Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-03-02
A LESSON FOR POLITICAL WAR
RIORS,

"A few days since a meeting was held by
tie citizens OF Warrensburg, johnson county,
Mo-, for the purpose OF giving public wei
ccme to General COckrell; lately elected
United States Senator from that State, and
whose former residence was in Warrensburg.
The demonstration was irrespective OF party.
The Memphis Appeairelateda an episode which
occurred at the reception, showing how brave
soldiers, arrayed on opposite sides in the late
war, look upon each other. Col. G. N. El-
livtt, federal soldier, was selected to make
the reception speech. This duty he performed
ably aud eloquently. Among other handsome
things he SAID: : "General UOckrell, yOn and
l have met under far different circumstances
from this. II, sir, has been my fortune TO
meet you in different scenes, aud under cirS
cumstances that differ widely from this. We,
sir, have met on the field of blood and strife
We have met amidst the roar and clash OF
battle, following different leaders, fighting
under stranger banners, eAch for the cause
nearest our hearts, aud for the people We loved.
After the terrible struggle upon the heights
of Altoona you marched with your brave men
to close the war, while followed Sherman in
his march down to the sea- When the blight
ing blade had been sheathed, aud the gloom
aud smoke of war had cleared away, you and
l, Senator COckrell. returned to our homes,
rejoiced that tho terrible struggle of brother
against brother had ended Since then We
have been pursuing our occupations"
The reply OF General Cockrell was eloquent
aud in 6ne taste. lie said, among many other
things: My heart has been strangely moved
by the words aud address ormy distinguished
friend aud neighbnr, Colonel Elliott. thought
how, fourteen years ago, the people of our
common country were arping 20 engage on
one side or the other, and the bloody struggle
that fnllOwed. | thought of tho many fields
of strife, snd blood, aud battle where he and
l had met in mortal combat. l thought of
the struggle upon the heights Of Altoona; aud
of many other scenes OF blood whero thousands
of good and brave men had fallen, and | re-
j"iced 10 that he did not think of thoso
bloody conflicts other than in sorrow and ia
pity. Fellow citizens, eel to night lat my
heart is free from malice and revenge. ap.
preciated the remarks of that brave soldier
and thrice honored putriut, General Jnlues
Shields, of Carroll county. When called
upon to address tho Legislature. General
Shields said it was greater pleasure for him
to vote for me than it had ever been for him
to vote for any other man."
General Shields, here referred to, was for>
merly United States Senator, and one of tho
various Union men and federal soldiers who
supported General Cockrell in tho Missouri
Legislature. What contrast are tho utter.
ances aud department Of the fighting men on
both sides to those bomb.prOof warriors in
Congress and elsewhere. those ''soldiers in
peace aud citizens in war" who are perpetual.
ly tanning tile flames of sectional bate, aud
who, If they could succeed in getting up au<
other war, would be found ss fur out Of sight
Of battle field as they were in the last
BIhimore Sun, FCL. IS.