Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-12

arms distributed by commissions, be put
into the account, we Offset it by the value
/ of the difference between them, and those
: you left on the field of battle all around
from Bull Run to Appomattox. Besides,
there are two millions and a-half who
!. Were soldiers and not now receiving PEN
slons, who by their various resources to
the nations strength aud prosperity help
ip0y this enormous tax. And all those
who are thus wards of the Government
are continually aud rapidly decreasing.
Widows will relinquish their war
claims for sound men, and orphans will
grow to independent estates, empty
sleeves will soon become empty uniforms,
the crippled pensioner will ere long fiji a
shroud.
Surely the Government is reasonable
as well as generous in its giving, but Y0u
0aoe tie Government no apology.
Vastly less has been done for the
soldier by way of political preferment.
i They do not ask that all be made gov
errors and members of Congress, only for
fair recognition in public affairs. The
crippled soldier should have most of the
places in the State subject to executive
appointment. They do not scorn the
little you have granted here and there for
the sake of duty and policy. Bat it seems
too little. Col. T. W. Higginson declares
"that more men are employed in public
office, who were rebels at heart during
the war. than there are men who wore
| the United States uniform and that there
are men drawing salaries for service in
our custom houses, who openly reioiced
at rebel victories" Why this preference !?
There is reasons perhaps why you should
not bring forward all those who are other
wise worthy for those places with the
same celebrity that you sent them to
the front in time of the nations peril,
but there is no reason why there should be
combinations against deserving men of
this class, as has been done in many no.
table instances.
When Gen. Thomas was sent with his
own 9Th regiment and the 1st Louisiana
colored troops to open railroad commune
cation between Algiers and Lafouche, he
reported to the Adjutant General of Yer
mont, that, "for much of the way, he
could not proceed, only as the men pulled
the grass, which had overgrown the track
in front of the engine"
That is what some of the politicians
have been willing you should do ever
since-pull the grass in front of their
trains.
Comrades, the time ia coming when
your scars will give you rank among the
honorsd of the land, when your patriot
ism, tested on SO many fields of fame,
tried when the best blood of the nation
curdled and the bravest heart recoiled
from the impending crisis, will be re-
cognized by all the tokens of affection
and trust within the gift of proud pos
terity. If now, then, race enriched by
what you abated from the earnings of
careful years, and ennopled by the richer
patrimony of brave deeds, their incor-
ruptible inheritance from ancestors, who
dared to die, not for name or adventure,
but for country, humanity and God,
reared institutions, will not forget your
sacrifices.
Cold tonight are the wsters of the
Potomac and the Mississippi fringed with
ice, the banks of all the streams whose
waters were tinged with the patriots
blood, but colder is the heart that with |
holds from you the just recompense of its
gratitude.
Fierce are the winds that sweep the |
blue ridges of Virginia that overshadow |
so many comrades graves, and that stir
the leaves upon the cloudy shrine in
Tennessee, where men climbing upward |
with the flag reached death nearer !
heaven, but fercer is the breath that |
taints your honor.
This will pass away. God speed the
going.
Let us be merry tonight. No reveille
will disturb the morninR-no battle the
morrow.
We will have neither "mirth at funer-
a." no "dirge in marriage" The phal-
aux of brave spirits here and gone are
1ne
If manly tears must furrow the senses,
md reswakened memories bring the bur
len OF sad thoughts, let US rejoice at last
hat in the graves of our slain is a saver
# life TO the nation, and that there Is
oyalty left to guard the affairs of free
lom to the end.
THE DINNER.
At six o'clock the company sat down to
Inner at the Bardwell House
After the cloth was removed, tie COM
ANY was called to order by the Presi-
ent, Gen. William W. Wells, ami the
exercises were introduced ;
y the singing of the"Vermonter's Song of
777," by Harry Brownson, Quartermaster
t the 18th Vermont Volunteers.
Maj.-Gen. William z w Ripley read
be following letters
ETTER FROM MRS. A. d. BROOKS, WIDOW I
OF MAJ.-GEN. WILLIAM 7. BROOKS.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala, Dec IS, 1870.
Mr.. SALISBURY Your invitation to Gen. :
'rooks hiss caused me much surprise, that
Is friends in Vermont should not have
cen aware of his death, which took place {
a the 18th of July last. | sent a paper r
nth the notice to Montpelier, and sup I
osed it would be copied in the papers of |
hat city. &
Ny hush and spoke often, with pleasure, I
the mag V kind attentions and remem- I
RANGES of his comrades in Vermont, and
'oked forward with happy anticipations ,
} visit amongst you. Please accept my .
ranks for the invitation, and my wishes
II pie ass mt reunion.
MRS. a. ID. BROOKS .
LETTER OF MAJOR GEN. HoRATIO G. h
WRIGHT. I
ARMY BUILDING. y
NEW YORK, Dec. II, 1870. s
Major j. A. Salisbury, Chairman. etc.
1qjOr Il had the honor to receive, on 7
y return to city, your letter of the 9Th u
st., inviting me, on the part of the Elk. Il
ommittee, to the dinner to be given by g
he Vermont officers on the occasion of q
leir annual reunion at the Bardwell O
louise, Rutland, VT, on the 18th Jan. Il
81. Y
l need hardly say that it would afford Il
e sincere pleasure to be able TO accept !,
lie invitation SO courteously rendered, Il
Id to greet in person, the officers of the Il
ermont troops, mary of whom 1 know
as belonging to the famous
ermont Brigade of the 9th Corps, but
Unfortunately 1 have TO go South soon
tier the first of next month, to be absent
robably beyond day of your reunion.
As cannot therefore be with you, may