The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-03-27
Thrilling Eloquence.


are contained in the speech of Hon.
Mr.. Boteler, delivered ia the U. S.
House of Representatives. The Incl
dent narrated cannot fail to moisten
every eye by which they are pernsed.
The language employed for the pur-
pose is the language of elevated pat
riotism
The district which I represent, and
the country from which ! came, that
country made famous by the raid of
Brown-was The first, the very first
of all the South, to send succor to
Massachu. etts. In one of the most
beautiful spots in that country, with
in rifle shot of my residence, at the
base of the hill, where glorious spring
leaps out into the sunlight from be-
cath the gnarled roots of a thunder
riven oak, there assembled on the 10th
of Jnly, IT'S, the very first band of
Southern men who marched to the
aid of Massachusetts. They met
there aud their rallying cry was i" a
bee line for Boston
"That beautiful and peaceful valley
had never been polluted by foe for
even Indians themselves kept it free
from the incursion of the enemy 1t
was the limiting range and neutral
ground of the aborigines. This band
assembled there, and a bee line for
Boston was made from thence. Be-
fore they marched they made pledge
that all who survived would assemble
there fifty years after nat day. 1t
was my pride and pleasure to be pre-
sent when fifty years rolled around.
Three aged, feeble, and tottering men
the survivors of t hat glorious band
of one hundred and twenty, were all
wfo 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 ere bleaching
on the Nortern hills.
Sir, | have often heard from the last
survivor 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 and how, as they neared
their point of destination, Washing
ton, who happened to be making re-
connoisance in the neighborhood, saw
them approaching, recognizing the
linsey- woolsey hunting shirts of old
Virginia, rode up to meet and greet
them to the camp how, when he saw
their captain. his old companion in
arms, Stephenson, who stood by his
side at the Great Meadows on Brad
docks fatal field, and in many an In
dian campaign and who reported him
self to the commander as from the
right bank Of the Potomac-he sprung
from his horse and clasped his old
friend and companion in arms in both
hands. He spoke no word f well
come, but the eloquence of silence told
that his tongue could not articulate.
He moved along the ranks shaking
the hand of each, from man to man,
all the while-as my informant told
me--the big tears coursing down his
manly cheeks.
Aye, sir, Washington wept And
why did the glourious soul of Wash
ington swell with emotion ? Why did
he weep? Because he saw that
Massachusetts was practically the
canse of Virginia, because he saw
that her citizens recognized the great
principles involved in the contest
These Virginia volunteers had come
spontane ously. They had come in res
ponse to the words of her Henry, that
we're leaping like live thunder through
the land, telling the people of Virgin
la that they must fight, and fight for
Massachusetts, They had come to
rally by Washington's side, 10 defend
your fathers friends, to protect their
homes from harm Well the visit
has been returned John Brown Sc
lected that very county for his inya-
sion, and was mentioned in the SEN
ate, the rock where Seeman was the
very rock over which Morgan and his
men marched few hours after -
Hugh Stephenson's command had
crossed the river some miles further up.
May tbs historical r5miniscence re-
kindle the embers Of patriotism in our
hearts Why should this nation of
ours be rent in pieces by Il is ire
pressable conflict? Is it irreprssable?
The battle will not be fought 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
bio ody arbitrament of the sword, it
will be the saddest for us and all
mankind that the sun of Heaven ever
shone upon.
BLAoKINa HARNESS. The follow
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