Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-04-24
The Centennial Banquet at Licking
ton.
ELoouEsr SPEECHES on TIE UNION AsD THE
SOUTH

n
Mass, on Monday, the speeches which elected
the most enthusiasm were delivered by Cover
nor Chamberlain, Of South Carolina, and Cen
eral ". f. Bartlett, of Massachusetts,.
Governor Chamberlain, after rehearsine Tie
struggles Of the revolution and referring to the
unbroken friendship which existed between
Massachusetts, 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
sisters of the early days in honoring the 18th
of April. l775 that she claims her share 10
the glory of the struggle begun at Lexington +;
that as Of old she babe Massachusetts, cheer
in the struggle, so now she uniles with her IN
these patriotic scryic 5.
1t 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 sacrI-
fees 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 high elements Of character, the
courage, the devotion to duty, the moral Inca
ments of the Adsmses and Haucocks, the Gads-
dens and Rutledges, of hundred years ago?
! Who that has faith in the destinies of America
does not see in this early friendship, aye, and
even in this later conflict, the potency and
promise Of that coming Union under whose
protection liberty shall forever walk hand
| -, .,h ,,.ito hn
/ the South, reunited in spiri. and aims shall
again respond to every callof pair lotto duty IN
the old tones of Samuel Adams aud Christie
pher GadSden, Of James Otis and John Rnt-
! ledge? That spirit still lives, fellow citizens,
in South Carolina. If in later days she has
erred, forgive her, for even then she dared ard
suffered with courage and patience not IN
worthy in its strength of the days when
! Gadsien and Rutledge illustrated her civic
vision, and Sumpter and Marion her martial
proves. Magnanimi,y," says Mr. Burke,
" is not seldom the truest wisdom and great
empire aud little minds 90 i'll together.
Fellow-citizens, offer you to-day the
! fraterna!, patriotic greetings Of South Carroll
of all her people She marches again to-
day to the music Of that Union which hun
dred years ago her wisdom helped TO devise
and her blood to cement. Thee, in that hall
lowed union, ondearel and sanctiiiea 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 60 the old fellowship! The
! monuments of marble and brass which we
raise here to-day will crumbc. Let us, there
fore, build in the hearts Of all the people that
imperishable monument. AN indestructib.e
! Union Of iudestruccibe States
Gov. Chamberlain was followed by Gen.
W. F. Bartlett, native of Pittsfel, Mass
he commanded federal brigade during the
the late war; lost leg at Yorktown, and IN
arm at Gettysburg; MAS shot twice through
the body in the Wilderness, and finally was
taken prisoner in the attack made on the Con-
federate lines at Petersburg, 10 connection
with the famous "ssrusing Of the mine"
! Since the war he has been settled in Virginia,
where he now resides, in charge Of the Pow
hatan Iron Works at Richmond He sis
OF the rcaNAas of she North 20 tie South
I am not an Srfpreindiced sbsErver. On the
contrary. | have prejudice, which il shared
!
may safely say that between the soldiers Of
tive sections Of our great csunify Iraternal
relations were established loug ago. | have
also a strong prejudice against any man or
men who would divide On destroy or retard the
prosperity and progress Of the natlen whose
| corner stone was laid in the blood Of our faith
ers one hundred years ago to-day. Moved by
this prejudice, fourteen years ago, opposed
the men who preferred diSunion 90 death.
! True 10 this prejudice ] to-day GeSpise the
men who would for the sake Of self or party
stand in tie way Of reconciliation and united
country. The distinguished soldier who is
your chief guest to-day never came nearer to
the hearts Of The people than when he said
Let rs have peace aud sir, the only really
beligereut people in the country to-day
North and South, are those who, while the
war lasted, followed carefully the paths of
peace. Do not believe that the light and
dirty froth which is blown northward and
scattered over the land, oitentimes for malicious
purposes, represents The true current Of opin-
ion at the South. Lock to their heroes, their
leaders, their Gordons, their Lees, their john
sons, their Lamar. Ransom and Ripley. and
tell me if yru find in their ut,erances anything
but renewed loyalty aud devotion to united
country These are the men, as our great and
good Governor Andrew told you at the
close Of the war-tbese are the men by whom
ard through whom you must restore the
South, Instead of the meaner men for whom
power is only synonym for plumber. As !
begged you last summer, | enireat You again,
do not repel the love Of these men by suspi-
cion or indifference II you cannot in for
giveuess "kl the fattcd calf, DO not with
GOODNESS "kill the prodieal"
General Bartlett then read q letter from
Cen r. S. Ripley a former Confederate Off
Ger, returning the flag of the tify-fourih Mas
SachuscttS regiment, lost in its attack on Fort
Wagner, Charleston, 1868, and continued;
No ono but soldier can know how he
would cling to a trophy that he had taken 10
honorable battle. No one but soldier knows
what it would cost to give it up, unless COM
PEELED by loftier motives Of chivarous patriot
ism, and when General Ripley wrote that let
! ter be thought not Of self, not Of South Caro-
lima, nor Of Massachusetts, but of n restored
and rnited country. There are tattered flags
in that sacred hall in yonder capitol, around,
which, in tie shock Of battle. / have seen
dear friends and brave men fall like autumn
leaves there are flags there that cannot
look upon without tears Of pride and sorrow I;
! but there is no Gag there which has TO-DAY
/ for us a deeper significance, or that bears with
/ in its fold brighter omen Of peace on
/ earth, good viii to men than battle-stained
emblem so tenderly restored by son Of South