The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-05


present TO you these banners, which were received
from the State, and which were borne through
the war with honor and credit, and of which we,
as soldiers, are justly proud Receive them,
vaiOr OF the noble sons Of PennsyvaniS. Cherish
them for all time to come and place them in the
,nne UaPo s %nere our vSa tboir C m
have done in the hour of trial, and where they may
stand warning to all future traitors to shun the
fate of those who dare to attempt the life of the
nation. (Appause.l Iwil conclude by praying the
Great Gver of all Good that He will bless this great
country, upon which He has been pleased to send
peace once again, that never again may 1t be neces
sary for the sons of Pennsylvania TO take up arms
against those who should be their brothers, to put
down insurrection and civil and treason, but
that God will ever bless us, that we may be united
day and these coors for the proud associations they
carry with them.
Governor Curtin then stepped forward amid pro.
longed applause, and spoke as follows -
GOVERNOR oURT1N's RESPONSE.
General and Soldiers of Pennsylvania soon
alter the commencement OF the late Rebellion, the
Cincinnati society of Pennsylvania presented to the
Governor OF the state sum of money, which they
asked TO be used in the equi ipment of volunteers,
1he sum was too small to be OF material service in
that respect and the subject having been sened
10 the Legislature, an act was passed directing the
Governor to use the money ana whatever additional
sums were necessary, to procure flags to be carried
wise provision, that the flags should be returned
to the State at the close of their service with proper
inscriptions to be made archives OF the Govern
ment.
The ceremony of the return of these flags was de-
layed until all the regiments in service from Penn
sylvanIa had been mustered out and day, sur
rounded by your fellowcltzens and in the presence
Of high officials of tie National Government, of
Governors and officials Of sister States of distin.
guished soldiers OF other States and OF the army and
navy OIL tie United States and the representatives
of the Government of this Commonwealth more
than two hundred of those emb ems of our countrys
natiOnality-all OF which have waved amid the rap
ture of strie-all OF which have been carried by
PeDnsylvanians II are returned untarnished. In
their azure fields the arms of Pennsylvania have
been embazoned, and her motto, Virtue, Liberty.
and Independence" has been written in letters of
fire with pens steel, by the gallant men before us,
and their comrades, living and dead, upon every
battlefield of the The record is glorious, in
memories of the past and in hopes of The future.
., III consulted my own feelings. l would receive
these flags in silence, for this occasion is Its
eloquent orator. My words cannot add to its SUBJ
bmlty: Human lips cannot express such lessons of
patriotism, OF sacrifice, and heroism as these sacred
relics submely attest. The man is to be pitied who
GAINS to be citizen OF our America, especially of
Pennsylyanla, who has witnessed these ceremonies
exultauon-soTrow for the dead who died lOr liberty
exultaon in recalling the blessings of God the laws
vindicated and enforced by the suppression and pun
lshmeht OF treason, the Government projected and
maintained, until the last armed Rebel was beaten
down, and the redeemed republic emerged from the
smoke OF battle.
1t might be better to accept the momentous lessons
taught by these returned standards without a word
In what adequate language can address you SOL
dieTs of the republic who live to take part in this
CEREMONY We have no words to convey the holy
sentiment OF veneratiOn and OF reverence ior the
heroic dead that wells up from every heart in your
presence.
To the men who carried the steel the musket, and
Il G sabre-to tie private soldier, to the unknown
dead-the demigods of the war; we this day seek in
more distinguished th an others, entitled to our
highest veneration 1t is the private soldier OF the
republic; If we follow hm through all the suffer.
1ngs and pllVat1cns oil the service his long, weary
marches his perils the outposts, his wounds and
sickness, even in the article OF death, trace him
that led him to separate from home and its ties and
to . oST even his ie sacrifice to the Government
AS the official representative of the Common
wealth, / cannot take back the remnants OF the
colors she committed to our keeping, without at
tempting to gather into my the full measure OF
her oyeItowlng gratitude and lay it at your feet.
therefore present you with the thanks of your che
rished mother, thus ancient and goodly Common
EaeRee'R EaeRee 7n 5 for 5 the % great gl2gy y0g
while public virtue remains, she will cease to
realize, that she could better afford to lose the
OF her natural wealth her Ich, fertile valleys her
great cities, her eXhaustless minerals than to lose
from her archleVes single one OF these torn faded,
and OF The brave men who suffered and fought
around them Commonwealth may exist without
cherlshing her material wealth, but Common
wealth can worthily, or should exist which does not
cherish as the joy OF its lie, the heroic Vaor of its
children.
In the name of Pennsylvania gave you these
standards fresh and whole, and asked you in all
trials, TO maintain your loyalty and defend them;
kebel shot, sad with the gloom OF some reverses,
bright with the hight of many triumphs, but,
Redeemed by the blood OF your dead brothers.
borne over the ridges or hundred battles
and planted at last upon the submits OF vic.
tory. surely State never mad nobler chill.
dren, nor received at their hands more
precious gi is. What heroism, exceing
the tables OF romance; leading IoIloIn hopes;
charging into the imminent deadly breach -
"rdng INTO the jaws OF death TIL all the world won
dered" What suterlngs OF pam AID hunger out
rage and death; what ardent love of country; what
purest love OF home; wnat tender messages to
mother wife, childIen, and betrothed maiden what
last prayers 10 Goa do these old and tattered haos
suggest and unfold! "a'
Tins State will ouord thar,
until, IN the 1uness OF time, genius will arise
TO marshal their legends INTO the immortal beautv ot
poetry and then, al last will be found fit expression
lor the part IennsylVanla has acted in the bloody
drama. 1t Will tnen be remembered that our Sfate
was represented at Fort Sumter, when traitors first
hTed upon the flag OF the nat on and that the youn.
eers OF our state hIst reached the National CaptoI
and were at Appomattox Court House Wnere traitors
hIed Their last Voley, and in all the terrible interme
olate strugRes In every rebelliOus State in every
important battle on land and wafer where treason
Mss TO be confronted and Rebellion to be Conquered
the soldiers and sailors of Pennsylvania were 10 he
found confronting the one ana cOnquering the
other-that her people never altered in their deiitv
10 their distressed Governn ent.
II was IN due historic fitness, therefore, that the
wicked struggle TO destroy the Union should culmi
na naoe upon our soil ls iopmost wave be dashed
aRalnst our Capital, and its decisive defeat he snI
tered here; and accordingly IRON Cettysburg the
heDeIl0n staggered backwards to its grave ~
~, AiasI now many other graves it filled before il
nued It's own! How many brave aud familiar faces
we miss to-day, who helped to ar these cOIors to
tfe 1Tont, and on whose graves are GROWING the wild
flowers OF the Southern land! 7 'A0 VIM
Our words can no longer reach thenn nov orr
gIaulude serve them; but we thank Heaven that
lnose tuey loved better than lie are wi n us: that
me WluOW OF the war, and the orphan children of
he sodleTs, are within the reach of our cherishin0
care, we must never forget that every soldier of
pennsylvania, who died that the nation might live
lheieDy enutlea his widow to be Kept tom want
ana ms IalheTless children 10 find father in the
Commonwealth. - NS