East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-22
"A Bee Line for BostOn."

| Va, delivered In the House OF Repre-
sentative few days since:
The district which represent and the
county from which l come-that county
made famous 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 guarded roof of a thunder riven
oak there assembled on the 10th of July,
1875, the very FIRST band of Southern
men who marched to the aid of Massa-
chusetts. They met there, and their
rnilying cry was, "a bee line for Boston,"
That beautiful and peaceful valley had
never been polluted by the footsteps of a
foe; for even the Indians themselves kept
it free from the enemy. 1t was the hunt
ing range and neutral ground Of the abo-
rigincs. This band assembled there and
"bee-lino for Boston" was made from
thence. Before they marched they made
a pledge that all who survived would as
scmble there fifty years after that day
1t was my pride and pleasure TO be pres
ont when the fifty years rolled around
Three aged, feeble, lettering men-the
survivors Of that glorious band of one
hundred and twenty-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.
Sir, have often heard from the last
survivors Of that band of patriots, the in
cidents of their first meeting, and their
march, how they made some six hundred
miles in twenty days-thirty miles day
and how, as they nearcd their point Of
destination, Washington, who happened
Co be making a reconnaissance in the
ncighborhood, saw them approaching, and
recognized their linscy woolsey hunting
shirt Of old Virginia, rode up to meet aud
greet them to the camp; how, when he
saw their captain--hs old companion in
arms, Stephenson, who stood by his side
at the Great Meadows, on Braddock's
fatal fell, aud in many an Indian cam
pairn, aad who rapnted himself to his
commander at the right bank of the Po.
touac'--he spgalg from his horse and
c'a,pcd his oil fr.enl aud companion in
arms with both hands. lie spoke no word
Ct Welcome, bat The eloQuenca of silence
told what his tongue could not articnlate.
lie moved along the ranks, shaking the
hand of each, from man TO inan, and al
t1e while--as my iniormer told me--the
bir tears were seen coursing down his
manly eheck.
aye, sir, Washington weHtl And why
lid the glorious soul of Washington swell
with emotion? Why did he weep? BE
cause he saw that the cause Of Massacau-
tits was practically the cause of Virgin
In; because be saw that her ci,izlns re.
cognizcd tho great principles involved in
the contest These Virginia volunteers
had come spontaneously. They bad
como in response 20 the words Of her
Henry. that were lrapiug Ike live thun
der through the land, telling the people
Of Virginia that they must 6qht, and ight
for Massachusetts, They had come to
rally by Washinqton's side, to defend
your fathers Gresidcs, to protect their
homes from harm. Well, the visit has
been rcturned John Brown selected chat
very county as the spot for his invasion;
and, as it was mentioned in tue Senate,
the rock where Seeman fell, was the very
rock over which Morgan and his men
marched few hours after Hugh Stephen
sons command had crossed the river some
two miles further up.
May this historical reminisccncc re-
kiudle the embers of patriotism in our
hcarts-why should this nation Of ours be
rent in pieces by this irrcprossible con-
hict? Is it irropressible? The battle
will not be fought out here. When the
dark day comes aa come it may, when
this question that now divides and ogi-
tatcs the hearts Of the people can only be
directed by the bloody arbitrament Of the
sword, it win be the sadlest day for US
and all mankind that tho sun Of heaven
has ever shone upon.