Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-09-23
A Sword for Lieut.. Thatcher.


regard for him as a citizen and patriot. Last
Saturday evening the presentation exercises
came off, much to the qualification OF the large
and appreciatiye audience present. The folio"
Ing is Rev Mr. Carpenters address on that
occasion
LIEUTENANT TnAcuER II am charged with
the performance OF pleasing duty, Approaching
your patriotism 10 leaving your pursuits and
entering the service Of your country, in this
hour OF its peril heartily approving the choice
Of your comrades wEich has placed you IN the
Office YOU hold aad confidently believing that
YOU viii noby honor that Office your friends
have procured and put into my hands thissword
and the accompanying trappngs be present.
ed to YOU, in testimony Of their regards
AS this sword IS for use and not for orna
ment. there IS much chat is solemn in this act.
Ii 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 lie-under Ger
tain circumstances, the life Of az many aslhe arm
Of him who WELD. It can slay to cut and thrust
and destroy without sparlng. We deeply feel,
inc. And vet we feel that there is ample cacse
for it. In qualifying the injunction, " live
peaceably with all mea, 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 10
contend, when, to refuse TO resist Is treason to
the cause Of truth and humanity Our true
motto is, God and Freedom, We must al
w.y. 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.
a rebellion, not only against righteous govern
ment and in the interests Of slavery and OF boast
ed superiority Of race, but IA rebellion against
the very life of republicansm, in favor of prln-
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 state, county,
town, or family, may conceive and propose.
Wickedness was the first inventor and manulac-
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 wlckedness c0mpels
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. We drdO The
srOord against them because they hare drdlOn The
SOord against the uni0n and government of the
land, ,chich hare better right to lire than they.
When they cease their attack on the life of that
which is worth more than they, then we will
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
ceiying it therefore, wear it proudly, and WELD
it vaiantly Strike home its whole length to
the heart of the wicked and misguided insur-
gents. Let Its flash and its CLEAN 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 home
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-inspiring war-cry, The
sword of the Lord and of Gideon, be the war.
cry where you command.
Lieutenant, present you this sword and it
accompanying trapplngs IN behalf of YOU
friends and beg you to do them the pleasure o
receiving it from their hands. And may tn
God of battles shell you in its use, but con
found and destroy all those against whom yol
are compelled to unsheath it,
Lieut. Thacner replied as follows
Mr.. CARPENTER AND Fellow CITIZENS =
There are times when words are found to be
poor medium for expressing the feelings of tn
heart. Such for me is the present occasion
The necessity of our country which has demand
ed the recent call for men, your zeal and actiy
ity in responding to that call, and assisting t
raise the company to which belong, your in
terest in my own personal welfare, and no'
this last expression Of your friendship in pre-
senting 10 me this magnificent gift, all conspir
to excite emotions, for the expression OF whic
= can find no adequate words.
! For this elegant sword, and the accompanyln
trappings, accept my most grateful thank
This is all | can say, but the words family e.
8 press the deep gratitude Of my heart. feel a
G though the gilt was undeseryed, for have "
to prove that am iUOrthy 10 ,Cedr a SOord-tl
double symbol of courage upon the field an
skill in commanding others; but hope IN
i conduct in camp, on the march, and upon Il
. field of battle, will be such that you will all ie
q that your generosity has bocn ,eorthiiy bestov
ed. | find myself in a position somewhat stranl
' this evening This isa strange GIFT for one wi
has, during his whole life heretofore iollowC
] only the peaceful pursuits. confess that it
position of which am proud. am prou
to hold any position in the grand army for ii
maintenance Of our government | am proo
= of the company to which | belong, and espe
y tally am proud of the noble boys, your bra
q sons, who have gone with me from this town.
But cannot forget the terrible necessi
9 which calls 50 many of US from the occupation
u of peace, to seize the muSket and draw q
. sword Treason, the most damnable the wor
has ever seen, assalls our governments and threa
ems its destruction. We 20 to discharge OIL
- solemn duty to our fatherland, to teach traitor
" in whose company Judas himself might le
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