The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-19
A PARTING.
) a. -. ~ 7.

I A PARTING.
Banquet i'm Homer or Colonel Braale
IaYii,3a8 Il 1sj Il Johnson.
THE OFFICERS OF THE FIRST REGIMEN
MEET ANDEIPRESs THEIR REG RET TIA
! THEIR COLONEL Is ABOUT TO LEAVE TIL
sTATE-h LETTER FROM THE OFFICER
TO HIhl-sPEECHEs OF FaDJUTANT STERN
/ COLONEL JoHGsoN, DIR. HUGE, AM
OTHERS. - @
| The officers Of the First regiment las
night gave a banquet to Colonel Bradley r
johnson at the Cafe. The company bein!
assembled. Adjutant Stern said:
General johnson:
Your friends in Virginia have for som,
time past heard with regret Of your intend
ed removal from our State, and now thai
the time has arrived they can but regard il
as a calamity.
Since your sojnurn among rs we have
cndcayored TO reward your merit by Dla.
cling you foremost in the deliberatiye bodies
and different institutions Of our city and
State, and it is with pride that we challenge
any man TO point to one Of your public acts
wherein wisdom was not .displaynd aat tue
BSaafa gS2a e. flle e;e-'''yH"sa'la was not para
he officers ard men OF. the Firss rcgi-
sn1eI,t, Srcm having been mostintimatesy us
SO oclatoG With vou rs its leader, share in sllis
general regret moet sincerely. For US you
have beea' mainly instrumental in dors-
that which you have assisted in doing FOR
the Coinnonwe and we congratulate
ourselves t3at the First recimcut; like Oap
Virginia, btis passed its duFgest days. ,...
"Under your command we have been
freed from debt !; weown ali the eauipace
necessary for peace OF war: our depart
ments are Thoroughly organized; our officers
and men are splendidfy trained and some
Of them being the survivors and others Of
them the sous and brothers CT those who
have followed your lead in war, we may
well claim from our citizens their confidence
should there be a need for our services.
Your resignation, therefore, while antici-
patcd. has brought sorrow 10 onr hearts,
aud in reply to General Orders No. Q, from
your headquarters, am instructed to read
and deliver TO you the following letter.:
-. THE OFFICERS LETTER.
" Colonel Bradley r. Johnson:
"Dear Sir,-Tbroueh General Orders No.
8, issued from your headquarters, we have
just learned that you have resigned your
commission as colonel of this regiment, and
that the resignation has been accepted by
the Governor.
"We desire to express to you our sincere
regret at the necessity which compels you
to sever the military relations which in the
past have existed between CS, and to assure
you that rs an able, experienced, and eff
cent commander, you bear with youthc re-
spect, esteem, and confidence OF the officers
aud men Of this regiment.
eve reflect with pride and qualification
upon the able services which, IN the hour
OF her utmost despair, you rendered this
Stale, fUrSaking all to share her forlofn
hope, and imperiling life to protect and de-
feDd her honor. We have always felt pe-
culiar pleasure in the thought that, should
our State Or county ever need our services,
We were to follow one who had been tried
and found true-who had merited and re-
ceiyed the appreciation Of 'Stonewall' jack
son. We wish you long, happy lie, and,
with renewed assurances oi tue highest re-
gard, bid you farewell"
The letter is written beautifully on rarch-
ment, and is signed hv all the officers and
non-commlssioned staff OF the regiment
REPLY OF GENERAL JOHNSON.
I thank you, Colonel and gentlemen OF the
First Virginia, for this compliment YOU
have paid me, and for thcagreeable terms in
which you have conveyed II to me. ! Shall
prize it for the feelings which prompted it
and for the men from whom it comes, and |
will associate it with the memory OF the
dearest friends I have iu Richmond.
have served with the regiment these past
years because loved it, and because be-
lieYe it To he an important factor OF the
peace and order Of the city. I have cndca-
vored to eytirDatc in it all desire OF vain
pomp and empty show, and to cultivate IL
respect for the military art and skill and
knowledge in martial exercises.
It has been we'll instructed by you in the
use OF arms and in the movements OF the
march, and such eyolutions rs would he ne
cessary in service, and I claim for its field
and staff such excellent organization thai
it may DC ordered into the field with full
complement Of companies and men on 4
days notice: and it IS capable OF doing as
good service as the best volunteer regiment
in any State, care not where it be.
In itself its material furnish models for
citizen -soldiery. They are citizens in the
highest scnse-law-abiding, couptry-lov-
ing. order-preserving-and they are SOL
diers. too, in discipline, in promptness, in
q willing and Intelligent obedience to supe-
riorS. ~. " .,... 8:
It is on such men that order and free gov
ernment uStalways depend; and the insti-
tutions under which we live intend and re-
1uire that this miIita-this citizens nsoldiery-'
shall always be the backers OF The civil
authority, and the support and reliance Of
the magistrate whenever and wherever
force becomes necessary to maintain the
peace and enforce the laws. a regular
army is only needed TO guard against the
public eneny--to protect in war. In peace.
its only function is to guard public proper
~ and acquire proper proficiency in its
business OF arms. But liberty relies Oh the
courage aud the seli-reIiance Of the citizen,
armed and instructed TO act as soldier when
society requires it, and when the emergency
ceases, to be again al once absorbed III the
whole body OF the citizenship. The prln-
ciple Of free institutions requires an army
for an enemy. but Il militia for domestic
order and as The r9ht-arn OF the law.
There Is 10 law for an enealy but the law
Of war. There is every guarantee OF law
and OF Constitution in internal disturb
apces. ...-...s -..r
The army must he governed By iaw OF
war. The militia is controlled by the law
OF peace.
This distinction will be more widely dis
cerned, and more strictly adhered to, or it
NAV come that the militia ct some future
time may be the only hope OF rescuing lib
erty from military uSurpation; and thus
trained the militia becomes in time OF war
the most efficient part OF the army.