
guage employed for the purpose is the language
of elevated patriotism:
"The district which represent, and the coun-
ty from which come-that county made ia
NOUS By the raid of Brown-was the first, the
very first in all the South, to send succor tO
Massachusetts,. In one OF the most beautiful
spots in that beautiful county, within rifle shot
of my residence, at the base of the hill, where
glorious spring leaps out into sunlight from be.
meath the gnarled roots of thunder riven oak
there assembled on the 10th of July, l775, the
| very first band of Southern men who marched
to the aid of Massachusetts,. They met there
and their rallying cry was, a bee-line for Bos-
ton.'
'That beautiful and peaceful valley had never
been polluted by the footsteps OF foe +; for ever
the Indians themselves kept it free from the in.
cursions of the enemy. 1t was the hunting
range and neutral ground of the aborigines.-
This band assembled there, and "a bee-line tor
Boston, was made from thence. Before they
marched they made pledge that all who sur
vved would assemble there fifty years after
that day. 1t was my pride and pleasure to be
present when the fifty years rolled around.-
Three aged, feeble, tottering men-the survivors
of that glorious band of one hundred and twen-
Ity-were all who were left TO keep their trust,
and be faithful to the pledge made fifty years
before to their companions, the bones OF many
of whom were bleaching on the Northern hills
s'Sir, have often heard from the last survi-
vor of that band of patriots the incidents OF their
first meeting and their march; how they made
some six hundred miles in twenty days-thirty
miles day-aEd how, as they neared their
point of destination, Washington, VINO happened
to be making reconnaissance in the neighbor-
hood, saw them approaching, and recognizing
the linsey- -woolsey hunticg shirts of old Virgin
ia, rode up to meet and greet them to the camp
how, when he saw their captain, his old com
panion in arms, Stephenson, who stood by bis
side at tho Great Meadows, on Braddock's fata
field, and in many an Indian campaign, aud who
reported himself to his commander as from the
riglat bank Of the Potomac'-he sprang from bis
horse and clasped his old friend and companion
in arms with both hands. He spoke no word
of welcome, but the eloquence OF silence told
what his tongue could not artlculate. be NOV
ed along the rauks shaking the hand OF each
from man to man, and all the while-as my in
former told me-the big tears were seen cOurs-
ing down his manly cheek.
s.Ay, sir, Washington wept! And why did
the glorious soul of Washington swell with e
motion2 Why did he weep9 Because he saw
that the cause of Massachusetts was practically
the cause of Virginia; becaase he saw that hel
citizens recognized the great principles involved
in the contest. These Virginia volunteers had
come spontaneously. They had come in re-
sponse to the words of her Henry, that were
leaping like live thunder through the land, telling
the people of Virginia that they must fight, and
fight for Massachusetts. They had come to raj
ly by Washington's side, to defend your fathers
fresides, to protect their homes from harm
Well, the uisit has been returned! John Brown
selected that very county as the spot for his In
vasion; and, as was mentioned in the Senate,
the rock where Seeman fell was the very rock
over which Morgan and his men marched few
hours after Hugh Stevenson's command had
crossed the river some two miles further up.
s'May this historical Renaissance rekndle the
embers of patriotism in our hearts! Why should
this nation of ours be rent in pieces by this ire
pressible conflict Is it irrepressible2 The
battle will not be fought out here. When the
dark day comes, as come it may, when this
question that now divides and agitates the
hearts of the people can only be decided by the
bloody arbitrament of the sword, it will be the
saddest day for US and all mankind that the
sun of Heaven has ever shone upon."