Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-04-27
CONCORD AND LEXINeToN.
Centennial of the First Battles Of the
American Revolution.

~
Concord aud Lexington. Massachusetts,, on
Monday of last week. the 10Th day of April,
were the scenes Of grand celebrations in honor
of the centennial anniversary of the first con-
aicts of the american Revolution. The at
tendance at each place was imhfsnse, and
civil aud military professions. reading of po>
ems. delivery of orations, bapque,ing. 60:
composed the order of the day, eAtshe cen
tennial banquet at Lexington, the speeches
which elected the most enthusiasm were de-
livered by Governor Chamberlain, of South
Carolina, and General W. F. Bartlett, of Mas
sachus6tts. 5,,-.-5. -.
Governor Chamberlain, sitter rehearsing the
struggles of the revolution and referring TO the
tunbrokeni friendship which existed between
N massachusetts, and South Carolina throughout
that trying period, said:
know that am commissioned here TODAY
fsto say for South Carolina that she joins with
equal gratitude and reverence with all her
sisters'of the early days in honoring the / 9th
| of April, l775; that she claims her Share ii in
the glory Of The Struggle begun at Lexington !;
that as of old she bsde Massachusetts cheer
In the stfugele, so now she mites 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 hhcieht- 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 la6ors, dangers and sncri>
| fees in founding this common government ?
Who that looks with just eye even on thar
recent struggle does not now see,, On either
| side, the same high elements of character,
the courage, the devotion to duty the moral
lineaneue 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 ever in this later conflict, the po-
tency and promise 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
Rutledge2' That spirit still lives, fellow
citizens. in South Carolina IF in later DAYS
she has erred forgive her. for even then she
dared and suffered with courage and patience
not unworthy in its strength of the days when
Gadsden and Rntledge illustrated her civic
wisdom, and Sump,er aud Marion her martial
prowess. "Magnanimity." says Mr.. Burke,
''is not seldom the truest wisdom and a great
empire and little minds go i'll together"
'''Fell6w- citizens I offer you to>day the
| frhternal patriotic greetings of South Caro-
lima of all her people She marches again
TODAY the music of thar Union which a
hundred years ago her wisdom helped to de-
wise and her blood'tn cement There in that
hallowed Union 'enieated and sanGtffpd hv SO
many blessed merhHries and radiant with SO
many proud hopes and promises. there thefe
she ''mtist live 6r beSr MO life" tOh, vel
come her anew to-day to the old feliHtSship I!
The monuments Of marble and hrass which we
raise here day will crhmble. Let US there
fore. build in the hearts Of all the people that
intperishable monument. IAN iudstructible
union of indestructible States.'"
Gov. Chamberlain was followed by Gen W
F Bartlett, native of PittsfeId, Mass He
commanded a federal brigade during the late
war; lost leg at Yorktwou, and an arm at
Gettysburg; was shot twice through the body
in the Wilderness, and finally was taken
prisoner in the attack made on the Confed-
crate lines at Petersburg. in connection with
the famous ''springing to the NINE" Since
the war he has settled in Virginia, where
he now resides. in charge of the Powhstan
Irou Works at Richmond. General BARTLETT
made remarkable and beautiful speech Re
ferring to Southern soldiers he said 10 con,
clusion
GAS an American am as proud of the
men who charged so bravely with Pickett
division on our lines at Gettysburg as am of
the men who bravely met aud repuIsed them
there. Men cannot always choose the right
cause. but when having ch"sen that which
their conscience dictated they are ready TO die
for it, if they justify not their cause they at
least ennoble themselves. aud the men who. fer
conscience sake, fought against their govern
meut at Gettysburg, ought easily to be for
given by the sons OF men who, for conscience
sake, fought against their government at Lex
iopton and Bunker r +"