Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-08-15

gether always, In tho support of all that
makes the true dignity of the Union and
the safety and happiness of its people.
Gen. Joseph Il. Hawley was next Intro
duced by Gen. veazey, and was received
with hearty cheers.
GEN. HAwLEY's SPEECH.
Gen. Hawley said he was glad as Con-
necticut man, to meet the Vermonters here
assembled. There is no man in the land
who does not know them by reputation,
and there is no Connecticut man that is not
proud to claim cousinship with them. More
than a quarter of our towns have their
namesakes here. The names of many of
your people are familiar Connecticut names
and we furnished you your present Gov
ernor, who is native of my district. 50
you are largely part of us, and we are
proud of your deeds and of your fidelity in
all sorts of contests. Abiding to the pre-
dictons of foreign statesmen that our re-
public could not carry on great war, Gen.
ii. said we had dem onstrated that whatev-
eli CO uld be done by a whole people, could
be donc by free people, and in fact that
no people could carry on so great war as
such people. Strong against foreign and
domestic foes, we have not yet demonstrate
ed our power to resist the evils which come
with prolon ged peace. They may yet de-
stroy us, unless every man becomes in tho
true sense politician. This is especially
the duty of the soldier who knows what it
costs to set that flag in glory against the
sky.
Abiding to Gen. Devens description of
scenes at the occupation of Richmond. Gen.
Hawley said that about that time it fell to
him to receive ten thousand Union prison
ers returned from the Southern prisons.
They came in ten long trains, and he we'll
remembered how they looked, as they tum-
bled out of the cars, haggarG, ragged, filthy,
wasted with long confinement, thousands
of them sick, hundreds actually dying
from starvation and the malaria of the reb-
ell prison pens.
"And yet they want us TO forgive 'em"-
shouted voice from The ranks below.
"Wait till they repent"-replied Gen.
Hawley amid loud applause and went on
with his story.
AS these poor fellows realized that they
were once more within the Union lines,
their first act was to throw away their old
battered tin cups and plates, relics of their
Imprisonment, which many of them would
be glad to regain. AS they gathered before
me, said the General, I tried to give them
little timely advice-what 1 wanted TO do
was to sit down and cry-but l told
them of the kettles of coffee and supplies
NJ no of hand tanl- oty hpyc ha1
vided for them, and cautioned them against
taking too much into stomachs being I'M
used to full meal. AS they passed on, to
the camp provided for them, at turn of
the road stood great arch of cvergreens
spanning the highway, which our boys had
| raised to welcome them, and over it waved
| the old flag! You should have seen them,
as they came in sight of it. Some shouted
| with all their mig ht, some knelt and pray
| ed, thousands sat right down and burst in
to tears. How that flag spoke to them
what sacred memories it revived! 1t is
only after such scenes that we can realize
what our country's flag is TO US. And now
| its stars and stripes speak to US of half a
million of our brothers, who died in its de-
| fence, and who look down on us now. My
| comrades, we shall not be easily taught to
| forget what was said or done or suffered
| for our country. For my part l desire to
| take part in no meeting, social, religious,
| or political, where il is deemed improper
| to say 81 was Il soldier of the Union army"
| 1t will always be honorable TO honor our
soldiers. In saying this, preach no Cos
| pei of unkindness. We never had any
hatred toward our southern brothers. II
was not that we loved bloodshed. The
thought of losing blood was more in our
minds as we marched to meet them, than
of shedding thoirs. The thought of dying
| for his flag was stronger in the true sol
der than tho purpose to kill, the purpose
| of self sacrifice rose above that of slaughter
| and now if our country wants defenders
she must honor those that defended her
| and she does and will. Build, then, youi
monuments 10 your fallen comrades. They
shall tell your schoolboys, how Vernon
honors her martyrs, and they will be ready
TO go too, when needed. May God send thu
time when there shall be no more war
But war is not an unmiXed evil. 1t revive,
virtues which arc apt 10 grow rusty in thu
piping times Of peace-the sense of hgt
duty, patriotism, self-sacrifice, in humble
imitation Of Him who died for all man
kind. I might say more, but others are tC
speak here and I will only say, God bless
Vermont, and all true Vermont boys, theii
wives and brothers and weethearts. [Lont
applause, and three cheers for Gen. Haw
ley.l
|