The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-06-10

S evll not lightly to be thought OF
nor to be sought by man. Do right
seek peace and leave the making Of
the battle to the over-ruling hand Of
God.
You cannot but take an interest in
1.-THE meetings of the Tenth. 1t might
be wondered why we should have
seperate reunions. The thought so
struck me- But | see some reasons
for it. The society ofthe army Of the
Potomac meets in the larger cities
The Pennsylvania Reserve asso-
citation meets at a distance from you,
and it would be too inconvenient and
expensive for many to attend. But
in your regiment there were compa-
nies from Clarion, Venango, Mercer,
Crawford Warren, Beaver, Washing
ton, and Somerset, and the people Of
those counties will, | know, be glad
to give you an occasional welcome
If it be found that once year is too
often to meet, you can meet less fire.
quently; but keep up your Organiza-
ton. The survivors of your regi-
ment have become scattered over the
country, some occupying honorable
Offices, and many in useful positions
in life.
And now how much cause have
we to be thankful for these kind re-
ceptions by the people How it
cheers our hearts! Although we have
seen hard times. yet IN the last de-
cade, how much has beed added to
our happiness here in the country
by the outlays of capital, started, per-
haps, by the activities of war
The telegraph and railroad come to
our doors; the daily newspapers gath
er up the news from all quarters Of
the globe and distribute it to us at so
little expense that we all can partake
Whilst a bountiful Providence stored
for US ages ago, among the rocks, the
oil now brought forth so abundantly,
that the poorest can prolong his day
with pleasure far into the shades of
night.
Citizens of Mercer, / cannot close
these feeble remarks without men,
ton of my pleasure at meeting you.
Had it not been for my desire to see
YOU after long absence, and to rem
der to you thanks for passed kind
ness and invitations, / would have
declined the part have undertake en-
to-day.
Amid the pain of today for the
loss of so many who will never again
return, / am most profoundly impress
ed at your generous treatment of
the survivors and the kindly feelings
shown upon this occasion.
1t was here that l was, twenty-one
years ago, then young and stranger,
supported with enthusiasm for a
highly honorble Office, and it was
here thirteen years ago, on the fall of
Fort Sumter, then in feeble health,
that first realized the terrible neces-
sity Of war; of retiring from the bench
and entering the service of the coun-
try.
l returned no more to YOU. Many
OF your sons and brothers were with
me. The responsibilities taking care
of them and putting them, in the
way for honorble mention was very
great. They were, many of them,
your proudest jewels. And if by |
my connection with them, l have
reaped any of the glories of their ac-
tions, it is more than have deserved,
and l eve it to your kind partiality. |
Hereafter it is not likely we shall
meet again in these relations. BY the |
time the reunion of the Tenth occurs
again in Mercer, many changes will
have taken place. Even if these re-
unions can be kept up, they may be
held in the different counties where
the companies were raised, and it
will take number of years to go the
round. But let the memories of this
day be precious
Il pause, and the moral comes home to my heart,
Behold how of earth all our glories depart,
Our visions are baseless, our hopes but gleam,
Our staff but n reed our life but q dream,
Then, oh let Us look, let our prospects allure
To scenes that can fade not % realms that endure
To glories, to blessings that triumph sublime
Der the blightings Of change and the rnins Of
time-