Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-01-05
NUMBER 50.
The Wealth or the Nation.

Rev. NJ. c. Briggs, one of the first orators on
the Pacific coast, lately delivered an address be-
fore the Veteran Corps, at San Francisco on
{. The Wealth of the Nation" From it we ex-
tract the following thrilling paragraphs:
"WelI, what of it all What if our silver
and gold is reckoned by tons and the annual
products of invention and the soil by billions?- =
Do these enrich nation? Mexico has noun
taius of treasure. Brazil has measureless fertil-
ity and breadth of SOIL They are poor. Can
nation fatten like oysters and grow great by mere
metallic glitter? Then Peru, under the 4ncas,
had glory unsurpassed in time. No. Swine
on their plains grow fat on cabbage and car
rots, barley and corn but nations must grow
rich in elements of more instrinsic value-rch
in the saintless virtue of their daughters, the
developed manhood of their sons; rich in hdel-
ity and courage, in simplicity and heroism in
high average of intelligence and fearless pref
erence of duty to temporal advantage in free
schools and free consciences, free banners and
free Bibles in the poise and power and self-for-
getting glory of free men. 1t is well If they
also have large possessions of sacred memories
and relics of past patriotic struggles and VIC
tories trials like furnace and triumphs like
resurrection. An honorable history, like an
honorable parentage, is an heirloom to the child
rem of the Republic No land which holds the
dust of Washington or stands uncovered be-
| side the grave of Lincoln, can sink to utter
debasement. Nor can we become craven ma
ton SO long as an Ellsworth Lyon, Wads-
worth and Baker are unforgotten.
| Every battered sabre or rusty carbne every
wel-worn regulation cap or stained suit OF regi-
mentas every bullet cut from the quivering
flesh or picked from the bloody mire of the field
every honorable torn batte-fag every
manned survivor and every likeness and souvenir
of the death every grave where a hero lies
buried, and every field and wilderness where
Death reaped his harvest and Liberty baptized
herself with the life current of fearless and faith
full hearts, is destined to be dearer possession
to us, and richer patrimony to our children
than a thousand veins of fine silver. Cast up
| the long column, read the shining catalogue to
the end, catch the inspiration of our history, re-
call the deeds of fathers, the devotion of our
mothers, the dauntless bearing of our brothers,
and tell me what sun shines fairer women,
braver men and nobler deeds Unfearing-un-
hating-unyielding- be blazened on our
banners.
No remoteness of distance nor Inconvenience
of transportation could prevent our young State
from taking some part in inaugurating the new
history of free Government. Some OF our fell
low citizens sleep where they fell some survive
to bring back glory and scars from every hard
fought field. Others, who went not ont from US,
are happily coming to dwell with US, to bless
our youth with the exhibition of that exalted
heroism which goes patiently with laureled
brow, from tne nelu 10 neluS Vi peaCeIui iuuus-
try. One Collector Miller,] who saw ghastly
death in mama fierce struggle, carries the COM
pement of enemy's leaden bullet in his head
daily thanking God, l venture to surmise that
it is not copper that he carries there. Another,
General lagrange under whose orders the arch'
traitor compelled to shuttle off the mortal ,,
but most unmartial coil of con6scated crinoline,
teaches a quiet school in country village. The
brave boys in blue unobtrusiyelyj thread their
several ways. All honor to the dead Uprear
to them sculptured column. 1T shall be to US
a shrine and to our children an eyangel.
Sprung from such lineage, nurtured in such
times, surrounded with such mementoes, inspired
by such history, rich with such vast and varied
resources, abhorrng the hideous front Of treason,
loving the yestal charms of liberty, regarding
every traitor and soulless demagogue our pov-
erty and shame, and the true of heart as our
riches and strength, it cannot be that we shall
betray trust so solemn nor defeat benifcence
so divine BE it ours to defend the shrine Of
Just and>enlig ghtened freedom. Nor shall foreign
or traitor foes, be they armed with bayonets or
ballots. wrest from us the sacred rights of man
hood, (the dearest of which is the universal en-
franchisement of man,) nor insult oGr flag, nor
dshonor our heroic dead, till
| Every sod beneath feet
Becomes u soldiers sepulchre."