Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-29
THE LEXINGTON CENTENNIAL.

At the centennial banquet at Lexington,
Massachusetts, the speeches which ELECTED the
most enthusiasm were delivered by Governor
Chamberlain of South Carolina, and General
w. F. Bartlett of Massachusetts. Governor
Chamberlain, after rehearsing the struggles
of the Revolution and referring to the unbro.
ken friendship which existed between Massa-
chusetts and South Carolina throughout that
trying period, said:
know that am commissioned here to-day
to say for South Carolina that she joins with
equal gratitude and reverence with all her sis.
ters of the early days in honoring the 18th of
April, 1875; that she claims her share in the
glory of the struggle begun at Lexington
that as of old she bade Massachusetts cheer In
the struggle, 80 now she unites with her in
these patriotic services
It is not for me, it is not for any one, on
this occasion, to speak of later events in which
these two ancient allies stood face to face as
enemies. Who that has an American heart
does not rejoice that back Of all the recent
bitter struggle there lies the gracious heritage
of those common labors dangers and sacrii.
ces in founding this common government!
Who that looks with a just eye, even on that
recent struggle, does not now see on either
side, the same hig gh elements of character, the
courage, the devotion to duty, the moral line
aments of the Adamses and Hancocks, the
Gadsdens and Rutledges, of hundred years
ago? Who that has faith in the destinies OF
America does not see in this early friendship,
ave, and even in this later conflict, the poten-
cy and promises of that coming Union under
whose protection liberty shall forever walk
hand in hand with justice, wherein the North
and the South, reunited in spirit and aims,
shall again respond to every call of patriotic
duty in the old tones Of Samuel Adams and
Christopher Gadsden, of James Otis and
John Rutledge? That spirit still lives, fel-
low-citizens in South Carolina. If in later
days she has erred. forgive her, for even then
she dared and suffered with courage and pa
tience not unworthy in its strength of the days
when Gadsden and Rutledge illustrated her
civic wisdom, and Sumter and Marion her
martial proves. "Maguanimity," says Mr.:
Burke, sis not seldom the truest wisdom; and
a great empire and little minds 60 i'll together"
Fellow.citizens, I offer you to-day the fra
ternal, patriot greetings ofSouth Carollna-ot
all her people. She marches again to-day to
the music of that Union which hundred
years ago her wisdom helped to devise and
her blood to cement. There in that hallowed
Union, endeared and sancti6ed by so many
blessed memories, and radiant with so many
proud hopes and promises, there, there she
must live or bear no life." Oh! welcome
her anew to-day to the old fellowship. The
monuments of marble and brass which we
raise here to-day will crumble. Let US, there
fore, build in the hearts of all the people that
imperishable monument, IAN lndestructlole
Union of indestructible States"
GEN. BARrLETr's SPEECH.
Gov. Chamberlain was followed by Gen.
w. F. Bartlett, native of Pitts6eld, Massa'
chusetts He commanded federal brigade
during the late war lost a leg at Yorktown;
and an arm at Gettysburg; was shot twice
through the body in the Wilderness, and D.
nally was taken prisoner in the attack mace
on the Confederate lines at Petersburg, IN
connection with the famous "springing of the
mine" Since the war he has been settled IN
Virginia, where he now resides, IN charge OF
the Powhatan Iron Works at Richmond He
said:
OF the relations of the North to the South
I am not an unprejudiced Observer. On the
contrary, have prejudice, which is shared
by all soldiers, in favor of peace, and | think
1 may safely say that between the soldiers OF
the two great sections Of our great country
fraternal relations were established long ago.
1 have also a strong prejudice against any