Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-02-24
Public Meeting of Citizens.

In the evening of the 22d, the citizens as
sembled in the Court House, for the purpose
of uniting in tribute OF respect to the mem
ory of Major James II. Larrimer. The
meeting was organized as follows, on motion
Of II. b. SwOoPE, Esq:
d. W MOORE, ESQ, President.
.Jona Boynton, Benz Hartshorr, J. W.
Shugart and G. W. Logan, V. Presidents.
William J. Hempiiil aud David T. Etz-
weller. Secretaries.
On motion, T. j. Mccullough. J. l.. Cut
tie, Joseph A Caldwell Francis Short and
John Moore, Sr., were appointed commit
tee to draft preamble and resolutions ex-
pressive Of the sense of the meeting
During the absence Of the committee Is
RAEI TEST, Esq, having been called upon,
addressed the meeting-delivering chaste
and eloquent euiogy on the character and
virtues of Major Larrimer. who had for a
number OF years been his law partner. The
speech was beautiful tribute to the memo
ry of his friend, and associate, and produced
a deep impression upon the audience.
He was followed by j. l.. Cutie, Esq,
who added his testimony to the virtues and
estimable character OF Mai Larrimer
H. B. SwooPE, ESQ, being then called
upon, spoke substantially as follows:
Had weeks of preparation been permit
ted me, Mr. President, instead of teing thus
suddenly called upon, [ could not, perhaps,
have done justice To the subject which to-
night saddens our thoughts, and has cast
profound gloem over this entire community
Especially, sir, do | feel my inability, when
| reflect that we have not vet recovered
from the shock produced by the startling
news Of the death of our esteemed, generous
and chivalric friend. At time when no
ba++la III
tagonistic armies were in winter-quarters,
and there was comparative cessation of
hostilities, our anxiety for our friends and
relatives in the camp was. IN a degree, sus-
pended, and we regarded them for the pres
ent, as secure. But the lurking guerrilla
regardless alike of times and seasons, and of
the requirements and amenities of civilized
warfare-is always on the alert for spoils and
for blood; and at the hands of cowardly, am
bushed assassins our gallant friend met his
fate. It is meet and right, my fellow cit
izens, that you should assemble to bestsw
honor upon his memory We owe him
debt OF gratitude that can never be repaid.
1t was for the conservation of our rights
for the preservation and protection of all we
hold dear, that he fought and fell Can we
do less than shed a tear upon his grave?
1t was the custom of the ancient Egyp-
tIans-the founders of the arts and sciences
both to embalm the bodies, and celebrate
the names of their deceased heroes and
statesmen-thus teaching the important les
son that while the dread Death angel drops
the mantle Of oblivion over vice, immorali-
ty, and unworthiness, he consigns virtue,
honor, and true patriotism to sepulchre
that shall always be illustrious, and to an
embalmment by which theiII recollection will
forever be preserved. Ii is especially be-
coming and proper for citizens of Repub-
lican government to bestow all honor upon
their illustrlous dead, that by it they may
excite imitation and emulation in others,
secure vlrtuous and noble conduct, and dis
charge their duty to the Bountiful Giver of
all good, by whom such men are qualified
for their work. In honoring them we hon
or Him.
On this day one hundred and thirty two
years ago,~was born him of whom it was
justly said, he was first IN war; first in
peace and first in the hearts of his country
men and on this day in the year 1864
we have consigned to their last resting place
the mortal remains of one, of whom we can
say with equal truth, and without detraet-
ing in the least degree from that veneration
which we feel for ''the Father of his Coun-
try, that in ardent, unyielding, devoted pa
triotism, and in a courage that knew no
sense of fear, he had few equals aud no su-