The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-04-28
The Lexington Centennial.

III
the 18th of April, the hund edith ami
versary of the battle Of, Lexington anu
Concord. We all remember the pic
ture in the history bo ok, representing
Major Pitcairn, tho British ofice,
waving his sword. and exclaiuipe
"disperso ye rebels" Lexington an,
Concord are noighboring towns, and
each claimed tho honor Of the 6rst,
at tho former plaoeethe first Ameri.
cans wero killed, but no British fell
until reaching Concord. These towns
compromised By having q oelobra.
tion at Lexington in the N morning and
at Concord in the afternoon.
Many thousand people were pres
ont, including President Grant, nnc
loyal addresses wero delivered. Th.
following were among the toasts.
"The State of South Carolina.
Never will Maesaohusctt, forget the
proud response Of South Carolina
tho very night she heard the war note
from Lexington. Gov. Chamberlail
may voto everything ho wishes, bu
NO must not veto our earnest respeo
for voice from the Palmetto State
to the pine" Gov. Chamberlain.
who responded, was received with
much applause, as were also his senti
,nents of earnest desire for the com
pleto and early restoration Of true
fraternal feehngs between tho two
great commouwealths.
"Tho North and South" In res
pon'e to complimentary call of tn,
President, Gen. VIM. +. Bartlett, OF
Massachusetts, made q remarkable
and beautiful speech. Referring to
southern soldiers, he said
In conclusion, Gas an American, I
am as proud of the men who obarg.
ed so bravely with Pickett's division
on our lines at Gettsbu'g as I am
one of the men who bravcly met and
repulsed them there. Mon o,nnot
always choose tho right cause, but
when, having chosen that which their
conscience dictated, they aro ready
to die for it, if they Justify not their
onuse, they at least ennoble them.
selves, and the men who for con-
science sake fought for their govern.
ment Mt Gettysburg ought easily to
be forgiven by the sons of mon who
for conscience sake fought against
their government at Lexington and
Bunker Hill. Oh, sir, as N assachu.
setts was first in war, 80 let her be
first in peace, and sho shall forever be
hrst in the hearts Of her country.
men.
In reapoase toa toast, "England
and tho United Statos," lotter was
read from Ex-Premier Gladstone.
Among other things it says: In a
retrospective view Of tho evontful
period, my oountrymen can now con
template its incident with impartiali.
ty. do not think they should
severely blame their M cestors, whose
struggles to maintain tho unity of
British Empfre is ono that must, /
think after the late great war Of the
North md South, be received in
America with some sympathy and in.
dulgenoe.
This is a palpable hit. The peo.
pie of the Unitod States are now oelc.
brating tho anniversary Of the inau.
guration Of rebellion against the
British Government, which smackod
much moro loudly Of treason than
did tho lato war between tho States.
There was pojustidoation Of the first
rebellion than the divine right of re.
violation. The lato war certainly had
grounds which might easily be dooi.
ded constitutional. Tho states in
their sovereignty had entered into
confederation, and subsequently,