Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-06-25

The Southern regiments at Boston had a
rand reception in Music Hall, Wednesday
evening. They were welcomed by Governor
Castor and Mayor Cobb
Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee, of Virginia, was
presented. amidst the widest enthusiasm.
The men threw their hats into the air and
yelled themselves hoarse, while the ladies in
the galleries waved their handkerchefs and
clapped their hands. When quiet was at
last restored, Gen. Lee said
GEN. LEES SPEECH.
thank you for this most cordial welcome
you have extended to my comrades and my
self. l came here with the Norfolk Light
Artillery Blues, Confederate organization,
whose guns have roared upon many hard
fought field As we arrived before your
city, this afternoon, and were steaming up
your beautiful harbor, the first notes that
reached me from band Of music sent to
meet me were of that good old tune called
"Auld Lang Syne," and felt was not 60
ing to Boston, but that | was returning
again to a common country and common
heritage. (Applause.) should have wished
that my poor presence would have passed
unnoticed, or that | might have been per-
mitted to have remained a silent visitor
in Boston. When | ponder that this is
the first time | have ever stepped on the
soil of Massachusetts,, | necessarily feel
some embarrassment at addressing such a
splendid audience as is before me, but when
| reflect that | am an American citizen,
that |, too, am descendant of those men
who fought on Bunker Hill, | feel that |,
too, have a right to be here to celebrate
their splendid deeds. (Great Applause.)
We come here, fellow citizens, to show that
we appreciate these achievements Of these
patriotic fOrefathers ii ours-these zen who
planted the seeds from which our nation has
sprung. We are here to show by our actu-
al presence that we are fully in sympathy
with the sentiment which found expression
upon the recent decoration days, when low
ing hands entwined beautiful flowers about
the graves Of the soldiers Of both armies
without distinction. (Great Arplause.) |
recall that, right here in Boston. 100 years
ago particular divine spoke in substance as
follows "We pray thee Lord, if our enc
mics are desirous to fight US, to give them
fighting enough, and if there are more on
their way across the sea, we pray thee, o,
Lord, To sink them to the bottom
of it." daughter and applause.) Now,
when | see this magnificent demonstration,
when my eyes look On yours, belming with
kindliness and heartfelt goodwill toward
me and mine, | feel that hereafter, if foreign
or domestic foes threaten our common
country, Massachusetts and Virginia. Cali
fornia and Florida would shout with one
voice, "lf thew desire to fight, let them have
enough" (Great applause.) | may be
pardonei, If recall 10 your minds that, in
those days Of darkness, when the clouds OF
war enveloped your commonwealth, my State
of Virginia sent righ, he.e into your midst
him who, in the language of my grandfather,
was First in war, first in peace. and first IN
the hearts Of his eountrymen," whose char
acter, in the language oil Andrew jackson.
cannot be too profoundly studied, and his ex-
ample too closely followed. Washington ap-
peared here in your midst, brought order out
Of confusion, and saved our country. ! thank
you, ladies and gentlemen, most cordially ior
the manner in which you have received me.
(Applause.)
There were other speeches by Gen. Sher-
man, yice-President Wilson, Gen Burnside
and others, and throughout the fraterniza-
ton was hearty and enthusiastic