Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-10-05
SPEECH
Delivered by Jas. B. BeIford, mt the
Soldiers Dinner. Given at Plymouth,
Ind. Sept. Il, 1865.

DcitNeTcu oy Sdss Ds DcuOIus ut snc
Soldiers Dinner. Given at Plymouth,
Ind. Sept. IA, 1865.
SOLDIERS: II affords me pleasure on so interest
ing an occasion, TO tender to you the profound
thanks and grateful acknowledgements OF the peo-
pie for the distinguished heroism and devotion you
so singularly displayed in the mighty ordeal
through which the Nation has So tiumphantly pass
ed. Ii is eminently appropriate that the fortunate
conclusion OF great war, whose events have so
intensely occupied the public mind, and so deeply
stirred the public heart. that those who shared Is
perls and contributed to its victories, who fought
the good fight, and maintained the faith. should re-
ceve proper and generous recognition OF their
services from those for whose rights they so man
fully combatted. people unmindful OF their de-
tenders, will soon forget their own liberties and
nation that ignores its soldiery. exposes itself to
dangers from without and Sedition from within
Obedent to the instincts of patriotism. apprec
ating liberty more than life, you rallied with un-
surpassed alacrity around the mperiled standard
Of the Republic, and struggled with uniform fo!ti-
tude for the salvation OF a country bequeathed US
by our fathers.
Hun BILE as may have been your rank, your de-
votion was commensurate with the tremendous is
sues involved. Severe were your hardshps,
your zeal knew no abatement-your courage no
faltering-yOur confidence no dimminution. from
the hour when impous hands essayed the traitor
Gus task of reuding in twain Union indissolubly
knit together, and resting upon the broad founda.
tons of common institutions, language and laws.
You went forth to battle, not as the hired assas-
sins OF liberiy--n0t as mercenaries, employed to
forge the e.ters and fasten the yoke of subugaton
upon people whose misery and anguish spurred
them into hostility against government arbitrary
nd unjust proscriptive any tyrannical. You went
forth, not to make wanton war on patriots strug
Cling for rights denied. and immunities withheld
mot butchers, to wreak an unmerited
geance on the innocent and helpless, but the SOL
emn executors of fundamental law, whose estab-
lishmcnt designed by its trainers to secure the
unity Of the country and the perpetuity of its insti
tutions. You went forth to vindicate the derded
authority OF the Nation--tO maintain its assiiled
inte gritty, and carry the banner OF free people
from where rolls the Potomac to where flows the
Rio Grardc.
The battles in which you were engaged are des-
tined to rank among the most remarkable in the
history at the world. for their-wde spread and de-
cisive influence the destinies of mankind -
Other wars have been waged for conquest, or to
avenge insults ruthlessy given; but this one
conducted in be alf of interests too sacred To be
violated, ana too vital to be compromised In its
broadest sense. it was a conflict between civiliza-
ton or one side and barbarism on the other; be-
tween universal rights and caste egiSlation; be-
tween men ready to convert the Nation into
empire for slaves and those ambitious to make it
stripped the coolest calculations OF the wisest
statesmen. 1t was conducted by the South with
vigOr and tenacity ony equaled bv the deadly ha-
tired in whose interest 10 was waced. Within the
limits o. the coniederacy despoiism sat cnthroned,
vigorously enslaved every will and subjected every
power to its own complete and relentless domina-
tion. rciless conscriptious merciessly enforced,
drew into this bloody vortex OF every arm
pable OF holding a musket webbing sword
Every element of wealth was subsidized TO secure
its success; every artfce anu fraud which ingenui
ty could invent cunning forge, was used 10 aid
its diplomacy. With obstinate vaior, with desper-
ate courage. with nn intrepidity only surpassed ny
YOUR own, were its battles fought With santon
waste OF human lie, only exceeded in the conflict
bet neen Roman and Jew. was its cause prose
cuted. States were wrested from i, and it still
survived. Defeats encountered and with
unabated courage it fought on. .SMaterials of war
were consumed and exhausted, and these gone it
used the bayonet and sabre. Driven from the
field, IL turned upOn its purSuers and with itul
desperation, struggled anew for the mastery
Bankrupt of money--barren of resourccs--desii-
tute OF men, il only perished when there moth
/ ing left OF it TO exist Such firm adherence and
persistant devotion in good Cause, would have
rehtered The South inyincbe against anv force
which could have been marshaled against her
Such revolt against any other government, would
have been successful and won immediate recogn-
lion was overtbrown in short period. will ever
remain on OF the marves OF history. and vet fer
mdaDle il was, it could not have lasted so long,
had not external agencies nurtured its strength
and maintained the devotion Of its aJherents. But
as in all other wars. also in this one, bad men
were 'ound in the North. willing to make the ruin
of their country the means of their elev,ton.-
Men who for thirty Years had aided the South in
maintaining an unjust supremacy in the Union. who
taught her TO despse the labOrng poor Of the free
states, and with systematic servility, prepared her
tor the day when failing any longer to rule the
Nation she should raise the banner of revolt, and
assai. the Union whose influence had been felt on
ly in the security it afforded, in the prosperity it
offered, and in the blessings il so ;n6iscrmnately
dfused over all. Men WHO assured the insurgents 3
that when the red cross Of battle would become
visible on Southern hilltop and mountain side, that
the Clarion of rebellion would sound through the
North. and that the troops mirchng to the seat of
conflict, would have their paths illuminrd by the
red glare OF consuming villages and towns. Men
VINO declared that each State sovereign, aad
had an un i.istakable right TO secede. That the
Government could not coerce a State, and compel
obedience to the fundamental laws OF the laDd--
That the South codd never be conquercd--that
history furnished no example Ct eight millions of
people having been eubjugated Men who declar-
ed that the Emancipation Proclamation would
unite the South and divide the North. demoralize
t"C "IHiicS anu pIOtfdCt war. mat Tue eNllst-
ment OF negro troops would infuriate the rebels,
and IrooHg indefinitely the conflict. That the
reelection of Abraham Lincoln would fire the
Southern heart, be displeasing u Jefferson Davis
and company, and make the fight iour years long
er. Tha: greenbacks were more worthless than
Southern scrip. Men who, at evers stage OF the
war. like mOurnful Csssandras were predicting the
Ignoble defeat OF our cause, and that they might
eectually aid rebellion, organized reasonable so.
cietes, designed to demoraize both the army and
the people. Men who incited riots i'm the large
cities-resisted the enforcement Of National laws
shooting down the officers appointed to execute
them; who availed themselves of every occasion
TO fill the people With gloom and despondency, ap-
prehension and dread, and who, at critical period
of the war, when Sherman before Atlanta
Farragut before Mobile, and Grant before Rich.
mond declared that the war was a failure-that
the Nation was unable to suppress the rebellion
-clamored for an immediate cessation of hostili-
ties. "A measure which. If then carried out, could
only have resulted in the destruction OF the Ma
tion, and disgrace ahd dishonor of every soldier
who followed the eagles of the Republic
Such, gentlemen. is but a very brief synopsis oil
the shameful and infamous record OF men whose
proiracted prostitution. debasement and servty
led them to ignore the pIainest demands Of their
country, and connve ut its destruction. Those
who denounced the conflict in which you achieved
so much honor and glory. hellish crusade
against Southern patriots entitled to independence
l--who published you broadcast over the hnd, al
fassassns, hirelings, butchers and ignoble mercen
aries, have share in the joys of occasion like
this. Your victories were their defeats; your tri'