Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-21
CITY AND COUNTY.
Ceremonies of the Prcsentai"" u"
RebeI E'laEs'

rooiuept drew together an immense assem-
bloge at Mechanics Hail, On Saturday after.
noon. The meeting was called to order by
Alderman Charles B. Pratt, chairman OF the
military committee, who called upon Hon. p.
Emory Adrich. mayor OF the city, to preside
| Mayor Aldrich, in taking the chair made
brief aud appropriate reference To the objects
of the meeting, and introduced Major NJ j.
McCatierty, through whom, as one hoDoraty
engaged in the battle Of New bern, the cap
turcd trophies would be presented to the city.
Major McCaferty spoke substantially as fol-
lows
MAJOR MrCAFFERTY's SPEECH.
Dr. Mayor and GeRleHeh Of the City Council
Surely sir. this large and Intelligent audience
have not left their homes and come out TO hear any
remarks that may have TO offer upon this occasion
Had ! sufficiently appreciated the labor would
have imposed upon myself by accepting the duty of
presenting these flags to the CITY OF Worcester I
would have had the task performed by a person bet
Ter fitted for il than myself If l am expected to
entertain this large and respectable audience, / can
only say, by way OF beginning the expectations will
be disappointed. The will is not lacking, but that
which is much more needed am without the abil-
ity.
Two years ago sir, peace prosperity and bappi.
ness reigned supreme within our borders From
the ST. Lawrence to the Rio Glande from the At
lanc TO tile Pacific, the busy hum ofinduStry might
have been heard i'll all workshops; every stream
paid us tribute and bore upon its bosom the product
of skill to the thousand markets of the country
on the waterfalls our mechanics found power with
which our machinery might be whired-al produc.
ing their quota of profits, to be added TO the general
wealth, and giving remunerative employment to
millions of busy hands. Our flag hoated on every
sea and ocean, carrying our commerce TO every port
OF the world, and bringing home rich cargoes in re-
turn. We were respected abroad-our credit was
unquesioned at home-our example and flag har-
binger of hope TO the down-trodden of the world
everywhere.
In one brief year how changed is everything! Pr
rates on the high seas, and dizziness the mart a
blockade of one-lalf the ports of our country
leaves ships rotng at the dock. The hum of the
spindle and click of the shuttle is heard only in man
utacturing for the army. Our workshops, instead of
producing works OF use and ornament. are now
building engines of destruction. The pillow boy no
longer cracks his whip, as formerly when he turned
cheerily the turrow in one half of country. Our
flag not respected. our credit doubted and rebel
hon i'll the country droops the spirits OF those who
were wont to hope in selfgOVernment. Why is it
that we are turned from the arts of peace, WHY
all streets for the last year filled With soldiers?
Why are our once quiet thOroughfares now disturb
ed by the tap OF the drum and the piercing fife,
with the heavy tread of armed men. with glittering
bayonets! Why is it that your young men, your
fathers, brothers, and sons have left the peaceful
walks of life and absent in the field exercised in
the use of arms for the day of battle! Why is it, sir
that many houses, the abode of jOy and
| gadness, now, with closed doors, filled with
mourning!
| But one short year ago men, who, like ourselves
had been i'll the enjoyment of every pleasure that
the country affords-who had experienced only tbe
blessings of the best government under the sun
| who had for years been plotting demonstrating
president in the chair of state too demented to de-
tect their craft and too confdng to suspect their
treachery-abused the high places of trust to which
they had been elected, scattered the forces of the
| country, sent the arms and munitions of war into
| the SOUTH and staked out country for themselves
| to rule What was their excuse A president
had been elected for whom they did not vote, and
lie might lnJure slavery As this rebellion is prolific
OF mOnstrous things the least one is not the reason
for the rebellion. Who ever heard such a cause Tor
arebelion? Ii the saYss of the south had arisen in
their might, and by insurrection spread terror
throughout their country, this rebellion might have
found its parallel. If they had arisen and at mid
night mastered their masters with their wives aud
children, and applied the torch to their dwellings
such an instruction has its parallel. But an ustr-
rcction to bind the slave, to add links to lis
chain to increase his labor to contract his freedom
is unknown. A rebellion to compel the slave to
make bricks without straw is unheard Of The eYo-
luons OF the Medes and PeTsians, the TebeliOns of
ancient and modern time, all had a cause, but the
revolution of South Carolina was conceived Of am
biton, nurtured OF hate, and born OF whiskey.
