Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-04-26
Ex-President Pierce on the Crisis.

CONCORD IN II. April Zls Ex-I res
ident Pierce having been absent from the
city Friday night when the Citizens
Meeting was held, returned Saturday
afternoon. Several of bis friends COM
muncated to him their regret at his alb
sence, and desired to know if he would
address his fellow citizens at some other
time. He expressed his willingness, and
made the following address at z o'clock
last evening, from the balcony Of the
Eagle hotel. The following is verba-
tim report:
"FelIow citizens, and neighbors: If
l had been apprised of your meeting last
night seasonably, should have been
present at it, but the notice did not reach
me until this morning ! wish to say in
advance, that since my arrival here, the
resolution which you passed has been read
to me, and it has my cordial approval
! Applause. You call for me, my friends,
as lovers of our country and Of the bles-
sed Union which our fathers transmitted
to us on an occasion more grave, more
deeply fraught with painful emotions
than any under which l have ever ad-
dressed you, but | rejoice that that flag
(poindng to the flag of the United States)
floats there. [Cheer'. Love for the flag
Of our country is a sentiment common TO
us all f.; at least to my heart it is 70 new
emotion. My father followed it from
the battle of Bunker Hill uninterrupted
ly till the enemy evacuated New York
in 1888. My brothers were with the
gallant men who upheld it in the war Of
1912. Can /, can you, fail to remember
how proudly it foated, at a more recent
date, from Palo Alto to Bueua Vista on
one line of operation, and from the castle
of San Juan D'Ulloa to the city Of Mex
leo on another? Never can we forget
that the gallant men of the North aud of
the South moved together like band Of
brothers and mingled their blood on ma
ny a field in q common cause. Can /, if
| would, feel other than the profoundest
sadness when / see that those who have
so often stood shoulder to shoulder in the
face of foreign foes, are now in imminent
peril of standing face to face as the foes
of each other? But they should have
thought of this as well as me. At all
events, there is no time now to consult
our feelings. The question has resolved
itself into one of patriotism and stern
duty. We cannot fail to see what the
nature OF this contest is to be, and, to
some limited extent, the fearfuluess oil
the progress aud consequences. We
must not, however, turn our faces from
= them, because the true way to meet dam
ger is 20 see it clearly and encounter it
on the advance. Applause /, for one,
will never cease IL hope, so long as the
fratricidiaI strife is not Ia,~e fully devel-
oped than at present--that sou,~ event.
some power, may yet intervene TO saw
US from the worst calamity that ever i'm
' pended over a nation. The opinions Of
many of the vast crowd before me with
regard to the causes which have produ-
' ced the present condition of public affairs,
are known to me and mine--are well
known to you. l DO not believe agrees
sion by arms is q suitable or possible REM
edy for existing evils. Still neither OF
these matters ought to be considered now
J. they may well be waived--nay, must
e be, until we have seen each other throu Oh
7 present trials and future dangers. Should
the hope have expressed not be real
lied, which may benefcent Providence
forbid, and war Of aggression is to be
> waged against the National Capitol and
the North, then there is no way for US
as citizens Of the old Thirteen States, but
to stand together and uphold the flag to
r the last with all the rights which pertain
# TO it; and with the fidelit and endurance
d Of brave men, / would counsel you to
4 stand together with one mind and enc
!. heart. BE calm, faithful, and detcrmn-
n ed, but give no couBtenance to passion
t and violence, which are usually unjust,
and often in periods Ike these, the har-
bingers Of domestic strife. Be Just to
d yourselves, just TO others-true to your
country-and may God, who so signally
> blessed our fathers, graciously interpOse
e in this hour Of clouds and darkness, to
save both extremities of our country, and
to cause the old flag to be upheld by all
s. hands and hearts. Born in the state oil
e New Hampshire, intend that there shall
is repose my bones. would not live in a
r state the rights and honor of which
% was not prepared to defend at all hazards
e and to the last extremely. Vociferous
y cheers and applause.