Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-04-27

who, it will be remembered, ran the |
rebel gauntlet In 1862, came to the fort
loaded down with between 1000 and |
5000 of the emancipated race, OF all |
ages and sizes. Their appearance was |
warmly welcomed. Capt, Small was !
subsequently introduced TO many dis |
tinguished gentlemen to whom he mar
rated his interesting adventure with |
lively satisfaction,
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher then made |
the following address
ADDRESS ny THE REV. HENRY WARD /
BEECHER,
Mr.. Beecher said On this solemn !
and joyful day we again lifL to the /
breeze our fathers flag now again the /
banner of the United States, with the /
ferycnt prayer that God would crown 1t /
with honor, protect it from treason, and I
send it down to our children with all
the blessings Of civilization, liberty and
religion. Happily no bird or beast Of
prey has been inscribed upon it, The
stars that redeem the night from dark
ness, and the beams of red light that /
beautity the morning, have been united !
upon its folds. As long as the sun en- |
durcs, or the stars, may it wave over Il
nation neither ensaved nor euSlavmg
Great applause) Once, and but once,
has treason diShOnored it. In that in
sane hour, when the gultiest and blood
lest rebels of time hurled their fires upon
the fort, you sir Cunning to Major An
dersOn, and a small heroic band stood
within these now crumbled walls and
did gallant and Just battle for the honor
and defense of the nations banner
(Applause,l In that cope of fire this
glorious flag still peacefully waved to
the breeze above your head, unconsciOu,
of harm as the stars and skies above it,
Once it was shot down A gallant hand
in whose care this day it has been,
plucked il from the ground and reared
it again, cast down but not destroyed.
( After a vain resistance, with trembling
hand and sad heart, you withdrew ii
| from the fight closed its wings and bore
! it far away, sternly, to sleep amid the
| tumult of rebellion and thunder Of bat
| tie. The first act Of war had begun
the long night Of four years had set in,
| while the giddy traitors whirled in
maze of eXhileratiOn. Dim horrors We're
already advancing that were ere long to
/ fill the land with blood. To-day you
are returned. Again we devoutly join
with you in thanksgiving to the Al
mighty God that He has spared your
hOnOred life and vOuChSafed to you the
honors of this day. The heavens over
you are the same the same shores are
seen morning comes and evening a
they did. All else how changed What
grim batteries crowd the burdencd
shores What scenes have filled this
air and disturbed these water These
shattered heaps of shapeless st ne are
all that is left of Fort Sumter Desola-
ton brOods in yOnder sad city. Solemn
retributiOn hath avenged our dishOnOred
banner. You have come back with
honor who departed once, four years
ago, leaving the air sultry with lanati
Cism. The surging crowds that rolled
up their frenZied shouts as the flag came |
down are dead, or scattered, or silent, |
and their habitatiOns are desOlate. Rain |
sits in the cradle Of treason. Rebellion |
roc ,,asi@A.~,ti, 0uV unere mats the -auiu
flag that was insulted. Great and pro-
lOpged applause.) With starry eyes it |
looks all over this bay for that banner
that supplanted it, and sees it not. Gap
plause.) You that then for the day were
humbled are here to triumph once and
forever (Appause.) In the storm of
that assault this glorious ensign was
often struck, but memorable fact,) not
one Of its stars was torn out by shot or
shell. (Appause.) 1t was a prophecy.
1t said; "NOt one State shall be struck
from this nation by treason" ZAP
plause.) The fulfllment is at hand. |
Lifted to the air to-day itproclaims, af-
ter four years Of war, not State is |
blotted out. (Applause.l Hail to the |
flag nf orr fathers and our flag. Glory |
to the banner that has been through |
four years, black with tempests Of war,
to pilot the nation back to peace with |
out dismemberment and glory to God, |
who, above all hosts and banners, hath |
ordained victory and shall ordain peace
(Applause.) Wherefore have We come |
here, pilgrims from different places
Are we come to exult that Northern
hands are stronger than Southern ? No |
but to rejoice that the hands of th.,,-e
who defend Just and beneiccot gov
eminent are mightier thau the hands
that assaulted it. (Applause.) Do we
eXuIt over fallen cities We eXult that
a nation has not fallen. (Applause.)
We sorrow with the sOrrowlul we sym
pathize with the desolate we look on
this shattered fort and yonder on that
dilapldated city with sad eyes-grieved
that men should have committed such
treason and glad that God hath set
such mark upon treason that all ages
snail dread and abhor it. applause
We eXuIt not for passion granfed. but
for sentiment Victorious not for tenn
per but for conscience not Gas we de-
youtly believe) that our will is done
but that Gods will hath been done. We
should be unworthy OF the liberty en-
| trusted to our care it, on such a day as
this, we sullied our hearts with feelings
OF aimless vengeance, and equally un-
worthy If We did not dcvOutlv thank
Him who hath said Vengeance is
mine, will repay, saith the Lord :" that
lie hath set a mark upon arrogant re-
bellion ineftaCabe while time lasts.
Since this flag went down on that dark
day, who shall tell the mighty woes that
have made this land spectacle to an
| gels and men The soil has drank
I n tor,