St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-03-21

10 read to You the item of the will of
the donor from whose gift the Com
momwcalth receives these precious rel
les and mcmrntocs of our carly days:
First Ito the proper Authorities
Of the Commonwealth Of Massachu-
sets | give the two FIREARMS, for
merry the property Of my honored
grandfather, Capt. John Parker, late
of Lexington, in the county of Mid
dlcscX to wit, the large muskct or
kin@'S-Arm, which was 10y him cap
turel from the British on the morning
OF the 10Th Of April, l777j, in the bat
tie Of Lexington, and which is the
first fire arm taken from the enemy in
the war for independence ; aud also
the smaller Muskct, which was used
by him in that battle while fighting
in the sacred cause of God and his
country 'and ! desire that these rel
jcs Of the Revolution may be placed
in the Senate Chamber of this Com
monwcal,h, and there sacrcdly kept
in perpetn0m rel nemort0m."
The simple shaft which rises from
the spot where rcposcs the dust of the
men who fell at Lexington, bears an
Inscription, the first words of which
are " Sacred to Liberty and the Rights
Of Mankind" Sacred to liberty and
the rights Of mankind . The legend
also reads, that they fell "in the sa-
cred cause Of God and their country"
May the God Ct battles preserve us
and our country from this time forth
and forcvcrmorc, from the awful ne
ecssitics, The destruction and carnage
of war. But if the Stars and Stripes
of our American banner shall ever go
forth, followed by the sons of those
vcncratcd fathers, replacing the old
Provincial flag of Massachusetts, be-
meath which fought and fell the men
of Lcxington-may it always be
borne in the cause of God, as well as
the cause of our Country. And may
every inscription on the burial places
of our braves bear truthfully the lie
gcnd : Sacred to liberty and tn,
rights Of maukind.' Enthusiastic
applausc.)
The Governor here descended from
the Speakers desk, and advancing to-
ward the cOmmittcc--thc members of
which rosc-hc continued i
And now, Mr.. Chairman of the SEN
ate Committee, have the honor to
thank the gentlemen representing
your Honorable Board, to whom it
was my pride as well as my pleasure
to send brief message announcing
the reception, by myself, from the eX-
ecutors Of Theodore Parker, Of these
ancient, historic, and precious me-
mentocs, for the patriotic alacrity
with which YOU responded to my eX-
eCutive message and, also, to render
my cordial and hearty thanks for the
interest manifested by the Honorable
House of Representatives,, as well as
the Senate, in this occasion, which
connects the present hour with the
achievements, the suflerings, and the
brave patriotism of the men and the
women Of the revolution.
Through my unworthy hands, being,
by the favor Of the people of Massa-
chusctts, the Representative of her
Executive Department, it has come to
pass that this venerable trophy of the
ralor Of Capt. John Parker of Lexing.
ton is to be transmitted to the Senate.
To your hands | present it.. (The
Governor here handed to the Chair.
man of the Senate Committee the
king's-Arm taken by Capt. Parker
from the British soldier, the first weap
on captured from the enemy in tn,
war of the Revolution. Let it be
placed among the trophies which
adorn the walls Of the Senate, to be
held there forever, as the mcmcnto
not onl y of a brave man, but Of brave
men and of heroic women, and also
as a memento Of the pious patriotism
Of that American scholar, by whose
immediate gift it passes to the Com
monwcalth. Raising the gun used
by Capt. Parker, at Lexington, His
Excellcncy continued, evidently with
much emotion. /:
But all, Sir with what words, with
what poor speech Of mine, can | pre-.
sent this humble muskct which spoke,
by a word which was more than a
deed, on Lexington Common, on that
immortal morning, for the cause of
Liberty, of God, and of Mankind
With throbbing heart and beating
pulse and dewy eye and trembling
lip. | part with this precious relic.
Dear Sons Of Liberty who fell on all
the battle fields of the Revolution
from Lexington all around to York
town ! dear shades of all our fathers
whose hearts burned with a love as
broad as humanity, and patriot,
bravery which no taunts, no threats
no powers, could ever discourage OF
cause to faltcr be present now, be
present always, in every hour of youl
country's danger, in every moment
when hearts grow faint and knees
grow weak Holding up the weap
on. Be thou immortal, hanging up
on the Senate walls ! May the prov.
idence Of God preserve thee from de-
cay, thou precious relic of the first
battle of our country's liberty, thou
almost living and speaking witness to
the blood Of martyrs ! And o if in
any degenerate hour Massachusetts,
should falter or quail, may some weird
hand beat the old drum that hangs
beneath the roof-tree of the Senate,
give aim to this arm which spoke for
liberty on the morning of the 10th of
April, rs, and may it march before
the conquering hosts of rekindled
patriotism and rcinvigorated purpose.
Applause.
Take that, Mr.. Chairman preserve
it as the Jews Of old did the tables of
the law in the Ark of the Covenant
AS the Governor presented the
musket to the Chairman, he leaned
forward and pressed his lips to the
barrel of the weapon
know, Sirs, that | need not &C
company this gift with any grafton.
Our patriotism is rekindled, our hopes
of our country and our race arc ra