American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-01-23
down their lives in their devotion to the
nation" for God and Liberty"

pennsylvania Doic an honorable anu con.
spicuous part. She contributed three
tuna.ed and sixty.six thouoaad three
hukdred and twenty.six volunteer sol-
aiers to the rescue of the nation and
nearly every battle field has beel moist
ened with the blood, and whitcncd with
the bones, of her heroes To them VIC
owe our victories, unsurpassed in brill
fancy and in the importance of their con-
sequences To the dead-the thrice
honored dcad-we are deeply indebted !,
for without their service it is possible our
cause might not have been successful.
1t is natural aud eminently proper that
we, as people, should feel deep and
lasting interest in the present aud future
welfare of the soldiers who have borne so
distinguished part in the great contest
which has resulted in the maintenance tf
the life, honor and prosperity of the ma.
ton. The high claims Of the private
soldiers upon the country are universally
acknowledged and the generous senti,
men. prevails that the amplest care should
be taken by the government to compcn>
sato them, equally and generously, with
bounties and pensions, for their services
and sacrifices.
desire that it may be distinctly un-
derstood that l do not speak of myself, in
connection with this subject but am
happy to avail myself of this opportunity
to speak kind words of Pennsylvania's
gallant private soldiers, and the noble
officers who commanded them.
The generosity of the people Of Penn.
sylvania to the Union soldiers has been
initiated, but not equallad, by other
States. There is something peculiar in
the loyalty of Pennsylvania. She seem
ed to feel, from the first, as if upon her
devolved the setting of superior exam
pie. The fact that she carrie upol her
standard the brightest jewel of the Re-
public, tina. in her bosom was conceived
and from her commercial capita! was is
sued the Declaration OF Independence,
gave to her contributions, in men and
money, aud her unparalleled charitable
organizations, all the dignity and force
OF model for others to copy. The rebel
foo seemed to .eel that if he could strike
a fatal blow at Pennsylvania, he would
rec var all his losses, and establish a re
sistless pre- tige in the oil world. But
thanks to Divine Providence, and to the
enduring bravery OF our citizen soldiers,
the invasion of our beloved State sealed
her more closely to the cause offreedom.
The result of the battle of Gettysburg
broke the power Of the rebellion. aud al.
though The iual issue was delayed, it was
inevitable from the date of that great
event. That battle rescued all the other
free States and when the arc', of vic>
tory was completed by Sherman's sue
cessful advance from the sea, so that the
two conquerors could shake hands over
the two fields that closed the war, the
soldiers OF Pennsylvania were equal shar
ers in the glorious consummation.
No people in the worlds history have
ever been saved from so incalcuable a
calamity, and no people have ever had
such cause for gratitude towards their dc,
tenders.
And here cannot refrain from an ex
preston Of regret that the General Gov
ernment has not taken any steps to in
flct the proper penalties Of the Consti;u>
ton and Laws upon the leaders of those
who rudcly and ferociously invaded the
ever sacred soil Oi our State
1t is certainly morbid clemency, and
a ceusurablc forbearance, which fail to
punish the greatest crimes "known to the
laws of civilized nations !" and may not
he hope be reasonably indnlged, that the
Federal authorities will cease to extend
unmerited mercy to those who inaug4ra-
{ d the rebellion and controlled the move
ment of its armies? If this be done,
treason wM be rendered odious," and it
will be distinctly proclaimed, on the pa
ges of our future history, that no at
tempt can be made with impunity to
destroy our Reput lican form Of govern
ment.
SOLDIERS ORPHANS.
And while we would remember "the
soldier who has borne the BATTLE" we
must not forget "his widow and his or.
phan children" Among our most SOL
emu obligations is the maintenance of the
INDECENT widows, and the support and ed
ucation of the orphan children, of those
noble men who fell in defence of the
Union 70 affirm that we owe debt Of
gratitude to those who have been render
ed homeless and fatherless, by their bsr>
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