The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-19

country your whole country, not for section
| or party, but for your whole country as It
| was before the war began. Nov God grant
| that your efforts shall not be in vain: and I
am sure they will not be- 1t is not in the ma.
ture of things that this rebellion of minority
of the people against the majority should sue
eeed. If our government had been despot-
| ism, or q monarchy, 1t would have crumbled
and twenty petty monarchies might have been
| erected in its stead. But as 1t Is q repubic-a
| government of the people-whOse united will
is like the will of God. it cannot be overturned,
but must endure forever, temple of liberty.
an indestructible monument of the everlasting
| rights of man! ,fs +.. 4 .
The Union will be restored, and the rights
| of all sections will be maintained. The
| stronger must not and will not Cypress the
| weaker, but each State as BEFORE redeemed
and disenthraled from every weakness and
| sickly prejudice. will revOlve in harmonious
order, around the Constitution, the common
centre, like wandering planets, which, scatter
| ed for time by some great conyulsion, have
| returned to their natural orbits around their
| central sun. f. - ''"'
And now, my brave countrymen, have no.
thing more to say to you, save to repeat the
cordial welcome have already expressed.
we are glad to see you, during this your
| brief respite from the hardships and perils
of war, but we trust to meet you again,
| under brighter auspices, when, this colossal
strife triumphantly and glOriously Tended,
| peace with her countless blessings shall renew
the prosperity of the land, filling with glad
ness the homes of the living and scattering
her roses over the graves of the dead, When
that time comes may God permit us to meet
and welcome You to our hearts once more.
After which, at call of the Chief Engineer,
Governor Miller delivered the following
| ,.,..,.. .4. WELCOME TO MINNESOTA.
| VETERANS OF THE FIRST MINNESOTA REGI-
MENT-On behalf of all the Senators and all
| the Representatives of Minnesota on behalf of
all the Executive Departments of the State,
and on behalf OF all the loyal millions who
shall succeed US in the Inheritance of this grand
domain, Did you thousand times welcome
to the capital of that Commonwealth, which
you have SO gallantly represented on more
than twenty ensanguined fields, amid the
storm of battle and death.
In addition to the sympathies common to
every patriotic heart, l have motive which
| only the bereaved can realize, for saying would
that all your former comrades were present
to share in this greeting! But one thousand
OF those heroic men are not here to-day, and
the greater portion of them, alas will never
be here again. Their slnmbering remains
mark the track Of your glorious deeds from
Bull Run to BristOw Statior-yours and
Minnesota's contribution to the Union! They
shall never he forgotten; and yet
1T wee stain upon their fame
Would do each laurel crown a shame
To drop one single tear,
1t was their blessed lot To die
In battle and for liberty.
| We should not weep when We recall
The wOrld has cause to bless their fall
" Sh for h,,>, -
several homes, and many, many years of en-
jOymant in the State which you have so hon.
Orably served! And when the :. tattoo" and
TAPS Of time shall be succeeded by the re-
veille " of an eternal day, and heavens latest
artillery shall beat the assembly " for an i'm
mortal march, may each of you and all the
dead, and all the living who have fought bs
neatc those stained and battered colOrs, receive
an endless welcome to That better city-a cit,
which hath imperishabe fOund ations, and
whose builder and maker is God!
DIR. McMasters then invoked the Divine
blessing.
While the boys were doing full Justice to the
splendid meal set before them by the ladies OF
st. Paul the reporter had opportunity to OBJ
serve the ample and tasteful furnishing of the
tables. Every substantial and delicacy of the
season in the line CT eatables was spread in
profusion, while the happy blending of colors
and display OF food would have delighted an
epicnre. And never before were hungry din.
ers so well and promptly served. Every sol
der and every citizen iOined in cccomium oil
the liberality and zeal Of the Ladies of st. Paul
in welcoming home the gallant First with such
a display of home ratiOns, and in hOnOring the
heroes by their personal attendance upon the
tables.
During the meal the Great Western per-
formed several appropriate airs and marches.
When the play of knife and fork had ceased,
Major Finney, by invitation, read to the sol
diers the following:
LADIES WELCOME.
Welcome, Soldiers who have served your
country faithfully, suffering in her holy cause
hardships and privatiOns Drawing for her sake
the most terrible dangers periling your own
lives freely and fearlessy on the field of battle
welcome to the banquet which it has been
the privilege and pleasure of your country
women OF Saint Paul to prepare for you.
We would crown you with laurels and raise
for you triumphal arches, but we trust that
you will be more grtified with this friendly
welcome and substantial cheer. which will re-
| mind you of the love and sympathy of moth
ers and wives and sisters at home. f -H
We need not speak of your deeds of valor,
for they are already recorded on the page of
history and stamped with the seal of immor-
tality. .l.t'e ..-'l .-ai.t.f4 % E! ..f. .r.t
We may not inspire you with renewed cour-
age and zeal to fight the great battle of freedom
W tlc cuu lOT you are I;tT ABOVE our lceDlc con-
ceptiOn OF noble, disnterested patriotism.
:, Little can we in our comfortable homes APP
preciate the toll, hardship and suffering you
have endured since you left us brave, noble
fearless band more than thousand strong,
many of whom have since found grave on
the field of battle, or returned to us not as liv
ing realities, but as sacrifices to their own he
roism and their country's good. H" 7
These will surely be remembered to-day,
though the cold marble and the hearts in which
! their memories are enshrined are the only to-
kens left Us of the heroes who have sealed
with their blood their devotion to their coun-
tryis canss.
Their day of triumph on earth is past, but
may we not hope and believe that greater
! triumph awaifed them where rebellion and
| strife are unknown? ti'
| They will ever be remembered with graft
tude and affection. To their memory we give
a tear, and our sympathy to those who monrn
| their loss. fJ
To you, the survivors we give the assurance
| of our gratitude, and our heartfelt wishes that
| yeur f ture may be as happy and prosperous
| as your past has been eventful and glorious.
| Ntx4w~ gil 1 -E 4 =