Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1862-07-31

the world the stuff they are made of, and wiz
for the human race q victory more complete anG
enduring than the one our fathers achieved il
the Revolutionary War! Where is the mar
who hesitates to uphold the Government in this
hour OF trial who 80 consults ease and worships
Mammon that, rather than risk life, or diminist
his fortune, he would suffer our Nation to be
shiyered, our Constitution to be dishonored anG
destroyed, and that nnholy barred banner to tow
er above the Stars and Stripes and dominate
over our own free land, or any part Of it, i
believe it-let me say to him, go home! You
| have no part in this matter which has drawn
these high-souled citizens together. You bring
here pampered body and starving soul You
| would have been a Tory in the Revolution
whose success we here commemorate, and you
are far meaner than the basest tory. You would
sell your birthright for mess of pottage. You
will neither fight nor suffer for the great princi
pies our Fathers indicated, but wallow in and
detile the very blessings they won for you by
| their tolls and poverty and blood. -
They pledged to the support Of the Declare
ton of Independence, their lives. their fortunes
and their sacred honor and, for an achieved
liberty and independence-for the maintenance
OF the best government in the world-you would
contribute, if you could help it, no portion Of
your pelf. Your life is base and worthless, and
you have no sense Of honor. Depart, pray
you! and profane not, by your presence, our eel
ebration of this ever-memorable day! You
must excuse me if am too warm. Age has not
iced my blood. Our country is convulsed by
this momentous contest between the powers of
light and darkness. cannot discuss and argue
coolly in these times of terrible excitement, and
l do feel that there cannot be two honest opin-
ions as to the duty of every loyal citizeD-that
he who is not for US, heart and hand. is decided
ly against us-that the man who does not cord
tally sustain the government in its efforts to
crush this most deviish rebellion, is himself a
traitor. l will express my deliberate opinion,
that it is the duty of the citizen to volunteer all
that ne has, or is, to incur any sacrifice, to waive
discussion of abstract principles and even to
submit to a temporary sacrifice of some portions
of the liberties and franchises guaranteed by the
constitution ITSELF rather than that the consttu-
ton should be tramplel upon by our malignant
foes. To save our life we call upon the surgeon
to amputate our limbs, or to carve, with his cru
ell knife, into our quivering flesh, within a hairs
breadth of our very vitals. 70 preserve our
Union and its institutions, to save the dcluded
South from the irremediable ruin into which the
detestable ambition of few fraudful leaders
would plunge it, and to secure for our country
the Union and Constitution be preserved, it
must attain. ], for one would be willing that the
government should, for time deal with me with
strong and arbitrary hand. But, so near per-
lection is our government, am satisfied that,
sustained as it is by all loyal people. it will be
sufficient for all eXigencies, without the least in
fraction of law or private right
l will not apologize for Il breach of custom
cannot dwell upon the causes. candn1t and con-
sequences Of the revolution, aud pay just trlb-
ute to its heroes. Like yourselves | am alb
sorbed by the griefs and cares of the bitter pres
ent. The war in which the thirteen colonies
achieved their Independence, was indeed most
glorious. 1t is full Of lessons for our conduct,
and the present illustrates and brings before US.
in stern reality, the else cold history of the past.
Our streets are often darkened by CHASTITY spec
tacles, and many once happy home is desolate.
Already the dead march and the solemn process
sion have marked the passage of manya gallant
victim of this foul rebellion to an honored
grave.
How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
By all their country's wishes blest g.,
When Spring, with dewy finger cold,
Returns to deck their hallowed mould,
She there shall dress sweeter sod
Than Fancy's foot has ever trod.
BY fairy hands their knell is rung;
By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
There Honor comes, pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shall awhile repair,
To dwell weeping hermit there
Fellow citizens! A long life of ease, if that
be possible, may be ignoble. 1t is pleasant
and honorable thing to die for ones country.
Alas how many of our dear and honored ones
have been stricken down with fever in the I'M
wholesome camp. and persisted far from home.
How many have come home to die, or to recov.
er strength to strike another blow at the quail
ing crest of our bad adversary! We can now
appreciate the spirit of the revolution, and the
worth of the old Continental army we can re.
alize the sufferngs Of Valley Forge, and the hor-
rors Of the British prison ships. But our sym
patty has full scope in the present. With souls
replete with anxiety for our brave men, and OF
sorrow for their privations and suferings, we
have no heart to ponder on the miseries of our
ancestors, endured in not more sacred cause
They served and suffered seven years for Rachel
times seven for Rachel, and will have her. They
have gone to their reward. They have won
what our friends and children are now winning,
an Immortality Of honor. Peace to their ashes
We have not time even for just commiseration
of our dear ones, who are Offering their all upon
the altar of our country. In such war as this
there is scarcely space for tears. 1t is time to
strengthen every nerve, to summon up every ell
ergy, and to fight. When the great struggle
shall be ended, and when God shall have vouch
safed to us the victory, then we will cheer our
surviving soldiery, bind up their wounds, and
render them all honor then we will collect from
the battle fields and from the swampy camps
and weary waysides, the ashes of our martyrs
and reclaim from human brutes their desecrated
bones, and give them due sepulture and weep
Now, our thoughts must be wholly of vengeance
tempered with mercy, and of the safety Of those
priceless treasures our fathers won by valor and
By wisdom. 1000
| l cannot tell you, my friends how proud
am of our dear country. This base treason haG
been in preparation for more than thirty years
Like simple, honest men we would not believe
there could be such an abominable sin. W.
mistook for the voice Of mere party policy the
Erallying cries Of secession. We trusted in thu
solemn declarations and oaths OF men who boast
ed Of their chivalry and nice sense Of honor
and rebellion found us sleeping. We wer'
utterly unprepared for an outbreak, which was
foreknown by the Courts of Europe. 1t CAM
upon us like clap of thunder from cloudles
sky. But the people Of the North. East ant
4 West, arose like the morning sun-llke gian
rejoicing to run his course. And how nobl.
J they have SO far run that majestic course Wa
there ever presented to the world spectacle 9
sublime as the uprising Of our People! Heavel
Will not permit that sun to go down in cloud
and Storm Reverses in our career of glory hav
come, and may yet come. They may be sever
!, and terrible. But they will prove merely incen
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