New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-20


But the quality. which more than all Others specih
cally and consttutouay distinguished Genefa
Thomas his inviuolbty-hs heroic faculty Tor en-
during wearied and successful. obsnacy IN deience
II not brute courage nor oiiy 10 da
ger. Neither was mere soluteness and ston'neso
heart. certain suen defiance which IN some CASTS
has seemed to await am expected nunersp' unrcme
seriousness and intensity. But ITS chiof iaculy was ~
gOn 10y which n prop1gaied MS teariessnees S.
hopeful ess to the whole body OF bls suppVlt 80 ,n
every soldier his company fcltan assurance OF 'v
NY and success in his presence ana authority =.
signal illustration of this power OF resistance Is FUR
nlshed by the course Of battle M Stont Nc Wh'Ic ~
ont But lis most conspicuous example Is seen ON the
last days fighting at CnickamRug'. In Ms memorial
Grafton az Cleveland 1870 General Garfield SAID:
VII IN -, tnar and admire INC work OF Thomas dur
never is ~ S,ua Win I'M, e5 600 men formed I'm
sem-circle. of which he himself was the centre ana
soul he successfully resisted FOR than five hours
the repeated assaults of OF $4,000 men, flushed
with victory ami bent on his annihilalion
when night mad closed over the combatants the last
sound of battle the booming OF Thomas's shells
bursting among hts bafeu and rrtieamg assaants lie
was Indeed The Rock OF CLickamauga, against when
the Wild waves Ct battle dashed in vain will stand
forever IN the annals OF his country that there
he saved from destruction the Army OF the CumOei-
General Thomas, in his simple and modest way. has
LETT !, statement concerning himself, whch
will be accepted without question In letter Of No
vcmber 20 1869, expressing his regret that he would
not able to reunion the Society Of the
Army tire Cumberland that ear, Indianapolis, he
the end the late accept with checruncss, ana
perform with zeal and honesty. whatever duties de-
eudeavor to impress who with and under
ms command of the Importance Of the SER
ices HEY nad undertaken To perform"
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN THE REBELLION.
These sentences that George lIThomas some
thing and better than merely a soldier He was
pair He had country and cause, aud IN their
defence H. drew his sword Toe principles and inter
which he periled his fe anu staked his lame
more even than the gallant service ne performed vi
their behalf great and DISTINGUISHED as 1t was JUSTIFY
the Celebration this day The occasion seems appfo
pirate statement and vinoicaon OF the grounds on
sneda nd M Y
But The rebellion of the Confederate states In 1861
was oi different class II was not war 81 Iaetlo.s
supporting val claimants to official succession noth
acknOw odglDg the legitimacy Of the institutions OF COY.
cTrmeut; was II an attempted revolution III benaI
right against power. II on the contrary DEFER
aud desperate struggle. not merely TO overthrow
government, Int 10 destroy the nationality repre-
II was founded complete and Fundamental ms
conception of the character OF tn political INSTITUTIONS
the country, and of the relation OF the governments
OF the staes 10 hat OF the ited states. ana llIe
to ioaize The ruth that behind and below both these in-
strumeuta Of political action there was cohslu-
eucy that tAer originating and supporting cause
tue unity of which made nation OF al the people
me false which embodied these msconc, ptous
for there denial mat states had inde-
sJucuhic nights. The only Controversy had Deen to
! define what they were, "a who were the Judges of
f' Jr,na was state supr.inac, Tor n taught thai
10 The slate and not to tie United States WIS
I'VE iurisdiclions BY the very frame Of the un-
ana organic structure o The National author
ity the supreme sovereignty, all its relations to in-
ovidus, 20 domestic States ana iOreign nations. le-
longs that constituency hlch Is nightly designated
the peoIlc o. the United sats, aud IA exercised by
that Government when represents ana ehectuates
their collective ana National Will IL is this supremacy
olurieteton aud authority that constitutes our nation
atv. aud csscutil TO n. In TINS view, the unit Of
power and dienity Nationi STATES sicui-
cam merely It's parts and factions. The National Gov
eminent j. TIE ccntie ana nat luciOs, ahu
within IT. comliete circle the entire aggregate OF
Garnionions coGperatns whole. Ii is not neon
siseu with this pr To value and cherish the local at
fachment- which connect Us with the STATES ~ our ma
Wv u Onr art dntv and our cher love- srr dne
IN fft AID
the principal value OF cz nsp Of the state j. that
il confer upua Us tie dignity anG pivieg, Ma
II coufonp, Of his view Of our Consutuiiona organ.
