The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-17
A Sword for Lieut.. Thacher.

The citizens Of Barre have procured and pre-
sented to Lieut.. Thatcher Of thai place, a beau
tliul sword sash and belt, as q token Of their
regard for him as citizen and a patriot. Last
Saturday evening the presentation exercises
came off. much to the qualification of the large
and appreciative audience present. The follow
ing is Rev. Mr.. Carpenters address on that
occasion:
LIEUTENANT TEACHER u am charged with
the performance of a pleasing duty Approaching
your patriotism in leaving your pursuits and
entering the service Of your country, in this
hour of its peril ; heartily approving the choice
of your comrades which has placed you in the
Office you hold aad confidently believing that
you will nobly honor that office; your friends
have procured and put into my hands this sword
and the accompanying trappngs t. be present
ed to you, in testimony OF their regards,
AS this sword is for use and not for orna-
ment, there is much that is solemn in this act
1t imports some great emergency, some fearful,
awful demand in the land The sword is an
instrument of death and it is to be borne not
in vain 1t is meant to. take lfe-under Ger
tain circumstances the life of as many as the arm
of him who yields 1t can slay; to cut and thrust
and destroy without sparing. We deeply feel,
therefore, the solemnity of the act are perform
ing And yet we feel that there is ample case
for it. Ia qualifying the injunction. live
peaceably with all men, with the words, &" as
much as lieth in YOU the apostle plainly in
dicates that we cannot always do so-that
there are times when we are called upon to
contend, when, to refuse 10 resist is treason to
the cause of truth and humanity. Our true
motto is, God and Freedom. We must al
=, 'c, : Ii -,-peaceaby, if we can ; bat
for Them if compelled to draw the sword.
And this is just our case. 1t is an audacious
rebellion, which dlsturbs the land to day.
rebellion, not only against righteous govern
ment and in the interests of slavery and OF boast
ed superiority of race, but rebellion against
the very life of republicanism, in favor of prIn-
ciples, which, when carried out lead to com
plete anarchy. The dire necessity is therefore,
upon US to fight, or to give up ail-hing wide
open the door 10 whatever OF secession or revolt
any portion of the land, or Of IL state, county,
town, or family, may conceive and propose.
Wickedness was the first inventor and manufac-
turer of the deadly weapon, and to save our
selves from the wicked, We are often forced to
use their own instruments. We put this sword
into your hands because wickedness compells
the resort We have no love for it in itself we
bear no malice towards those against whom YOU
are to use It, In this case, as III all others, we
would be animated by the great principles of
love. We love those who have risen up against
US, but we love our country more. ne drdo The
SWOrd dgain0 them because they haze dra,Cn The
sOord against the ul'on and government of Me
land, ,Uhich haze a better right 10 hre than then.
When they cease their attack on the lie OF that
which is worth more than they, then We vii
cease our attack upon them.
These are the sentiments which animate us in
this contest and which We wish to animate YOU
in the use of the sword we present you Re-
ceivlng it therefore, wear it proudly, aud WELD
IL valiantly Strike home its whole length ia
the heart of the wicked and misguided insur
gents. Let Its flash and its gloam inspire those
under your command to deeds Of daring renown
and strike terror to the hearts of all your foes.
Bring it home with you, or be brought HON,
upon It. Let there be no second Vt. Seventh
SO far as depends on you. The object of your
going FORTH is to fight, and not TO break and
run. Let the old terror-lnspiring war-cry, The
SWORD of the Lord and of Gideon, be the war
cry where you command
Lieutenant, present you this sword and its