Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-06-11
Secretary Seward on the War,
A Welcome to Returned Soldiers.

auouiu uPoH o oiiei fiSili HASu tuS FSt.
eran New York 10Th, whose term of SER
vice had expired, returned. On being
called upon to address them, he made a
brief speech of welcome, from which we
take the following. 1t deserves general
perussl:
When nation is assailed by Treason,
the interest, duty aud virtue it is called to
exhibit, are precisely the same. 1t will
look back to INQUIRE through what posi-
bic errors, faults, Shortcomings or even
crimes it has fallen into such a strife, but
with the purpose of drawing from the in
quiry the wisdom necessary for extrication
from the calamity.
Having done this it will look forward,
not strainng itself to see how it shall
govern itself and regulate its action at
long distant periods, but to ascertain where
to find the enemy and how most effectual.
ly to battle, overthrow and bind him so
that the Nation can yet safely live.
Civil war divides the community, even
in those places where the Government re-
tains its accustomed strength and authori-
ty, into two classes. One that has the
that has not. Those that have the cour-
age, in other words the virtue, adequate
to the crisis, rush to the field.
This country has seen 500, 900 men rush
ia this manner to confront the Public En-
envy, and this town of $4,000 souls has
sent out 1000 such, of whom you are the
first installment which has returned
Among the 500, 0oG IS well as 4, OU0 there
was not one coward nor one traitor
There were none whose minds were troub-
led about the causes of the conflict, the
manner in which it is conducted, or the
consequences which shall follow it. Hav-
ing devoted their strength, and their lives
If necessary to the cause OF their country,
of humanity, they leave the rest to the
| care of that Providence which arbitrates
at last in all the issues of human strife
The other class are those who stay at
home to consider. Many of these, multi
tudes of them, as loyal and brave as their
compatriots in the field are prevented by
sickness, inirmity and age from joining
the ranks, and others have duties not less
| important than those Of the field. These
study only how to sustain, cheer, encour,
age and reinforce their country's armies.
But beside these and among them. min,
gled with them as the taree with the
wheat, are all the towards, all the traitors
that the community has, and 1t has such
because all communities are human, and
vice as well as virtue inheres 10 humanity.
In this large assemblage which has come
out to greet you, or to witness this solemn
ceremony of your dcharge from the pub
lie service, both these classes are found.
We cannot distinguish, nor is 1t worth our
while to attempt to distinguish the one
from the other. By their actions hereaf-
ter they shall be known. Those who are
wise and virtuous will be found urging
you to return to tbs ieid, and persevere
until the battle is won, and will spare no
pains, going themselves, if posi- BILE, to re-
cruit the ranks which death honorably met
has decimated. Those who are otherwise
will be found still caviling about the caus-
es of the war, about the responsibilities
of its unavoidable defeats, about the dis
tribution of honors for the victories glor.
ously won; they will be found accumulat-
ing treasure with one hand and storing it
away from the tax gatherer with the
other, that they may enjoy it after the
patriotism and heroism of better men
than themselves have secured the triumph
which will enable them TO enjoy it in
safety. To the young men who | see
around me | have to say it is for you TO
choose to which of these two classes of
the community you will attach yourselves.
II you are prepared to join the former
the greeting you give to these our brave
neighbors returaed from the field, are 90
honorable to you as gratifying to them.
II, on the other hand, you think more of
your lives, more of your fortunes. more
of your personal expectations than you
think OF your country, your salutations
are mockery, and the sight Of these war
worn veterans ought. to strike you with
confusion and shame.
For myself, if | were within the ages
and other conditions of the military SER
vice, would not have appeared here on
this occasion unless it was to take up the
fire lock that one of those our honored
neighbors has now come to lay down.
l love the man that will not allow his
name to be written upon the register of
the Provost Marshal. 1t is bad enough
to be balloted tor as candidate for civil
office. An honest and loyal man, how
ever, must submit to that sometimes. On
the contrary, my neighbors and country.
men should never have q chance to cast
lots over me as conscript, solong as they
should leave me at liberty to volunteer
Fair p!sy is a jewel-equality in risks and
hazards as we'll as in profits and honers is
the only true justice.
Fellow soldiers, am desirous only that
you shall know that estimate you as YOU
& ~
OF the United States. bear a greattul
affection to every Division and every
Corps of it. | am prouder of you and
cherish for you more grateful affection
than others, because equally meritorious
with the best, you are my nearest, truest
and most faithful friends. | have shown
this by opening my lips and my heart to
you,-lips and heart that l have never
before opened on any occasion since the |
seal OF official responsibility was imposed |
upon me, when this unhappy war first
broke out.
The honor that you receive this day 10
but the beginning of honors which will
be increasing as you live. In my child |
hood followed with love aud veneration
the steps OF the heroes of the Revolution.
| saw that love and veneration become the |
sentiment OF the American Leo.
pie, so Tar that he who had differed from
them or opposed them or denied the horn-
age of his respect was deemed unworthy
to be al American citizen. Such love
and veneration begin to cluster upon you
to-day, and they will continue till they
reach such height that when the hum
olest OF you finds his last resting place,
here or elsewhere, under the restored and
complete authority OF our glorious Ma