Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-07-21
Claims Of our Soldiers.

| We would particularly call the attention
of our readers to the following excellent
and timely remarks OF Hon. d. X. Hitch
cock, made at the reception of returned
soldiers at Newton Mass.
Let us one and all. be as eager to repay
our brave defenders with gratitude and
honors as we were TO urge them to leave
their homes for the field OF deadly CON
fict:
At the close of one of the most re-
markable and wicked wars that ever took
place. it is refreshing to assemble and well
come home our neishbors, brothers and
sons-a noble band Of men-who left
their friends and their fircsides for the
purpose Of sustaining the government.
and of defending not only its flag, but our
own heartbstoncs. History makes no re-
cord of a civil war 50 gigantic and Yet so
malignant. aud history nowhere in modern
warfare records such treatment of prison
crs as ours received at the hands OF our
enemies.
Let us accord all honor to the heroes
who so cheerful, gave their time and of
fcrcd their lives in their countrys defense.
They were our peers, and we, recognizing
their claims upon us, do most heartily and
gratefully bid them " eiconIe Home.
The Romans. in the zenith of their
glory, would celebrate with great pomp
the. successful termination of their wars
The Senate would meet ut the gates OF
her proud capital the triumphant troops,
and march IN solemn procession through
the city. Washington, at the close of the
American Revolution, gratefully and
tcnderly thanked his soldiers for their
yaor and iuestinable services i'll behalf
of their country.
The couilict just ended was not, on enr
part, Tor conquest; il was not brought
about by ambitious monarehs for the pur
pose of destroying each other. The ques-
ton tn be settled was. Is the government
to be maintained Arc We to conquer or
be conquered
wish, Mr. Chairman. to call the atten-
ton Of our people to the claims which
our rcturnd soldiers have upon Us. You
remember in those dark DAYS how we urg-
ed people to enlist, and when they left for
the war how prompt We We're 10 escort
them to the place Of departure, aud how
We enioned upon them TO rcpel the insol
emt foe that dared TO attempt 10 DESTROY
the government. All that was right, and
yet, in striking contrast, could but Oh
serve the manner in which we, in some
instances, have treated them on their re
turn.
For example, the noble sd regiment,
composed of veterans, representing the
remnants of seven regiments, and number
m= 800 nuskets, after years of incessant
and brilliant service, hearing proudly their
flag, torn and shattered by the enemy ;
shot and shell. under the command OF one
of our townsmen-Nhoh has been in some
forty pitched battles and Nho had lartahcn
OF Southern hospitality i'll the prison at
RIchnoad-came home. and when they
arrived ON Boston Common there We're
hardly n dozen TO greet them. The
authorities never gave them public re-
ceptlon.
Now contend that we cannot over esti-
mate our obligations to those who have
barred their breasts to preserve our homes.
whilst We, without Inconvenience. and
with all our privileges, have remained I'M
molested. The government should pro-
vide for the destitute widows and orphans
OF those who persisted in the war. 1t
should give those who first enlisted the
same bounty As was paid TO others. Ii
should provide as FAR as possible, places
for competent and disabled men in the
various Offices Of trust and emolument.
lngratitude is terrible crime. Let il
never be said that our dcliverers were
neglected; that the wives and children oil
those who We're disabled and those who