The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-06-09

1SCUu litehSu ny ou uuut'iucu udtlOu-
ono aud undivided as it came to us the
legacy Of tho fathers ono and undivid-
cd as it comes to us again from these
nowerstrewn graves, so be it ours to
keep IT,
But the present time calls us to use
far different means for this preservation
from those which they employed, The
war gave us a Union triumphantly upheld
by force. 1t is for us to make it Union
iudissoubly cemeuted by love. Not a
union Of government Ond law alone, but a
union OF sentiment aud sympathy as we'll.
Let US not, then. make these Memorial
days occasions for recalling or rekindling
the bitterness and animosities OF the past
1t is false aud mistaken notion (Which
| do not believe is held here today that
TO honor our noble dead we must DO dis.
honor and insult to those who opposed
them. No, they are far better honored
by a spirit OF sweet "ch 'rity 10 all, " which
shall rival the periumed sweetness o!
these flowers and out vie their blossomiug
beauty. Time has already mtigated
much Of that bnrshness Of feeling which
once warped our judgments, aud | feel
that | can now 6tly givo expression to
sentiments which few years ago could
not have felt myself or even listened to
with patience.
Far be it from me, standing in such a
place OF upon such an occasion as this, to
speak any words ofopproval or pallatou
for those bad men in high places, who. by
their fal>eness to pighted trusts, by their
misuse Of powers which had been com.
United to them, with high.hauded treu-
son and defaut pride, kiudled the torch
Of civil war and brought on all its dire
results. BY every soldiers grave on
either side we are called upon to speal;
Tor tRem-with sadness, perhaps, but
with sternness urely-only words Of un-
softeued reproba'iou.
Bat l believe the time has come when
We should see and say that tho great
mass Of that Southern army was com.
posed Of men who vent into tho great
struggle with as much sincerity of con-
viciion and honesty OF purpose as it was
possible for us to do. They firmly be-
lievcd that they were fighting for their
families, 6resides and homes, fighting to
defend their rights and liberties against
reckless and ruthless invaders of their
soil and it was this sincerity OF princi.
pie which gave them heroic aud de-
termued courage, rarely eqlallod in mil.
itary history. The glory of their valor
is ioseparable from that of our own army
Let us not withhold from them what i,
due to their sincere though mistaken pat.
rioiism.
am moved especially to cay these
words on this occasion, in view Of a re-
cent occurrence With which VIC are all
familiar. There is still no doubt fresh
remembrance in the minds Of all, Of that
transaction in our National Congress,
when, a few weeks ago, resolutions of re.
spect wefo presented in memory of the
great Massachusetts Senator,-how Mr..
Lamar Of Mississippi rose to second those
resolutions, aud said, "Incredlble as it
may appear, impossible as it would once
have been, Mississippi to day sincerely
mourns for Charles Sumner" What a
scene was that An original slave. owner.
an x.coniederate general, u representa-.
tive man Of what we have been accustomed
to style the Southern ariotocracy bringing
bis tribute Of sorrow over the grave o.
the great aboliiionisi, the fearless, ag
gressivo champion Of the an,.slavery
party, the mau Of all other men Of thi,
generation most completely identified with
Northern antagoni>m toward the South
"What u proof Of tho worth Of the great
Senator - it may be said. Yes, but
what a proof also ol the magpauii:iiy Q
! him who spoke it, and Of those whose
! sentiments be represents When Miss
( i,>ippi brings her Borrowing homage tC
Charles Summers grave, | believe the
/ time has come when we should, even her,
upon our Memorial service, fad place foi
some gentle words for our foes in the lat,
struggle. Such advances should speak
to our hearts with trumpet tongues, al
the more because they come from the de
teated party, whore, if anywhere. a sud
den aud defiant silence would be justified
We conquered the South in war. Shal
it conquer us in generosity aud magnan
unity? | hope yet to see the day wher
The Craud Army Of the Republic vii
add yet another clause to its ritual, anC
include therein some kind words of chari
table remembrance for those Of its foe
who died in conscientious devotion tt
what they believed to bo right. Ther
shall the leopard lie down with tho lamb
indeed. Ihen shall peace ill our Ian,
to its furlhest borders. Then shall tn
National unity be established and rivctet
beyond all fear of rupture
But more than any vindcatiun of III
idea Of unity, this day is significant to u
as an expression Of our personal feeling
of gratitude and love toward the nation
dead defenders. Not to magnify the re
suits Of the war, not to parade their ow
connection Herewith do the veterans O
the Grand Army celebrate this day. W
conseorate this day to our fallen com
rades For the liDing, the soldier ha
been merged in the citizen, to be estima
ted and rewarded solely upon the prcseu
plane of his citizenship and manhood
But for many, the war held far differ
ent fate in store. Aud we carry in tn
front of our thought to-day those ian
there was bright, noble band of ther
from this community and this college
} to whom the war was not merely a bre
, sharp struggle, full of varied hardship'
, snt!crings and excitements and the
changed to siorehouse Of treasure
memories aud helpful experiences, but I
. whom it brought the sudden breaking {
. all life's plans and hopes, the sharp SUI
. derng of all its tender ties. 1t is wit
e foremost personal thought of them ;h0
{ we strew these flowers. Each of US hs
some one or more prominently in mint
+ some close companions with whom we ha
e shared bunk aud blanket for months an
wears, beside whom we had been in Nh