The Shasta courier., 1863-08-08
Patriotic speech by General Meagher.

responded to a complimentary toast as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Speaking as do, as guest
of the Corporation of the City Of New York,
and aware. as am. that important duties de-
volve upon the gentlemen who compose it,
and that some of them at this time are Of ex-
treme urgency, 1 shall not be so inconsider-
ate. or so regardless of the public interests,
which are now of national consequence, as
TO more than briefly acknowledged the very
gracious welcome you have given me to this
board, which certainly has sprung up before
me and startled me as though it were a ban
quet of enchantment. Certainly | was un
prepared that you should treat me as the
young gamblers with copperheads are wont
to do. . heads win, tails you lose." Laugh
ter l see that whether declined or ac-
cepted, you were prepared to make me
JOY the hcspitalities of the city. Laughter.
You have spoken, Mr. Mayor, of having tax
en- me rather violently seized upon mel
was the deliberate word-and carried me
captive to this entertainment. As the an
cient victims were dressed in flowers and led
to the slaughter, so these garlands attest
that you still prolong the rites. Laughter.
You here testify your devotion to the City
and to the Commonwealth. Some serious
ted here, and in reference to the hope which
fell from you, Mr.. Mayor, speaking in the
name of the Common Council of New York,
| can assure you, with that loyalty not in the
least abated by my temporary separation
from what was once the Irish Brigade. |
shall throw myself into this conflict that has
been brought near to our very doors. Ap.
plause. | shall do so in any capacity in
which | may be useful either to the author
tiles of this city or to the nation. and in
which | can prove most available. Ap-
plause. Here let me say that l trust that
from this hour, at all events. there shall be
no supplcations for peace, since these sup
llcatlons have flung open the gates and in
vlted the enemy to cross the Potomac. Ap-
plause. This IS not moment to mince
words, certainly not for one who has heenac-
customed to utter nothing but words of COM
mand, and to see those words promptly and
punctaally and literally obeyed /, for
one, cannot but regard any one who utters
peace" from this moment out as a confirm.
ed and branded traitor. APPLAUSE l
know that those in whose veins the blood of
manhood flows will not dishonor their lips
with such crime; and even now l think |
do not entertain exaggerated hopes when |
say that counseling, encouraging. inspiring
the young men and the able men to 90 forth
and give battle at our gates to the enemies
ofthe republic-and, being enemies of the
republic, enemies of humanity-that the old
men themselves will follow the same ilustri.
Gus example left US in the records of antiqui-
ty. 1t is well remembered by those who re-
fer to such sources for lessons of patriotism
and for encouragement in civic duty, and es-
pecially that duty that necessitates self-de-
nial, and an illustrious citizen of Rome. bow
ed down with age, infrm and decrepid, al
most hopeless, and literally prostrated, who
had served his country with his sword, when
he heard that a dishonorable peace was to be
effected, had himself carried out on his bed,
that he might proclaim with his dying gasp
for war, and not for peace. Applause. L
trust, gentlemen, from this agreeable meet
ing here, and from the reception rendered me
in recognition of the services ofthe Irish Bri-
gade, that we shall not depart without this
lesson, which shall survive the perfume of
these flowers, and be more exhileratinc to
he .-ation than these wines have been to us.
And here let me say to the Corporation of
the Citv os New York that feel it would be
a selfish addiction - afavorite theme of mine
to speak only of what he Irish Brigade has
done. Let me assure tie municlpal repre-
sentatves of the city of New York that every
that went forth from he flty dld
its duty just as boldly and and as brillla ntly
as they If may be excused partiality in
singing out any military organization from |
the many which the liberality and patrio- |
tsm of this city equipped for the service of
the Republic, let me claim for your consider |
celsor Brigade. Applause That brigade |
and the Irish Brigade were one in heart, one |
in purpose, and they struck, as it were. with |
one arm. Also let me break through the |
of nationality and bear my cordial |
and feryent testimony to the gallantry Of the |
German soldiers of New York [applausel. |
with whom was associated ON more than one |
occasion, but especially under the |
fierce fire of the enemys light artillery at |
" White Oak Swamp"-the Seventh New |
York Volunteers, composed exclusively of /
Germans of the city of New York, and com
manded by one of the most chivarous and /
officers of the Army of the Po- /
tomac, Colonel Y on Shalck | feel, sir, that |
it is more than pleasure. more than cour- |
tesy, it is duty for me to bear testimony to
the service of these German regiments, es-
pecially now that they have been made the |
targets of ungenerops and cowardly asper-
sions. Regarding The Eleventh Corps, |
have right to speak, for when their alleged |
rout took place | commanded about $50 men
of my brigade, holding the advance on the
road going to United States Ford in the ex-
treme front; against my position many ofth
corps broke, and | here state that while not
more than half a dozen were distinguished
by the Teutonic accent, | will not say to whom
the residue of the helter- skelter multitude be-
longed, but will only say that feel it due
to my own race to say that the " borgue,"
at all events, was not discernible. Ap-
plause No wonder that the Germans,
and the French, and the Irish, and every
other foreign nationality. should take equal
interest. and display equal gallantry in de-
tense of the authority of this Republic. since
with those whose homes has been established
with the foundations of it, or whose families
can point TO an honored line of ancestors of
the Oldest of these States, the immigrant who
arrived here this morning is equally concern
ed. 1t was the golden hope of having here
an assured home in which he could retrieve
the fortunes of the past, and acquire here
country and flag of which he might boast
before all nations, that lured him across the
seas, and brought him to take the oath of
citizenship. Applause Gentlemen who
do not belong to that hopored and most use.