Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-01-23
The Heroes of Dranesville.
PRESENTATION OF COLCRS.
PATRIOTIC SPEECH OF HON. GALUSHA A. GROW

PATRIOTIC SPEECH OF HON, GALUSM 4. GR6W'
On Saturday, January llb, the regiments
composing the division OF Gen. deo' A; NC
Call were witnesses of scene that Nigh. IN
fuse O new spirit into the hearts OF our almost
slumbering iegions. The State OF PennSylVa-
MIA has been lavish in her expenditure OF men
| and means TO carry on the war for the purpose
of crushing this horrible rebellion. Foremost
! In the field, she has not forgotten either the
comforts or the ambition Of her noble sons
As the only State which has furnished each
\ regiment with magnificent set OF coors, she
deserves imperishable renOwD This she has
! already done without waiting to deliberate
| upon the expense In the beginning, she de-
clared, through her Legislature, that, upon
each flag should be inscribed, in letters of gold,
the engagements through which her troops
should bear themselves with credit, and
that they should be deposited in the archives
of the State. This was intended TO be done
after the different regiments returned from the
! war; but Gov Curtin determined that, mas
much as the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps had
covered themselves with renown on the 10th
of December last, at Dranesville, Decem-
ber 90, 1861" should be inscribed upon the
flags that had already been presented. Yes
terday, Col. Pulston, on behalf OF the State,
returned the flags to the brave soldiers who
had go nobly defended them. The whole d.
vision was drawA up in line, under Gen. Nc
Call to receive them, and Gen VIM II. keim
introduced the Hon. GaluSha A. Grow, Speak
er of the House, who presented to each regi-
,ment that participated in the battle of Dranes-
vile the colors prepared for them. After re-
ferring to the late battle for the national
supremacy, said
But the exultation of your triumph is sad
dened by the loss Of the brave spirits who fell
in the hour of conflict. Yet, for them We are
in doubt whether to rejoice or mourn their
fate, for
If there be on this earthly sphere
a boOn-an Offering Heaven holds dear,
'Ts the last baton Liberty draws
From the heart that bleeds and breaks IN her cause
Though with the vernal sun, the grass will
grow green DER their graves, they live IN the
gratitude of the future.
Mans life at best is short and soon passes
away, but his example lives forever, welding
an influence long after the marble rrumbleS
and the brass fades Five centuries ago, the
dauntless spirits net at midnight on the banks
of Lake Lucerne, and vowed to each other
the liberation of Their country from Austrian
despotism From that hour Tell aud Grntti
are immortal In the bloody struggle that
ensued for the liberation of Switzerland and
as her last hope hangs waverng on the field
of Sempatch-the Austrian army presenting a
solid hedge of spears, which it seems impossi-
BILE for the Swiss patriots to pene;rate-an
while their ranks are moved down by cloud
of arrows, brave Swiss, sternly facing death,
excIaiming, &" I'll make q path for liberty"
has tho foo 4 hi a NJ
to his heart, and dies-thus opening the way
to victory. The sound echoes along the cen
turies, and the name Of Arnold WiDklered is
linked to the msrtyrs who will live as long as
liberty has a votary or humanity name.
Whether the scaffold high
Or in the army van,
The nOblest place for man to die
Ia where he dies for man.
Monrn not for the dead; they sleep in hon.
ored graves. Let the tears we drop on their
ashes be for the near aud dear of the living,
whose hearts bleed for their loss.
Citizen soldiers, the hour draws nigh when
the drum-beat will again summon you to the
battle field, there to decide, not o question OF
dynaslc rule but whether the will of the ma
joFity. constitutionalIy expressed, shall be re-
spected by the minority-the vita. principle of
free elective government.
Mans capacity for selfgoTernment is on
trial, and if it fails now by the overthrow of
the republic the last great experiment of cleo
tive constitutional government among men has
been tried. Liberty heaviDg her last sigh, may
then wing her way back from earth to heaven,
and the crushed and down-trodden of the world
may hug their chains as the only legacy they
can bequeath to their children
Called from the peaceful avoca.ions of life,
you aud yonr copatrots in arms stand to day
soldiers of humanity fighting the battles of man.
kind. For in all essential features, this con-
test is the old struggle of ariStocraey and re-
publica1ism revived. Instead of family or
landed aristocracieS, it is now the institutions
of human bondage warning upon the vital prin-
cipleS Of free government, and they have chos
en- and will permit no arbiter but the sword.
The ouly arguments, therefore, befitting the
times are cannon balls and battallonS The
orators OF the hour are before me; and if
mistake not the signs, they will soon be called
on to speak in tones that shall again teach the
enemies of liberty and the rights of mankind
the lessons taught by our fathers; and THE last
great battle of constitutional freedom will have
been fought and woD In that irving hour.
you have already proven by your heroic deeds
that the fame of the old Keystone State, and
the memory of her illustrious dead will receive
no dishonor at your hands
" Take your banner may it wave
Proudly er the good and brave,
When the battles distant wall
Breaks the Sabbath of our vale
When the clarion's music thrills
To the hearts of these low hills
When the spear in conflict shakes,
And the strong lance shivering breaks
After the presentation, the troops marched
in review before Speaker Grow, in the follow.
ing order: Capts. Stewards Easton's, and
Kearpes, hattnrieS. Col Povova,, C.r.lu.