Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-08-16
Speech Of Hon. Hester CIymer,

SpCCSil vi t!yit' ''iCStCi CiJtiS'E
To tie Soldiers Of tie Union AssensJled at
H0rTjsbagy, August lst.
To you. General, and to you, soldiers,
representatives of the grand army Of the
republic, it is my privilege to address
few, brief words.
For years it has been my habit to ap
pear before my fe!Iow-citizens, and by an
interchange Of opinions to learn samewhat
of duty, and / have been grateful to them
for the kind consideration awarded me,
even when my convictions upon questions
of public interest have differed widely
from their own. | have always felt my
self to be their debtor. yet never before
have been so oppressed by a sense of
gratitude to them as at this moment.
No man may live during period Of
great public excitement, iearlessly and
honestly expressing his opinions and dis
charging what he believes to be his duty,
and hope to escape caiumny ard misrep-
resentation. | am not an exception to
this general rule: | should, indeed, al
most question nv own sincerity. and would
surely mourn my want Of ardent and man
/ " advocacy, were I to be so. Ny graf
itaae Is, therefore, deep and heartfelt that,
in this capital Of our State, srich members
/ OF the survivors of that army of heroes
and patriots who sprang to arms and sa-
+ we'd the republic from untimeiy destruc-
ton. should attest by their presence, and
by their words of welcome assurances o.
support, that they have not misunder-
/ stood. and that they indorse and approve
my position in tine past. From highest
officer to humhlest private, they are here
+ from every county, from each city, and
from all the towns ard villages of our
grand Commonwealth, you are gathered
in vast numbers-not. indeed. as mere
man an-worshippers, but TO attest your liv
/ ing and unyieidiu@ devotion TO the great
undertaking principle Of our government
;pdestructibie anay-which, you believe,
/ finds It's expression in the prineiPIes OF
! him whose high privilege it is to address
vou You are here further to attest, in
spite of the threats Of venai partisans, lhat
in Your opinion ne has been faithful to
his duty as a citizen and as = legislator.
. You are gathered also to assert your fix
ed and umalterable determination 10 save
/ your tOu'il y py l''' b'''I''' - w ~ -
bullet. TO proclaim that You VIII rght
treason and rebellion as uncomPromlS'n"i y
IN the North as you dld IN the Nonih' ana
that you viii not cease your patroiIc IA
hors until you see every section Of YOUR
country fully restored to the blessings of
that Union, the nnimPerlitad safety o.
. which you went forth to defend ana pro-
tcct.
These, my fellow citizens, for snch 1t
Is now my right and pleasure TO call you,
having exchanged the pursuits oi arms
for the peaceful aH6ca;ions OF lite. are
some Of the high purposes which have
brought you hithor.
BY prccept and example you have TINS
day discharged a sacred duty. From you,
above all others. our whole people are to
learn what were the true issues involved
in the bloody contest which your yaiOr
aided in bringing 20 a successful close.
You went forth under solemn con
tract which YOU scaled with your blood,
and in the execution Of which tens of
thousands of your brave comrads yielded
MP their lives.
Did you 90 to destroy the Union to
spbvert the Constitution Was it in the
bond that the buiet-riddlcd AMI smoke
begrimmed flag which you had borne on
so many fields Of danger and Of death,
should have eleven stars stricken from It's
azure, or If still there. 70 be the emb|ems
OF conquered and DEGRADED provinces, in