Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-07-09
OF
THE GREAT BATTLE.

4 long procession, which formed in tho
city OF Gettysburg, aud proceeded gu,
TO the National Cemetery, where . mos,
impressive prayer to the THRONE of
Grace was made by Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher an address by Major General
Meade vocal aud instrumental music ;
a poem by Bayard Tiylor; aud a most
eloquent grafton by Ex-Governor Nor.
ton. The GRAFTON, rs we find ii report
ed in the Philadelphia Ereniag Buitetn,
is one of the finest efforts we have ever
read, and we only regret tina, We cNn-
not transfer it entire TO our columns.
We, however, cannot help making room
for the following extract:
We have met here to-day to dedicate this
monument to the memory OF the patriotic
and gallant men who fell upon this field, and
to testify our love for the great cause in
which they persisted. Their achievements
will be recorded upon the pages OF history,
much more enduring than stone, but we
desire to present this visible evidence Of our
remembrance and gratitude. We are sur
rounded to-day by many Of the surviving
heroes Of the battle f; BY many OF the rela-
tives and friends Of those beloved dead. and
BY many thousands Of our people who
rejoice in the preservation, peace and pros
perity Of our country. That We have a
united country, that we have national gov
eminent, that we have peace in all our
borders, that there Is liberty and protection
for all, that wo have bright and glorious
prospects Of individual happiness, and ma
tional growth and power, we owe to the
brave men who fell upon this and other
fields. The glorious circumstances and
bright auspices over and around us to-day
were purchased by their blood. We are in
the full enjoyment Of the prize for which it
was shed. Let us increase the gratitude OF
our hearts by considering for a moment
had triumphed. We would have no solemn
but sweet occasions like this. We would
have NJ common country, no common name,
no national flag, no glorious prospects for
the future.
Had the bond Of union been broken, the
various parts would have crumbled to pieces.
We should have a slavehoiding confederacy
in the South, a republic on the Pacific,
another in the Northwest, and another in
the East. With the example Of one sue
cessful secession, dismem6erment OF the
balance would have speedily followed, and
our country, oncc the hope Of the world, the
pride Of our hearts, broken into hostile frag-
ments, would have been blotted from the
map, and become q byword among the
nations. Let US thank Almighty God to-day
that We have escaped this horrible fate. We
feel as one who awakes from u terrible
dream, and ~rejoices that he is alive. We
feel as did the Children Of Israel, when,
standing upon the shores Of the Red Sea,
they looked back upon the destruction from
which they had been delivered.
Mr.. Lincoln, standing in this place a few
months after the battle, and while yet the
conflict was raging, dedicated himself to his
country and to the cause Of liberty and
union. The demon Of Rebellion afterwards
exactcd his life, but the inspiration Of the
words he spoke is resting upon US to-day,
| The great prophecy he uttered whenhe said
"the nation shall under God have a new
birth of freedom" and that "thc government,
Of the people, by the people, and for the
people, shall not perish from the earth" is
| being fulfilled. He sealed his devotion with
his blood, and sacred be his memory. The
eloquent Everett, who spoke here on the
same occasion, and who has since passed
from earth, said: "God blcss the Union
it is dearer to us from the blood Of brave
men which has been shed in its Defense
As I stood by them and listened to theil
inspired words, my faith was renewed in the
triumph Of liberty; but imagination failed
to stretch forward to this suspicious day
The march Of events has been faster than
our thoughts, and the fruits Of victory have
already exceeded our most sanguine expec'
tations.
While we pay this tribute oflove and graft.
tude to the dead, let us not forget the sur
wing heroes Of the battle. They, too, OF.
fered their lives, but the sacrifice was notrs.
Quired. The admiration, love, and gratitude
down the d~ecliyity Of time to honored graves
In the evening OF their lives they will tell
the story Of Gettysburg to wondering youth,
who win listen as we did when our grand.
fathers told Of Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and
| Yorktown. Many Of them are here to-day
to review the scene Of their struggle and tri.
umph. How powerful the contrast between
now and then! The dark cloud which over.
spread the horizon of the nation is gone, and
all is brightness. The %sulphurous cloud oil
battle, too, is. gone, and there is nothing to
| obscure our vision OF the field. The dead
have returned to dust. The fields once cum
bcred with bodies and slippery with blood,
are clothed with rerdure and harvest, and to.
day all is peace, beauty and rcpose.
We seek not to commemorate a triumph over
our misguided c~ountrymen. It is the cause
we celebrate. Our triumph is theirs, and
their children's children, unto the latcst gen.
Grafton. The great Disturbing element has
been removed. Vicious political heresies
have been extirpated. The trial BY wager Of
battle has been decided in favor Of liberty
and union, and all will submit. The people
OF the North and South have met each other
face to face on many u field, have tried each
others courage. have found they are much
alike in many things, have increased their
mutual respect, and are now preparing TO live
together more fraternally than before.
The Southern States are rapidly recover
ing from the prostration OF the war, and
with their delivcrance from the incubus Of
Slavery, with free labor, with free schools,
with emigration from the North and from
Europe, will soon attain a prosperity and
power Of which they scarcely dreamed in for.
mer days. The advancing prosperity Is solid,
just and enduring. We rejoice in it, and
shall participate in it. The bonds Of Union
are made indissoluble by the community OF
political principles, by the complete identity
Of domestic and commercial interests, and by
| n uniform system Of labor, Of education, and
OF habits Of thought and action. Heneeforth
! dismion is Impossible.