The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-07-09
AR,rr or TIE roromAc.

Reunions are pleasant, If those reunited
have JOY and victory with them; but they
cannot be agreeable with both Of these
absent. For, celebrating defeat is like
warm pop beer, or champaign dinner,
without any champaign; and will never
agree with the human stomach. And
therefore we do not see the rebs cclebra-
ting their defeats and final smash-up by
any such reunions Us we read took place
in New York ON Monday, when the Army
of the Potomac held their first reunion.
General Mcclellan presided with grace
and certainty, and there were present the
victorious Meade, little pct Sheridan, the
brave but unfortunate Sloc,m, the martial
and car-attuned Chamberlain, the mag
unanimous Burnside, the doubling and
doubtful Franklin, and score of other
prominent men whose names are gr,ndly
written and engraved in the perpetual
memories of grateful people and the
public archives of the nation. IL must
have been an cvcntfll day to those who
could appreciate by experience its event
full memories, and no wonder that our
worthy Governor who delivered the ORA
ton. cried ont in the commencement OF his
address, Emotions struggling up through
the dark and bloody years, choke down
my utterancc. No! Rather do you speak
to me; You, who return my greeting, and
you, unseen and silent to mortal scenes,
comrades in soul tonight! and drown my
G,ltcring words in your vast accorls."
To those who have heard our silver
tongucd Governor we need not say that it
was good. II il reminded us Of the palmy
,lays when we in thunder tones ''le-
claimed" Eye call me Chief. Ye do well
to call him Chief who for twelve long
years" &C., il does no injustice to the old
warrior Spartacus, but, in point of fact.
heirs him little. If our worthy Cover
nor has not lost the vivacity and fire of
his second year in college, the fact is TO be-
placed to ms scholastic mauliness, and is
h,lrbinger Of n green old age.
But his address was beautiful and full of
ripe and robust ideas. He vindicatcS In
clear, concise and convincing language the
Army Of the Potomac from some of the
misconceptions which still rest against its
fame. He intimates that the time has not
vet come for full discussion of these err
rors, but the chief feature in the fame OF
that Army he dwolls upon, and touches
the chord of its memories with masters
hand.
He speaks upon two points which will
be specially regarded rs significant. We
Judge that he was and is an admirer OF
Gen. Mcclellan; for he pointedly says,
"Who does not remember the phrenzy oi
Observation-Disclosures to think of now
with which at the early discussion of a
move, the dcnizenS of the capital llew to
rcmonstrances and prayers, lest thereby
we should cease to cover Washington, and
the ruthless rebels would run riot among
their precious things and make whistles OF
their bones! And the only way to cover
it seemed in the eyes of those str'tegisis
for us to he drawn up in front of il, and ut
all hazards kept well in sight between it
and the enemy. Everybody knows that ut
the very climax Of u critical campaign
whole corps. whose cooperation was relied
upon for success, were suddenly and with
out the previous knowledge of the COM
handing General. withdrawn. Ia dispcl
some phantom that threatened Washing
ton through the gaps Of the Blue Ridge;
and nothing was lcn for us, when our adj
vaneinS guns had already sounded the
! knell OF Richmond. but change of base
winch although series of well fought hat
Ties, became by-word and rcproach."
Uponthe other subiect,whic he so dcf,ly
handles. we suppose that he symra.hi,cs