iz1tlon a. a Nation the opposing theory Of
The supremacy OF The s. ties, the snbordnaion Of The
Union. And founding mon Ills false iuterpre-
tiuon OF the tonst luuonal I"c's oI our ms
tory the No"i me Ts aS ws1 up,,o GrG os
aud purposes whlch ch,lsted the sfmrslhltS ana
efforts. not merely Of states but Of section,
aud thar without regard To Stale lines, and even DISC
Of di-ti guisheo public men, AID thousands II
sanctioned iustifcd their who broke their al
egsnce to both STATE aud Nation 10 swell the ranks OF
the Rebellion, adj ere 10 the Confederate Govern
duf 1ovrerfl interests rartly uecnularv uarily po
en- emu I,ryang section or the country. winch organ
zed and array It's puDc sentiment 10 eradicate every
seed of dissent within H. and to defend Itself against
every hosihy from without: Iness Interests II Is
need es g. save al sfe" oul o me lst'ulon OF negro
slavery. Ihty nirehcu'd themselves carry p'hhn ihe
rlmpris % state s"y,reigny ana SUI macy. CIon
holding interest," known IN our history as Tie slave
power.
spiut was upon the question OF tarh duties, LEVIED
witn discrimination IN favor OF American mauuiac-
tues.
TIE LAST STRUGGLE OF SLAVERY.
This. however. was mere episode. 1t WAS inc-
dental illustration Of "a general fact, which soon
bssgn 90 become nantes ana which ,veniuaied ~
sa,'Iy eis me 'npatoie with me permanence o. Nj
UoIal institutions Tue rAscnci of ric slyeho'fug
interest demanded acr iccs whch could only be maize
al t- cXptuse and hy the Innate extinction OF al he
ioeas wuicn Law al the founiilou of our existence
Nation. Unter tre mock ng banner Oi state
Rights, 10 opened Is cannon upon the National Power.
aud when sumter iel. buried forever uId It's runs
ino lost of C'ufrletacy, ~ when slavery was
proclaimed Ia be tue corh,r-.,one.
IL victory. not only fo the Nation, but for
kind and marks step N me pSse,s OF the Isce mat
AM they re many hat follow ALWAYS IN It's tfain-
WI Doc forgotten and cnacod out the Oh will remain
sal freedom, the political AID civil equality o al
tRe citizens OF the Commonwealth ~ aresu that vndl
WIN overcome Ia tle conh O. as well AZ tnose who
ovcrtame tAem, can mute, WI loIt bitterness or hvpo
equally with boih. Aud those who our
jou On grateful ANA g. Ous anksgying 10 the
gracious COD who tur ed scales OF battle against
tnen but against t.tr cause, w, TOO. can without hu-
initiation sci conlem T., jim with them IN solemn eel
eDiatlous aud funeral rites over the graves OF COne
well Federal ded. as sacr hces and expia-
tiOIs not made IN vim.
e. OF the whole matter Is that the life OF the
Nation Is essential To the lie OF the people; that It's
that its integrity vital To the growth ana perfection OF
that rational ini orderly but impartial and brDevocr
to its keeping. continued within the forms OF its
constitution: that neither sectional strife party
trn.iun must invade draw IN question
esstnJ "a ursdctUn that IL shall be cherished
an ally and friend OF ali legitimate powers Of he States
and alien ana enemy OF the liberties OF It's
people that the sentiment OF Nationality shall be cher
lsLed as the spirit PATRIOTISM, and our love Of cOuu
good faith. to embrace not the locality |
bounded Oy personal party horizon. but the |
whoc galaxy aud constellation OF nxed ana immuiahle
stars that Ill the OF our hopes; and that no
sirit of snal be aOwel to confuse the bound
aries hat and separate the aotm ntS o. author
iy aud Jurisdiction which have been wisely made TO
enhOiy and enforce tie constitutional Will OF the
people.
In tAs unnatural contest, George H. Thomas adhered