Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-07-09
Rejoicing az Washington President
LincOln's speech.
Washington, Jul

Washington, July I.
A procession with bands of music pro
ceeded by the executive mansion tins even
ing, The crowd soon became immense,
and there were in addition to the patriotic
strains of music, repeated cheers for the
President, Mead, Rosecranz and Grant
The President appeared at an upper win
dow and spoke in substance as follows:
Fellow citizens am very glad indeed
to see you tonight, and yet | will not saw
! thank you tor the call, but | do most
sincerely thank Almighty God for the oc-
casion on which yon have called, How
long ago is it2 Eighty odd years since,
on the Fourth of July for the first time in
the history of the world, nation by its
representatives assembled and declared as
"a self-evident truth that all men are Gre
ated equal" That was the birthday of
the United States of America. Since
then the 4th of July has had several very
peculiar recognltions. The two most dis
tingulshed men in the framing and sup
port of the declaration were Thomas JEFF
terson and John Adams, one having
penned it and the other sustained it the
most forcibly in debate-the only two of
the iifty-iive men who sustained it being
elected Presidents of the United States.
Precisely fifty years after they put their
hands to the paper it pleased Almighty
God to take both from the stage of action.
This, indeed, was an extraordinary and re-
markable event in our history. Another
President FIVE years after was called from
the stage of existence on the same day and
month OF the year, And now on this last
4th of July just past, when. we have a
gigantic rebellion, at the bottom of which
is an effort to overthrow the principle that
Gall men are created equal" we have the
surrender Of most powerful position;
and the army on that day, and not only
so, but in a succession of battles in Penn
sylvania near to us, through three days so
rapidly fought that they might be called
one great battle, on the LIST, I'd and Sd of
July, and on the 4th the cohorts of those
who opposed the declaration that all men
are equal, turned tail and run. Long
and continued cheers. Gentlemen this is
glorious theme, asd the occasion for a
speech, but | am not prepared to make
one worthy of the occasion. | would
like to speak in terms of praise due To the
many brave officers and soldiers who have
fought in the cause of the Union and lib
critics of their country, from the beginning
of the war. These are trying occasions
not only in success but in the want of sue
cess. | dislike to mention the name of
one single officer, lest | might do wrong
to those | might forget The recent events
bring up glorious names, and particular
ly prominent ones, but these | will not
mention. Having said this much l will
now take the music.
Three cheers were given, and, after the
music, the largest part of the crowd pro-
ceeded to the War Department. Loud
cries were given for Secretary Stanton,
who returned hla thanks for the compli-
ment, and spoke in high eulogy of the re-
cent deeds of the army of the Potomac,
and the success resultiny from the fall of
Vlcksburg. He expressed his confidence
in the early crushing out of the rebellion,
and anticipated that successes will contin-
ne to follow successes, and claimed that
we had achieved great victory over the
rebels.