The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-02-24
Eloquent Tribute To Vaior.
From the Cincinnati Gazette.

From the Cincinnati Gaxss.e-
Our Washington CORES sponient under date of the
sth inst, sends the best specimen Of patriotic elo
quenoe we have since the broke out, and
troiuces it follows
Many will rernem5er the tme when We usei to talk
OF Henry : Lane, Of Iniiana OF tae forulosi
stump speakers if sse foremost in the West. In
these Later years Senatorial honors have somewha;
dinna@i the earlier laurels of the but
popular arena and are less familiar with the old
declamatory flights that used to thrill our audiences,
from the Wabash the Miami. Not the less because
il recalls to them this cid familiar oratory, then
token of the welcome that awaits veterans when
the war is over, your readers viii be glad to
some portions OF Senator Lanes stirring address
to the returning remnants Of the Mnnesot. FIRST, a;
the banquet given them in this city.
am here tonight under YOUR kind inyiatstien, TO
honor and TO welcome the war-worn ami SCARED
veterans of the lst Minnesota / viii and
dlshgure the grandeur of history by any feeble
eu'ogy of mine. | leave that task To soIne future
Tacitus, or Hume, or Bancroft, Motley You have
written Your history upon nineteen glorious and
bloody battleeds. the names which shonll be in
scrbed upon your battlehag. The history Of the
Army of the Potomac is your history You have
participated in all its battles. ou have shared
common gloom and common glory.
In the darkest hour or the nations history You
Sponied promptly 10 the nations call. L You
then, oio strong You return IN US now with only
$50. You have lost over zoe in killed, wounded and
discharged account of sickness incurred in the
lee You have been first in the charge ami last in the
retreat. What regiment in noble army has
granier history than yours
hail your return with gratitude AM pride but my
emotions are not unmingled with sadness Your
comrades, why come they not to the feast AMI 10 the
banquet =? Why they not here 10 receive the free
otferng of nations gratitude? Why il that their
relatives and frienis IN their fnroH homes IN their
loved Minnesota, shall wait and watch for their
turning footsteps never more To gadien their vision
Slavery and rebellion have laid them in bloody graves,
but their blood cries aloud 10 heaven for vengeance,
and just God will hear and heed their cry. Those
who have wantonly taken the sword shall perish by
the sword
In 1851 saw YOUR regiment full of youth and hfe
and hope the fires of patriotism blazing from
your Colonel Col Colvle,) then in the full flower Of
noble manhood. borne into the room upon the
arms of four Of his brave soldiers banner, unsulei
and untorn by the storm of battle, al rent and
torn; miny OF the stars SHOT away some lost at Bull
liun, some upon the Peninsula some at gettysburg,
and III other bloody battles in which you have borne
a part distinguished, But angel fingers have gath
cred them up and placed them in the deep of
Heaven, 10 blaze forever, calm, silent, and enduring
witnesses TO the great and good cause in which they
cll-thc cause of progress of Christian civilization,
of free Institutions of the nion and universal freedom.
But II bresIty Is always the soul OF w.t. upon tins
occasion and this hour it is the soul of propety, and
must not forget that am 70 respond to the sentiment
the heart and strs the blood like call 70 bat
tie had time 70 enumerate the battetieis IN winch
the soldiers of the West have struggled and rumphed
and illustrated their bravery, prowess and patriotism,
this would be eulogy enough.
The mountain gorges of Northern Georgia, the Ale
God has reared and which will bear the fame of the
great army of the West to all the coming ages.
Doneson, Shiloh. Stone River, Nicksburc, Port Hud
son, Springfield Pea Ridge tell their own story. am
proud of the great army of the West. am proud of
my noble State of Indiana. She stands in this
great contest the Cheyalier Bayard of Stateswthout
fear and without reproach. She has participated in
every victory in the West and shared in defeat.
Her blood has redeemed every battlefield from Cape
Hatteras 10 Pea Ridge. But draw invidious dis
tinctons between sections. We hsve the nobes army
the world ever saw drawn from every portion of our
common country. We have rivalry, only generous
emulation to who shall most and best
glorious country. native of Kentucky, adopted
OF Indiana, feel tonight have still higher dis
tincton: | citizen of the United States of
America have a share in the achievements .ni glory
OF the whole army without regard to birthplace or
residence.
soldiers you have fought goo fight but much still
remains 10 be done. There can be peace until the
authority of the Government the supremacy of the
Constitution and laws of the United States, shall be
established over all the States in rebellion These
rebels have appealed to the sword-et the aword now
promise between virtue and vice, good and eF7 light
AMI darkness, liberty and slavery
Slavery. wrong and oppression were born in he'll.
and there be no compromise. permanent peace.
no lasting Union. while slavery exists Ii has been
destroyed by the rebels themselves, and BY action
of ours. The first gun fired at Fort Sumpter its
10 free race, and | accept this conclusion, drawn
from the logic of events
But det1in Won. This banquet carries me back t1
the DAYS of the Romln Republic, when they received
their returning egOns with tTiumphal professions and
oyations and gave their martyred heroes a place in
that grand temple devoted t. the worship of all tine
gods. Ii these honorS deserved By the solers OF
Imperial Rome how much more do vou deserve them
They fought to advance the conquerng eagles of the
Empire for territorial aCgranlize and power. You
have fought that the nation might live and the bless
ugs of freedom, like the sunlight Of heaven might
visit all.