Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-06

in defeat as in victory. Its achieve
ments will never be effaced.
RESPONSE OF COL. r. @. BENTON.
Knowing of the festivities that are
TO follow this entertainment, l know
that ought to be very brief in what L
NAV saw. But feel some like the old
lady who began. her christian
duties late in life, and commenced
her prayer. ''Dear Lord, l don't come
asking favors every day" So with me.
don't come TO reunion every day. 1t
is not necessary to recount the famous
scenes of glory of the old Armysof the
Potomac to our friends who are gathered
here, and to you, comrades, they are
familiar, for you were there. The duty
of this old army was in the strongholds
Of the rebellion, and they were not al
lowed to go kiting around on the out
side as some others did. This constant
struggle developed in them the greatest
human achievement of keeping up their
fortitude in disaster. Anybody can be
brave in victory. The Army of the Po-
tonlac was brave in disaster and defeat.
This example and fortitude of this army
has established for all time in this nation,
the certainty that this government can
never be destroyed or overcome by
force. Those in active service in the
army were not, however, the only ones
who did duty for the country. am re-
minded that others stayed at home,
whose fortitude, courage and ability did
mnch to overcome the rebellion. The
labors of Governor Holbrook, who con-
Quoted the arduous duties of Vermont
in the great struggle, should not be for
gotten. have been told that while in.
the dark est days of the war the Presi-
dent was feeling discouraged and sad, it
was the voice of the Governor of YER
mont that sustained him and give him.
new courage in his hour of trial, and
close with sentiment which | deem
worthy of place amidst these festivi-
ties. 1t is, ''The health of Frederick
Holbrook, late Governor of the State of
Vermont"
RESPONSE OF Ex-Gov. HoLBRooK.
would fain have the gift OF speech
that might recall the memories Of those
days which the sight Of so many of the
gallant officers of the war brings to
mind. Connected, as was, with the
army, cannot but feel lively and life
long interest in the soldiers who made
up that army from Vermont-an inter-
est that would prompt me at all times to
render the utmost aid to them in my
power. l remember well when regi-
ment after regiment assembled at Brat
tleboro with what mingled emotions of
admiration and sadness | looked upon
them-admiration at the patriotism and
courage which inspired them; sadness at
the thought of the hardships that must
be endured and the great sacrifices of
life that would surely follow. As our
relations were such, can only add, in a
fatherly way, it makes me exceedingly
happy to see so many of the boys gath
cred together tonight.
NINTH SENTIMENT.
The LadSes-First to alleviate he hor-
rors Of war, first TO embe1lish peace and
first in the hearts of their countrymen.
RESPONSE OF GEN. W. w. CIRCUIT.
arise to inquire who is it that has
practised this joke upon me? Why was
/ selected to respond to this sentiment
a man still out in the cold without the
experience necessary to qualify me to
respond with a full understanding of the
subject. The theme is a fruitful one,
but the joke is in calling me to the
charge The subject is very delicate
one and should be approached only by
some one whose grandfather was a
woman. A subject about which all men
make blunders; however | believe that
the approaches to this work are through
the poets, and can.perforn my duty no
better than by reciting the lines of Cow
per:
o woman in our hours of ease, ~
Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, Il
But when pain and anguish wiring the
A ministering angel, thou.
And will conclude by the expression of
my willingness to have my brow wrung.
Bring on your anguish.
TENTH SENTIMENT.
The Press More potent for good or
evil than the mightiest armies.
RESPONSE OF CAPT. JOEL O. BAKER. t
Mr.. President This is the first time
was ever called upon as an expert to
testify to what I know nothing about.
Early in the evening Member of Con-
gress made all assault upon the press,
for what they had said about him and
his colleagues in Congress do not
propose to defend the press against that
assault, as when viewed from his stand
point he is probably about right in his
conclusions, but if the honorable gentle
man from the Second District had to
write leaders for country daily, every
day, with no postponemeut on account
of the weather. he would not reject any
good opportunities to abuse any
body who deserved 1t, even
if it was his own grandfather, but would
fill his space with the faults and follies
of members of Congress with as much
avidity as he discussed other subjects
that the people wanted to read about.
The late attempt of Gen. Butler to cap
ture the Goyernorship of Massachusetts,
has furnished every newspaper in the
land with the theme of many sharp
leader or paragraph, and | have felt a
serene pleasure in ventilating my con-
victions in reference to my old COM
mander in theArmy of the James, whose
expedition to Fort Fisher was still fresh
in my memory, and who had been the
cause of louder cheers as he started to
tl,o +o-ea UroeiJopfia1 orclar To