Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-06-18

in the galleries were down here as partners
with the United States. Laughter
and three cheers for the ladies. The United
States how much that name implies! Think
of its origin Out of empires and kingdoms
a few unhappy men, the Puritans of New
England and the Huguenots of the South,
crossed the sea and planted themselves on
these desolate shores. From this we have
seen the rise Of one Of the greatest nations of
the earth-'a republic of indestructible
states, indissoluble in their union When
we shall also have become a homogeneous
people, with everywhere equal rights and
equal justice, then shall we be a true
republic 1t is owing to you, gentlemen
of the Army of the Potomac, and your
brave comrades in arms, that we are
to-day the United States. Only your patri-
otism and your valor justify me in standing
here in what Is to me a sacred hall. In the
dreary years from 1861 to 1866 we have seen
our best and our dearest rally here We
have seen them go out by the thousand and
return by the hundred. As each year follows
another it adds to the glory and impressive
ness of the victory you won and eyokes
deeper gratitude from the North-and / may
say the South. Over the whole country
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, shall be the
song of victory for one flag that waves over
a united and free government.
An officer moved three cheers ''for the
ideal statesman of America, Hon. George F.
Edmunds, which were given with will
The orchestra then rendered Hail Column
bia' and the Glee Club gave a selection
ITO thee o God"
Geo. Sickles announced as the next toast
'The State of Vermont" First of all, said
he, let me in your name thank Senator Ed
munds for his generous and complimentary
tribute to the Army and Navy. We owe
debt to the country for the men it furnished,
for the vast sums of money it raised. We
owe debt to our statesmen. The State of
Vermont the first child of tine Union and
not spoiled child laughter and applausel, "a
stalwart child. 1t is pleasing to me to see
the State represented here by its Governor
one of our comrades. Ills successor, learn,
10 diltdtiN ltISpu VI unOlICA
Vermont Colonel. Applause | now in
troduce to sou Governor Proctor OF Yer
mont.
Governor Proctor was greeted with three
rousing cheers After humorous introduc-
ton he said that the people had taken the
welcome from me and spoken it better than
possibly could Almost every hearthstone
in the State sent a member to your army.
Our cavalry rode with Custer and Sheridan.
Applause. We are a small State. Other
States sent more men and contributed more
money But show us a State of more ster-
ling loyalty than ours and we will yield the
palM. We thank You for coming here, for
the opportunity of seeing our great COM
manders, for the rich treat we have had in
the address and poem. [Applansc.
Muslc-'The Star Spangled Banner.
Gen. Sickles then announced as the next
toast The City of Burlington" 1t is the
general expression of the Society that the
present meeting in its agreeable features has
not been surpassed by any of the preceding
one The city of Burlington deserves and
will receive our most cordial acknowledge
ments for its generous and most hearty hos
pitality- | now present to You Hon Henry
Ballard.
Three cheers were given for Mr.. Ballard,
who when the applause had subsidized spoke
as follows: The sentiment seems an almost
idle one after the scenes you have witnessed
to-day. All our citizens have been speaking
in behalf of the city. The flags and banners
and greetings have spoken to you the senti-
ments of our people and express more elo-
quently than words right royal welcome to
the veterans of the Army of the Potomac
TApplause. The city of Burlington is for
tunate in its situation, in its scenery, in its
University, in its Hospital, in its Home for
Destitute Children, in its Free Library, in its
being the home of our distinguished towns
man Senator Edmunds. Applause. Some
of US think that he is a bigger man than old
Grant," applausel and big enough for a
first-class Presidential candidate APP
plause Yonder is the lake on whose wa
tiers Macdonough rode to victory. Over
there sleeps Ethan Allen From this hall
went forth our volunteers, among the car
lest to form the grand old Army of the
Potomac They were worthy of Sheridan
Tapplausel and worthy of Sedgwick- In the
hardest-fought battles of the rebellion they
wrote the name of Vermont in imperishable
letters on the splendid record of the Army
of the Potomac In behalf of the city bid
you cordial, heartfelt welcome. We have
done our best to honor you. We hope that
YOU will take away with you memories that
you will always keep bright. of Burlington
and her people. Applause.
4. The Orator and Poet.
Responded to by Joaquin Miller, Who said :;
| am not a comrade. l don't deserve it. |
wasn't there. Laughter This is the first
toast to which | ever attempted to respond
and TO Judge from the present state of my
nerves it will be the last. Great poems can
not be written. The greatest poem | ever
60 1f Il
up town in the West and advancing the
borders of civilization. Your granite rocks
can't be ploughed up or cut up. They are
your poems. Mr.. Miller closed with the
story of the Yankee saying, that here in
New England Eve build churches and
school-houses and raise men Applause
and three cheers.
S. The Army of the Potomac.
Responded to by Gen. H. W. Sloeum. No
army, he said, was ever organized under
more adverse circumstances than was the
Army of the Potomac But it had one of
the greatest of military organizers-Gen
George B. Mcclellan. Applause. In its
early days it was unjustly and unfairly cri-
ticised. 1t was really the bulwark of our
country To it the whole country looked,
and if it had succumbed our cause would
have been lost The nucleus of the Army of
the Potomac was that grand old Sixth Corps
and the nucleus of that, | have always
thought, was the New York Brigade, which
had the honor of commanding. Laughter
and applause. But | am now inclined TO
change my mind. think on the whole the
nucleus was the Vermont BrigaGe-and the
Vermont Brigade find right here in Bur-
lington. Laughter and applause. | there
fore congratulate YOU on being here at the
tha ND rtNR ft,tr
Laughter and applause, followed by three
cheers for Gen. Slocum, Senator EdmuEds
leading.
9. The Memory of Stlrk.
Responded to by Hon Luther Il. Marsh.
After humorous Introduction Mr.. Marsh
said the toast was graceful tribute TO
hero of the Revolution. Gen. Stark lived
like one of his own mountain hemiocks. lie
was man rough and rude, strong and great
Mr.. Marsh then told the story of how, after
the long and weary march from Lebanon to
Bennington, Gen. Stark at council of war
voted with a minority of one for an mmc-
diate attack upon the enemy, saying. Boys,
we'll fight EN- to-day" Referring to Gen.
Sheridan Mr.. Marsh quoted the famous
lines, Mature formed but one spch man and
broke the die in moulding Sheridan" Ap-
plause. In conclusion the speaker rccited
with admirable effect Charles MacSey's
poem of .'Tubal Cain Applause and
three cheers, led by Gen. Slocum.
Marching through Georgia was then
sung. DR.. John Sherar of ST. Adams taking
the solo and the audience joining in the
chorus
:. The Arm AID Navy.
Responded to for the REGULAR army by
-b,, x,-a. tx-,rr,,IV ahna-si