The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-06-10

it strange that it is with difficulty that
we repress the falling tear and choking
sob ?
But the devotion. the patriotism, tho
noble heroism and the sacrifice, was not
all given by those who made this las. and
highest gift of their life's blood for the
noble cause of freedom, and equal rights.
When the struggle between the advocates
Of freedom and the adherents of that ter
rible scourge, human slavery, had become.
year by year more bitter, when slavery
with its aggressive tendencies had made
one incroachment upon another until Mis-
souri, and Texas had been enveloped in
its dark folds, and Kansas had only been
saved $50 as by ire," purified in blood,
and the further wholesale concession was
demanded that all the broad territories
should be surrendered to its grasp, even
against their voluntary choice, when the
judiciary, that theoretic safeguard against
injustice and corruption, had become cor.
ruptly subsidized in the interest of this
institution of hell, when treason was plot
ted and executed within the Cabinet, and
the higher executive and military officers
of the government were either openly
traitors or covert sympathizers and a
bettors, when we stood upon the mine
just about to explode, then there was a
burst of popular indignation all over the
country, grand uprising to save the ma
ton at all hazards from the engulphing
ruin which threatened. 1t was a mani
festation of patriotism, and devotion, and
sublime heroism, which astonished the
civilized world.
God had prepared us for this very cri.
sis. He had prepared the hearts OF men
to take their lives in their hands to 90
forth and endure the hardships and suf
ierings and dangers almost amounting to
certainties of one or the other Of these
three alternatives, mutiation. broken
health, or death upon the field. My COM
radcs will bear me witness that am not
exaggeratng when l say tnat tho man Of
sound mind who went forward cooly to
sign the enlistment papers "ior three
years or during the war;" that man was
consciously signing his own death war
rant. Let no man insult me by ntimat-
ing the possibility Of merceDary motive
for such step as that, involving as it
does SO much of sacrifice, such surren.
der of the pleasures and the ambitions
which enter so largely into the day dreams
Of every human life.
The proverbial recklcssness of the sol.
der in tho expenditure of his money to
dence that it was no mercenary motive
which prompted him. He regarded it as
concomitant TO which he was entitled
and therefore to be received. OF course
there wers many iguoble exceptions
Many did not enlist coolly or soberly.
Some may have been mercenary. But as
rule there must have been higher and
stronger motive than either of these.
There is another class to whom. per.
haps, we should ascribe greater praise
and mention with holier gratitude. 1t
is the tender, loving shrinking wives and
mothers. They had, unquestiouably,
more to give, than any man who gave
himself to the noble cause. From the
statements of the late lamented Governor
Washburn, who was Adjutant General OF
the State of Vermont, during most of the
war, we learn that "nearly if not quite
one third of the soldiers from the state
required the consent of parents to theil
enlistment into the service Of their coun
try. To give that consent must have
involved a conflict as keen, forgetfulnes'
Of self as complete, devotion to country
as perfect as was ever required from th'
soldier in the sterner conflicts Of actua
war" And the wife-some here cal
appreciate what l say-to surrender tn,
arm upon which she leans for support, he
; other self for whom she would readil.
, give her own life, for her to willing
ly permit her husband to suffer tn
exposures and dangers of such terribl
strife, must require heroism like tha
we read Of in the old Roman and SPARTA
' mothers. And when their worst fear
were realized-oh the heart aches, tn
. utter desolation Words cannot paint il
Hearts that have suffered alone ca
comprehend it. All honor to the gentle
sex for their noble contribution to tn
: history we made of sublime heroism an
:. noble self.sacrifce-a history moi
= valuable and honorable than the RECORD
J of thousand victories which have onl
y y the elements Of physical superiority.
. When we contemplate these gre'
y - moral victories, so inspiring to hight
= = aims and purposes, We muy we'll dry OF
u tears and cease to mourn for the love
i ones sacrificed in its attainment. GC
y himself placed the seal Of approval upc
u u our struggle, by marking it the era
'' new light and liberty. 1t was but Il
-. throes Of the nation in bringing to life
> newborn liberty-freedom from d
- - shackles of that terrible curse which '
- had So many years sought in vain
= hurst asunder, the accursed fetters
~ human bondage. And so far as "
he however humble our instrumentalit
- have had part in the noble work OF t
81 81 nations redemption, we may take to OF
g, ~ selves the congratulation Of having ma
~, w u record more noble and enduring tn
bo any edi'"ly iamo VI houoii "ho'n''
~ ~ part was to bear the sword, or to surrent
a. a. loved ones dearer than life, for the mol
49, cause.
Nv Nv Comrades, eight years have now pass
=" since we laid down our arms, when
a.' great work we had before us was acco
~ ~ plished. The right Of secession had be
S Ii, tried by the final arbitramcnt OF
o,I '"p sword, and the decision was for the
'to ~ tegrity of the Union. The right to h
W. ~ human beings in slavery under our la
as nr was settled, adversely and forever Equ
'"s U civil and political rights for all men, W
,vu noa virtually established on the sure basis
'Is 'oi an enlightened public sentiment.
~. a.. assumed the garb and duties of priv
HIS citizens with no distinguishing badges
Al Al. La