These chivarous sons of the sunny south, one year
ago the twel tn day Of the present April having
mustered their myi midons planted their batteries
and shotted their guns, opened fire upou our ifte
garrison of saryed soldiers and after tw o DAYS,
hard fighting succeeded in burning them ont At
which the entire chivalrous south went into ts of
jublation. But, sir, from that fire that consumed
the barracks OF the soldiers of fort SIn,eT I =
flame that will soon consume these parlicides
The president, not comprehending the strength,
abillty resources, and extent of the rebellion called
f5OOO men OF the militia of the various states into
the field for the term Of three m.Htlls: and men
unused to arms, men whose lives had been spent in
nm tbpir
names upon the roll, from the bench the pow the
counting room, tho workshop, and manuiactory
from all the various avocatons OF Lille. they rushed
Dy thousands TO arms to save the glorious Union.
ieoples alter peoples Joined tile rebellion but mich
1aSteT than rebels could threaten the caUitOl tile
strong of the loyal states rushed ia nrotect
It,. Soon came to lis borne the wings OF the
lightning that the sons OF Massachusetts law
Weltering in their blood, struck down in the
streets OF Baltimore; and while their wall
was ringing in ears, on the 10Th day of
April 1851, nearly 800 started from Worces-
Ter for the capitol at Washington. Many who had
served IN the militia, play soldiers remained at
home, and took civil profitable ofhce but others
more valiant than they, who loved their country
better filled other places. With that battalion, un-
der the gallant Deyeus, went out seine of tile no.
biest spirits OF the county of Worcester. / might
mention Sprague, who never hincles in batlIee n
terror to rebels and a consider to wounded friends
moving as he does like angel of love through liz
hospitals when the battle is Won speaking 3IIjs If
encouragement and hope to the men wifheriug in
pain, who have fell wounded in so glorious cause
The chivarous Pickett, the invinci6e MouIton the
dauntless Harknoss. the heroic ONeil and uutinch-
ing O'Driscol, with W God, Melayiu and others who
bore their part i'll the duties, labors, trials and
Watchings OF that little battalion, when our troops
were fleeing before Manassas, when ever, body
was expecting rise in Baltimore. In that service
we seemed doome TO Teyerses, and our cause
seemed 10 hang in impenetrable gloom. 1t was in
that service we lost the youthful Ellsworth IIag.
gerty, Cameron, and others; many became prsof-
ers, The noble CorcOran now i'll the Richmond ia.
bacco factory wears out his existence, clialng 'out
his life against the bars OF his gtid prison house
The little battalion returned, having spent l15 DAYS
IN the service of the country, on the I'd of August
The September following Col Sprague with others
was designated 10 raise another regiment in Wnr,
cester county for the war and from the Sd batta
he selected many OF his officers. They were tried
men and true, and he could trust them MANY nil
ers were called into the regiment, among whom was
the noble Capt. Foster, who now bears an houora-
Bile scar, the fruit Of his first battle and first yictorv
Among those selected to raise company for the war
was Capt. Thomas O'Neil. formerly a lieutenant in
company OF that battalion. AS soon as his name
was announced, many of those who served with
him in the three months service rushed to his
standards they knew him we'll his dauntless cour
age, his tearessness that he had sprung from race
OF soldiers, his name synonym in Irish history for
brave deeds his uncle james had fell fighting the
battles OF the Saxons at Taayera; his uncle Ar
thur, on board of the Terrible, Tell in an engage.
ment with the French fleet in the same service; Ills
father fell bleeding on the field. wounded at Water
loo; and his family to-day have furnished more SOL
dlers Tor the war than any other family in Worces.
tercounty. His brother, Charles, of the goth Mas.
sachusetts was wounded in the unfortunate affair of
bsils BUN. Ills brother James CALAMITY bore the
STATE colofs of Massachusetts on to the euemyis
ramparts at the battle of Newber-and Limselt
VINO has been in the service from the 18th dav az
april one year ago yesterday, and who from that
ume TO the present has borne himself as a gallant
soldier, doing every duty cheeriully. Capt 0Neilis
company are chiefly adopted citizens. l think II
would be somewhat difficult to tell who responded
most cheeriully TO the presidents call for troops
whether it was the native born or adOnted citisran
lhey seemed to vie with each other in The sruvyIe
ior laures and for service The first companv teSn
inns state OF adopted citizens was from the comfy
VI worcester; Inc second company OF adopted
citizens from this city, was the command of Cnnt
THOMAS ONeil his command have already been in
two engagements. They were the first comnanv de
ployed as skrmshere to protect the landing OF the
troops at ROanOke the gallant Richter with his
scouts having been recalled. On the morning Of
h.. laNA AL Il -