The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-10-21

he orphans of deceased soldiers But am
.shamed to say that the State of Ohio, up to
his time, has not done it, and believe with
illinois in that respect, if there is any debt or
obligation that the nation is bound 90 DIS
charge above all others, it is the debt which 1t
owes to the orphan children Of those who LAID
down their lives in defence of their country.
But Ohio is now coming up to the work. We
expect in the course of few months to make
provision for the destitute soldiers orphan in
thst State. It ought to have been done long
ago. But we have met with difficulties and
opposition from certain quarters which l will
not mention now, which mas prevented it. l
believe Illinois, Wisconsin Iowa and other
States have done better. They cannot do too
much. 1t is impossible for them to do too
much. They may repudiate bonds, OF any
thing else, but their obligations to the SOL
diers and their families they must not repudi-
ate. 1t IS true that private soldiers are so nu-
merous In a great war that it is impossible for
a nation to do all that they ought to do for
them. But they should show disposition to
do all that can be done. That is all that can
be expected; but that they fail to do that we
have right to complain. believe that sol
diers of the late war everywhere are doing
their share for the soldiers orphans. l hard
" know of an instance in our Legislative
Halls, OF in Congress, where any officer who
has served with the soldier and seen what he
suffered, and how he stood by the flag of the
nation in battle, but has supported every
measure brought forward for the benefit Of
the soldiers orphan. We have, however, this
consolation, that, although the war cost great
sacrifices of life and money, yet we have pre-
served this great nation, we have preserved
the unity of these States; we have preserved
the nation in the hands of the people. 1t was
not war like that now going on in Europe
to put down or sustain some dynasty-but to
determine whether this should be one great
united people governed by one common Gov
ernment, placed in power by the people
themselves, and not whether some distinguish
ed General or family should be President or
Emperor or King of the country. The ques-
ton was whether the people themselves should
govern. What would have been our condi-
ton at this time if we had failed? We would
have been In the situation of France and Ger
many, fighting and quarreling with each 9TH
er not for the rights OF the people, but for
some special interest, perhaps slavery and
Shareholders or something else. Itwould have
been impossible to unite the country. You
cannot sustain upon this continent separate
natlonalities without endangering the peace
of the country. But we have settled that for
ever. I have no idea we shall have another
war; we have nothing to fight about. Every
man is free to seek his own happiness in his
own way, and as the saying is, ''the devil take
the hindmost." Even the negro has been
placed in position where he can have a fair
chance with the white man and nothing more.
This is the best government in the world, be-
cause it is a government of the people. And
that is Just what you and fellow-soldiers Of
the Hath regiment and others have accom-
plished in the great war that has just closed.
l say again, too much cannot be done for the
soldiers orphans and families. We must re-
member them everywhere. Wherever we
find q soldiers widow or orphan in need of
anything, let US remember them. We know
how bravely the father died upon the battle
field. We know how he languished upon the
sick cot in his tent, and died far away from
friends. We can appreciate it. LIE us ex-
tend the hand of friendship to their families
wherever we find them. Now, soldiers of the
Hath, 1 say to you again, shall fail to find
language to express to you how highly I ap-
preciate this kind greeting you have accorded
me. can only give you my hand, and my
heartfelt thanks now and forever. [Applause. ]
After three hearty cheers from welcoming
voices, DR.. Mallory next invited forward
"our own citizen-soldier and soldier-citizen,
Major General and Governor Palmer" who
spoke as follows:
SPEECH OF GOV. PALMER
Ladies, Gentlemen and Soldiers Of the 1I4M
Regiment:
You were singularly fortunate in securing
the attendance of your late commander, Gen.
Buckland, to-day. While you welcome him
as your former commander, feel that have
the right, as Governor of the States, to vel
come him IN the name and on behalf of the
CkoA I AHoA 10 o,1
other Generals and officers of other States,
when they come within my jurisdiction they
are Little more popular than myself. There
fore feel bound to be extremely polite to them.
But it affords me the highest satisfaction to-
day to remember that during the war, while
we were engaged in the struggle for the unity
Of all the States we forgot sections, locality
and place, and whatever may have been our
feelings outside, as the war progressed we
looked but to the uniform, and loved the men
every where clothed in the blue. One of the
best effects Of the war was to nationalize us
in feeling. repeat, you were singularly for
5Unate in securing, at this your first reunion,
the presence Of the officer that preceive COM
your regard so completely and 50
perfectly.
The Governor entertained the audience for
with amusing anicdates and happy
hits, and closed as follows:
Gen. Buckland is with you to-day, not for
the purpose of marshalling you for battle.
You are here to-day not clothed in blue. God
bless the blue My ideas of nobility are asso-
,iated with that uniform 1t may be a little
ioiled by service, but you have but to look in
% the faces of its wearers and you will joy
Ind rejoice together.
And noWI am done speaking You are
here to be merry And suppose that your
'eunion will occur year after year And as
7ou go on, although your numbers will become
ess and les, your hearts 1 trust, will grow
brighter and brighter, and warmer and warm
II, and as your locks Written with the advance
II life, you will take each other by the hand
With more cordiality and more earnestness,
md you will bring with you YOUR children
md wives, and we will here fight your battles
)ver again And know you will teach your
children this lesson, that the union and hber-
y of this country are above all price You
Will teach them to do as you have done If |
domestic insurrection, which 1 anticipate we
will not be troubled with again, if foreign |
oe shall threaten the Independence or invade |
he Liberties of the American Republic in your
ime, you will don the blue again, and Won |
will teach your children to do so And YOU |
Will hve-I believe that in your time and /
nine it will be-we shall live to eniov these |
blessings that have been purchased with snch
sacrifice And while l am Governor of IlH-
lois, 1 want it understood that these reunions
hall be kept up. and you will give me the
rivilege, like Gen Buckland, of being present
t these festivities And Gen Buckland must |
lot come alone again from Ohio.
There are IN that State some of the bravest |
nd noblest men this country has produced |
commanded regiment after regiment from |
)ho. should be glad if they were here to-
ay, that they might mingle with you and YOU |
With them. 1 desire that these reunions shall /
,e made not of regiments alone, but that we |
hall have reunions of divisions and armies.
hat the soldiers shall get together and shake |
Gnds. So Gen. Buckland must come again.
trust good soldier like him knows who he /
ught to bring with him. He is not playing |
air at all, to-day. He is here to-day without |
be wife. 1t occurs to me that good soldier
Ike him would have thought enough about
i'm to play fair, at least would have brought
long the wife and children. By the Eay,
S Artemus Ward said, he must ''bring along
is wife's people" and all the people; bring
lem here, and let us have good time. In
I am obliged to you for this oppor-
unity Of seeing so many of you And now,
we have the opportunity, let US "make mer-
: and be glad" Great applause.)
At the close of his speech three cheers were
ven for Major General Palmer.
LETTERS.
Lon H. Church, Secretary of the Commit
e on Invitation, then read letters of reply
ON General John A. Logan, Senator Yates
i'd others.
DINNER.
This exercise concluded, the assembly were
spersed to a bountiful provision that fore
llled the necessity for miracle, and which
e appetizing air and the glad cheer with
lich, by fair hands and smiling charms it
IS spread made peculiarly enjoyable. After
lich, and following some gymnastic and
restirn nYercises h,- the frnIiksnrne rad fan !