Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-07-14
The Fourth at Gettysbufgh.

Notable among the notable celebrations Of
the last Fourth, was that at Gcttysburgh.
The hill from which two years ago, that day,
the batteries, hardly cooled from the hot
fighting OF the day before, still frowned, and
whose slopes were dotted thIcklY with black
eninc corpses, was covered with en immense
concourse Of people. An imposing process
sion Of military. civic societies and citizens
marched to the Cemetery Hill. A number
Of the Generals who fought in the battle,
were present. including Gems Meade. How
ard. Sykes. Mott, Doubleday, Crawford,
Gcary and Robson. DR.. Tying Of New York
orened the exercises with short discourse
and PRAYER, and a letter was read from Pres
ident johnson, the principal portion of which
is as follows
OF all the anniversaries Of the Declaration Of
Independeuce, none has been more important and
significant than that upon which you assemble.
Four wears Of struggle for cur nation s life. has
been crowned with success; armed treason is
swept from the land; our ports are reopened;-
our relations with other nations are Of the most
satisfactory character; cur internal commerce IL
free: cur soldiers and sailors resume the peace
ful pursuits ufciyi life; our iiag floats IN every
breeze, and the only barrier 10 cur national pro
s-ress-human slayery-is forever at an end. Let
Us trust that each recurring Fourth Of July
shall find our nation stronger IN numbers strong
or in wealth, stronger in the harmony Of the
citizen. stronger in its devotion TO nationality
and freedom.
AsI have often said, | believe that God sent
,hi, peoplc on a mission among the nations Of
+ the earth, and that when he fourded our nation,
he founded it ia perpetuity. That faith sustain
ed ne through the struggle that Is pa>t-lt sus-
tairs me now that new duties are deyolved upon
me. and new dangers threaten US. | feel that
/ whatever the means he uses, the Almighty is
determined 10 preserve us as a people And
/ since | have seen the love our tellow-clilzens
/ bear their c. untry, and the sacrifices they have
made for it, my abiding faith has become strong
/ er than ever that a government Of the people is
the strongest as well as the best OF govern
/ ments.
In vour ioy tomorrow. | trust you will not
foroei the thousands Of whites as well as blacks
whom the war has emancipated, who Will hail
4 his Fourth of July with delight which no pre-
viops anniversary of the Declaration Of lnde-
nendepce ever gave them. Controlled so long
nv ambitious. selfish leaders, who used them for
/ their own unworthy ends, they are now free to
serve and cherish the government against whose
life they in their blindness struck. am great
IL mistaken if IN the States lately in rebellion,
we do not henceforward have an exhibition oil
such loyalty and patriotism as was never seen
or felt there before.
When YOU have consecrated a national ceme-
tery YOU are to lay the corner stone of national
monument, which in all human probability Will
rise 20 the full height and proportion OF your
/ design. Noble as this monument OF stone may
I be. II will be but faint symbol OF the grand
monument which, if we do our duty, we shall
ra;sc among the nations of the earth upon the
foundations laid nine and eighty years ago, in
philadelphia. Time shall wear away and crum-
! HE This monument, but that, based ss it is, up
/ an the consent, virtue, patriotism and intelll-
rence Of the people, each yeac shall make hrm-
er and more imposing.
Your friend and fellow-citiIen,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
The corner stone of the So ldiers' monu
mint, at the National Cemetery, was ther
land with masonic ceremonies, and MaJol
Zen q o. Howard delivered the Grafton
in winch hc recounted the scenes OF tbs
hattie. in which he had so prominent anc
important part, and described the charac
fer work and reward OF -'the, American Sol
der" A fine Poem by Col Charlie. y
fslpiDe, followed. a speech was also mad'
hv Gen. Doubleday, who fought the flrs
corp- after the death of the gallant Reynolds
through the first days bloody fight, and Il
whose division the second Vermont Brigad'
was attached.
We copy IN this connection, IN anothe
column. Gen Doubleday's official report
tie hattie. copy of which was FURNISHED
TO Gen Washburn for publication IN IN
last Report, and which will he Of interest t.
every VerDonter who mas not seen II.
The SSTENcE OF THE CoSsPIRAToRs-Ih
main result Of The military trial at Washing
ton. will surprise no one. Tina
Payne, Harol1 and Atzerott were guilt
and must be sentenced to death, war plain