The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-05-17
Thrilling Eloquencc.

The following touching passages are contnin-
cd In the speech of the Hon. Mr.. Boteler, tdeliv-
cred In the U. 8. House Of Representatives latc-
ly. We honor the hend and the heart from
which they proceeded. The incidents narrated
cannot fail to molstcn every eye by which they
are peruscd. The language employed for tho
purpose is the language ofelevatcd patriotism.
The district which represent, ard tho
county from which came-that county made
famous by the raid Of Brown---was the first, tho
very first in all the South, to send succor To-
Massachusetts. IN one of tho most beautiful
sprts in that beautiful county, within rifle shot
Of my residence, at the base of tho hili, wherv
n glorious spring leaps out into sunlight from
beneath roots of q thundcr.rivcn oak, there AZ
sembcd on the 10th ofJuly, 1875, the very first
band Of Southern men who marched to tho aid
Of Massachusetts,. They met there, and their
rallying.cry was, 70 bee-llnc for Bostonl' ''
"That beautiful and peaceful valley nod
never been polluted by the footsteps ofa foo;
for even Indians themselves kept II free from,
the ncursion Of the enemy. II wns tbe hunt
ing range nnd neutral ground Of the aborlgfnes.
This band assembled there, md 'bec-llnc for
Boston, WIS male from thence. Before they
marched, they made pledge that all who sur.
vivcd would assemble there fifty years aftsr
that day. 1t was my pride and pleasure 10 bs
present when fifty years rolled around. Three
aged, feeble totterrg mcn-thc survivors Of
that glorious hand of ono hundred and twenty
were al who were lcft 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 survi-
vor of TINT band of patriots, tho Incidents Of
their first meeting nnd their march; how they
made some six hundred miles in twenty days
thirty miles day-nnd how, M they ncarcd
their point Of destination, Washington, who
happened to be making Reconnaissance In tho
ncighborbood, saw them approaching, and re-
cogn'zing the lIuSey-woolscy hunting shirts Of
old Virginia, road up to meet and greet thcnl
TO the camp; how, when he saw thcif captain,
his old companion In arms, Stephenson, who
stood by his side at the Great Meadows on
Braddock's fatal field, md In many IN Indian
campaign, aud who reported himself 10 the
commander Us from the right bank ofthe Poto.
mac'-he sprung from his horse and clarped
his old friend and companion In arms with both
hands. lie spoke no word of welcome, but tho
eloquencc of silence told what his tonguc could
not articulatc. He moved along the ranks
shaking the hand ofeach, from man to man, and
all the while--as my informant told mc--the
t,,r ,rufn al II
cheeks.
"Ay, sir, Washington weptl And why did
the glorious soul of Washington swell with
emotion? Why did he weep? Because he saw
that the cause Of Massachusetts WINS PRACTICAL y
the cause Of Virginia; because he saw that her
citizens recognized the great principles invol-
we'd In the contest. These Virginia volunteers
had come spontaneously. They had come in
response to the words Of her Henry, that wcrc
lcaping like live thunder through the land,
telling the people of Virginia That they mu.t
n fight, and fight for Massachusetts,. They had
come to rally by Washngton's eide, to defend
your fathers friends. to protect their homes
from harm. Well, The visit has been rdu,nedi---
John Brown selected that very country as .
spot for his invasion; and, as was mentioned in
the Senate, the rock where Seeman fell was the
very rock over which Morgan and bis men
marched few hours after. stephcnson's
command had crossed the river some miles fur
ther up.
"May this historical reminlscencc rekindle
the embcrs of patriotism In Our hearts! Why
shonld this nation Of ours be rent In pieces by
this irrepressble conflict Is 1t irrcpre'sible !!
The battle will not be fought ont here. When
the dark day comes, as come 1t 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 tho
sadlest day for us and all mankind that the sun
Of Heaven ever shone upon.'
: ---~~-~-~>SD~>.~~->
Fyou you'd enjoy your meals, be good ma
tured An angry man can't tell whether be Is