Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-10-18
sPEECH OF
GEN. HENRY WILSON


which Senator Wilson is Colonel, passed
through New York on their way TO WASH
ington, on Wednesday Of last week, at
which place they were entertained at break
fast "Wednesday morning. Rev. DR. Bel.
lows made The speech Of welcome 10 the
regiment, TO which Col. Wilson inade the
following response =
Ladies and Gentlemen Most sincere
y do | thank you for this kind, cordial,
and, must confess, ovrrpowerins reception.
| thank you, sir, for the kind words you
have uttered toward me personally, and
above all do | thank you for your words Of
commundailon of The proud old common
wealth of Massachusetts. 1t is to me a
scource of qualification to hear my state
spoken of, anywhere but here In this great
commercial metropolis of the republic, those
words are doubly dear. But while ! am
proud of my state, of her past history, Of
her present action, of her people, of her
public men, living and dead, | do not forget,
gentlemen, that we have a prouder title
than the title of citizens of Massachusetts
that we have the proud title of American
citizens. (Cheers.) Our state occupies
but a small dot upon the map of North
America. 1t is dear TO me aud dear TO all
the sons Of Massachusetts, at home or a.
broad. But we embrace in our affections
every foot of the republic and the whole
people ofthe country. (Cheers, and Good. y
say to you to-day, gentlemen, what the
Massachusetts men who are with me and
around me will indorse, that her people
to-day are animated by no spirit of section
al hate or aversion. (Applause.) Loyal
to our country. tu our whole country, and
the ideas upon which our republican insti.
tutions are founded, loving our whole coun
try, and believing in democratic institutions,
feeling as We feel, that this civil war into
which we have been plunged is the wicked
est war in the history of the world Zap
plause) yet know that the people of Mas
sachusctts do not hate the very men who
have plunged US into civil war. (Cheers.)
But we live in the hope that the cause of
our country is to triumph, that this Union
is to be made stronger than ever before, and
that the whole people Of the United States
acknowledging the errors of the past, are
to live hereafter as brethren in the days of
the flture as in the days Of Washington,
Jefferson, and Madison.
For myself, personally, can say that
God knows / never did hate the South, and
do not now. Loud applause. In enter
ing into the contest / can speak for myself,
and believe for the men under my COM
mand, and say that we do not 60 forth on
any errand of hatred; but we are govern
ed by the everpowering and inextinguish-
able love of country, and of our republican
institutions. Cheers We go, therefore,
in the hope-not in the boast--to take a
humble part in the great contest in which
our country is engaged. and to do what we
can risk what we may; give our days
and our nights--our blood, il need be, for
the cause of our country, now imperil.ed.
Enthusiastic cheers You say. sir, that
Massachusetts has taken leading part in
this contest. am glad you, although you
! h~r hat
in New York, say it. But while / am
grateful for the commendation of my State,
and especially of the Executive who ad-
ministers the government of that State
cheers for no one knows his zeal, indus
try, and devotion better than do; say,
while am always glad TO hear these words
of commendation, do not forget what New
York has done. Perhaps you in New York
may not see what New York has done in
this contest so clearly as we who live be-
yond your boundaries. You have your
little trials and troubles as we have. We
remember to-day that New York has now
In the field about go regiments battling for
the cause of our country. / remember = l
cannot forget 1.-THE liberal, wise, and
statesman-like action of the men who con-
troll the moneyed interests of the City and
State of New York. And l say here to-
day that their action is worth more to our
cause in the old world than a victory on
the soil of the new, for it says. in language
that carping Englishmen can understand,
that the men who control the moneyed in
stitut:ons of America have made up their
minds TO fight this battle to successful is
sue. Cheers.
That nation of shopkeepers win run
blockades when they can, but they viii not
break our bloekades, or attempt to do it
(Cheers.J Sir, want TO see the war clos
ed. closed triumphantly; but after the pro-
LESSONS and criticisms that have come 10 us
from over the Atlantic, as God is my judge.
do not waat to win it through any favor
Of the men of the British Isle. Crremen-
dous cheers.) Loving peace ourselves, de-
voted for forty years to the arts of peace,
unpreparcd for war, loyal TO our country,
we have plunged into gigantic civil war
-. A, Il. 49,, III ,serf.f fhss xo