Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-15

Inc CaliOrnla company, consisting OF
northern and New England men, who have
come to be organized and commissioned as
Massachusetts, soldiers, had grand reception
in Boston, yesterday. They marched from
tine camp at Readvile to the city govern.
ment rooms, where there were speeches by
eX-mayor Wightman, mayor Lincoln, Capt.
Read of the company, and Gov. Andrew.
Gov Andrew spoke as follows
Captain: 1t gives me the most unalloyed
satisfaction, and it fills my heart with pride
as well as joy | cannot express, to have the
high honor, both officially and personally, of
greeting you soldiers Of the Union who have
passed from the distant coasts of the Pacific
that you may number yourselves upon the
Atlantic shores with the soldiers of Massa-
sets who are guarding and defending the
rights, the honor, and the perpetuity Of our
| common Union. (Applause.)
| Who shall dare hesitate or doubt in the quiet
| of his peaceful home when men like you, SOL
diers, citizens like these desert the golden
mines of that far distant state that you may
hurry to our defence? | am proud, captain
and soldiers, that it is given to us to have the
| honor of numbering you with our own contin-
gent that your names are to be recorded upon
the same rolls which bear the dear names of
| Massachusetts men. CHEERS But no longer
any more OF Massachusettssof New York, of
| Illinois, OF Missouri, Of Texas, Of California,
| do we think or remember when common
| hope a common pride, common joy, and an
| interest common to us all stands imperilled.
| That flag is.the symbol by which we all swear;
it is the standard which our fathers erected;
it is the flag for which every good citizen will
| even dare to die. (Applause,O
1t will give you, Captain, satisfaction to
| know that have this morning received assur-
| ance from Washington that the tender of
| whole battalion Of CalifUrnians has been per-
| mitted to me to accept. cloud cheers and
! ''GOod!") The offer of a battalion of your
friends and neighbors of California was proud
| ly accepted SO far as it lay in my own power
! officially to do so. This morning from Wash
| ington, have the authority which | hesitate
not to act upon without delay, and dare say
the winged messenger has now fitted over
| the wires, and | trust that now in San Fran
| cisco it is already known that this battalion
shall be counted a part of the Massachusetts
| contingent, and also venture to declare that
the message will find the California company
beneath the dome OF the capitol of Massachu
sets. (Cheers.)
The history of this war; captain, has re-
vealed to us a changeful scene, now a mo-
| mentary defeat, now a glorious triumph; but
It has also revealed to us what is much more
to be proud of before men, and thankful for
| before Almighty God, that the love of country,
the tirmness of heroic hearts, the devotion to
| duty ON the part of the citizen soldiers of the
| Union, was not never has been, and never
can be doubtful, hesitating, momentary, or
| spasmodic. We have set in for a storm as
| long as it may please God to allow it to last.
| (Applause.) Disaster can only be the trial of
our metal, delay can only be the test of our
| patience, and victory is only worthy when it
has been fairly won. (Cheers.)
| doubt not, sir, doubt not, soldiers, that
you have nerved your own hearts and strength
ened your own purposes by contemplation
| Of nigh idea Of duty, in having left behind
you all the attractions of your own homes
| that you might share in the hardships as well
as honors of the field. In committing to you,
sir, commission, and commissions to your
fellow officers in arms, giving an opportunity
of service under the white flag of Massachu-
sets as well as the starry banner of the Union,
| have done so not only with pride and graft
tication already feebly attempted to be ex.
| pressed, but with the utmost confidence that
our cause will be faithfully served, the honor
of us all nobly protected, and the flag which
| you bear will never be surrendered to any foe
| (Chcers.)
| Unnumbered as are the fields on which the
soldiers Of Massachusetts have shed their
blood, laid down their own lives, no flag yet
borne by Massachusetts hands has ever been
torn from the standard bearers grasp to grace
the goddess triumph of the enemy. (Cheers.)
| These banners, they are committed TO your
care with more than ordinary confidence, and
with more than ordinary solemnity of a per.
sonal and official charge, that you shall be
faithful to the cause which it symbolizes, and
you will baptize it, if need be, with the last
drop of your hearts best blood. (Cheers.)