Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-11-15
The Omcers' Reunion.

union, at Montpelier. on the 3lst ult. W.
now supplement our brief record OF the bus
mess transacted by the following abstrac
of Sergeant Bigelo VS. address. copied from
the Montpelier Journal:
SERGEANT BIGELow' : ADDRESS.
lie had consented, he said. to address hi
fellow-oiFcers, because he thought they be
lieved he could speak to them understand
ingly OF scenes IN which he and they haC
been engaged. No sounds of war are hearC
now throughout the land. The beautltu
peace of Nature is unbroken along the Po-
tomac. lie would not give them an ora
tion-!or orations were not for the meetings
like this Self Interest and moral ideas are
the two forces that push the world. Where
these two are in healthy equilibrium thert
Is the desirable condition OF mantle real
izltion Of u perfect social state The mora
l. superior to the material force. 1t was
this that fred your hearts when the c0un'
| try was in danger and needed your services.
The warm blood of Puritan manhood Il w
ed in the veins of men in those day. and
superseded the selfish interest The uti!Iti-
riau theory OF government had the comm on
assent when the first gun was fired upon
Sumter. The shot at the flag biokr the
spell OF tie false philosophy of se,t-interest.
Moral enthusiasm for something fair and
square is the bloom of humane nature.
So in 1861 ycu were called to unknown
fields. You went in spite OF baby hands
tuggirg at your heartstrings to pull you
back. lnu went to defend the nations in
teIosts. The men no hold the widest sway
| in the hearts Of humanity are the men OF
deep poetic instinct. and who have deep
appreciation Of Immortality.
The air from the SJnth is full OF friendly
words from those who were once our enc
mics. Bat these are often perverted by
these who did Lot understand the real
prOmpiingS OF the war. There is manliness
in dying for error, but there is more than
manliress-there is magniiicence in dying
Tor the truth. We needn't put valOr against
yslor, Tor there is equality in bravery
among those who fought on opposite
sides.
What was worth fighting for four years
is worth taking about forever (applause).
Liberty bound and gagged Is enforced tran
guilty, bat 1t is no less tyranny. Let Us
believe that ~ long as one soldiers slab
tells the story Il our dead. so long this New
Encllad soll wall have breed worthy of
their ball dog pedigree. Til all these are
passed away the soldier will never be play
cd out For an afflicted Southerner We have
help and sympathy, but We will never allow
thai they were right in bringing the war
upon Us. |: the South Insists in spurning
the rudter # justice, she will be ruled by
the rock OF rctrlbution.
While Ne were fighting ON the fields OF
the South there were many at home IN Yer
mOut-mOtheIs and sisters and friends
who eirded up our lOins for stout battle.
They may have been weak physically, but
their moral strength was great. Much
nonsense has been written about war and
its heroes. War bights the country. In
books 1t is romance. but in reality 1t Is
cruelty The htroi-m OF our boys had little
uproar ahaat it. IL was quiet and homely
like them~siseS. They fought quietly,
firmly and bfastly. There was gold among
them. and there was drOsS among them
there was DO TORRANCE about them. In
camp there ~gs meanntss aud cowardice
among them, Just az there is among men
outside Of camps; but these qualities were
rare in times Of trial. The duty of soldier
is bet d ne hy him who knows and feels
that noble tasks are dificult-that the
cypress and the myrtle are thicker than the
roses. Honey heroes our boys were, but
AS genuine specimens ss ever fought at the
front and fell where they fought. Was he
who fell in defeat any less hero than he
who fell III victory Were not both lives
rounded GU: in bravery? Success is to see
YOUR duty and then to do it. 10 remember
ing those who fell, keep not the memory OF
their weaknesses. but cherish the recollec-
tion of their immortal spirits. The speaker
concluded his remarks with the apt quota
ton beginning
a single drop Of manly blood
Tie surg n sea Jutwe Chs
At the cl Jse ct the address the thanks OF
the society were, on motion of DR.. E1son.
voted to Mr.. Bigelow Tor bis able and elO
quent grafton.
TIE BANQUET
which followed at the Pavilion was an ee
giant affair. The customary toas:s and
speechmaking followed
THE TOAST.
THE President OF the United States.
Responded to by General George p.
Foster.
a-Vermout-her name her fame, her honor. are
dear as lie TO every true Nermonter.
Governor Proctor responded.
, United States Senate, and the mtn who so
worthily sustain in il the reputation for integrity,
ability and stateimanship, established by Prentiss,
Toote, CoIIamer and Other noble Of the Green
Hills.
Response By Senator Eimunds
THE judiciary Of Vermont-Its past record il
the pride OF cur Stste-its reputation is now in
" orthy hands.
RESPONDED to By Hon. j. NJ. Tyler and
Judge Poland.
5-The Wisdom ard Virtue" Of Vermont-the
makers o; state eminently high in character
and patriotic in spirit. May they never suffer the
ist6ry o. the proves OF her sons in the war for
the Union to remain unrecorded, and fade away.
Responded to by Northumberland
Cotton and Speaker Martin.
Tho first President Of cur socety-ths one
lrmed hero OF Ctapin's Farm needs no further in
reduction.
General STANDARD responded.
The Grand Army of the Republic the de
enders Of the colntrys liberties.
G,ueral W W. Henry responded.
Sour soldier dead, who gave their lives that |
he governm mt Of the people, ty the people and |
or the people might not perish from OF the earth
rhe memories OF those who died tor safe and CO..
ect pr nc plts shall endure forever.
Responded To By Captain Howe
1.-The National Guard of Vermont-the refuge Of |
he STATE when danger threatens. They should |
yer have the preserving and sup Grtbg care oil
he citizens.
Major J W Newton, Of s.: Adams. re-
pOnded.
IO-Ths Ladirs-No hone i. complete without
hem. Alike in prosperity and adversely. their
ith staius and anlmAtes US to noble deeds.
Colonel Roswell Farnham responded
,rieAy, GIlosaI by Col. W. G. Vcaz,y.
1.-THE medical department o. the army.
Responded to By Surgeon Eison and DR..
,rrir ,tnn