The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-10-20

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have listened with much pleasure 10
the tribute paid by the Col. from |
North Carolina to your noble repre-
sentative in Congress. l have Wit
messed with much pleasure she tri-
butte be has made; and l have lis
tened with infinite delight to the
response which your Representative
in Congress has made, Ladies, it is
not often that 1 regret, that | am
not as old as my appearance indi-
Gates. / wish to say to you and to
the Mexican veterans, that in nv |
personal history l have had a reali-
zation OF the fact that philosophy |
and metaphysics teach that early |
impressions are more vivid, more
impressive than those of later years. |
| can never forget when with my
sachel on ms shoulder trudglng to
school, / heard the postmaster in
Virginia read the proclamation of
war from President Polk against the
| Government Of Mexico. l was but
a boy then, but l had received early
Impressions of national politics. L
was Wing boy.
Henry Clay had been the can6i-
date Tor President in 1914, and he
had proclaimed with all the elo.
ouence aud feryor Of his nature that
war with Mexico would produce a
terrible and bloody war. On the
other hand. Democratic politicians
of that day. the supporters of Gov.
Polk for the Presidency. Marcy,
Silas Wright, Tom Benton and others
maintained peEceable acquisition of
territory. Notably in Tennessee
politics, Ex-Governor Aaron v.
Brown, pledged himself that all the
blood shed in the Mexican war
could be held in lady's thimbIe.
Henry Clay was right and the ad-
verse prophets were wrong. but it is
now q conceded fact, that the Mexi-
can war was demanded by Ameri.
car civilization. Conservative iafu-
ences had too long stood out agaihst
the manifest destiny of the South
western people. The Mexican war
begun in violation Of popular senti-
ment, has demonstrated by its bril-.
liant acquisition to our National do
main that the conservative idea is
too ofhen fatal to popular progress.
, The Mexican war has added to our
public possession what in any Coun.
try would be regarded as a prinCely
acquisition, The truth is, gentlemen,
[ challenge combination that records
of civilization in the history of the
human race present no instance in
which so small an army ever acniev-
ed so grand victory and brought to
its government so rich an estate. /
: would like TO speak TO you longer,
, but circumstances require me to be
T brief. l congratulate you on this Op-
r portunity of osmipg together. 1t is
no doubt q pleasant thug for you to
fight ever your battles, to live over
your friendships and to renew the at
tachments made sacred by common
: peril incurred in the cause of your
ceuntry. In view Of what / have
heard here to-day, in the presence of
this vast and glorious assembly,
desire 10 say that while | am not
here, under the present circum-
} stances, to extol Bob Taylor, as d
! Democrat, do say that the man,
, take him as citizen, Republican or
Democrat, who, in his character as
Congressman-as the servant Of his
people - stands up and demands
: justice to the meA who linger among
: US as the remnants and representa-
lives Of the most glorious war in our
, history, certainly deserves popular
recognition and support. Col.
Fleming paid the ladi2S, = great
many Of whom we're present. a bigh
. and beautiful complimest.
Col. White, of Hawkins, was next
introduced who, in his usual feiicit-
Gus style, spoke as fellews:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN An
humble cities from the hill sides OF
our awa beloved East Tennessee l
am proud To be present at this re-
unien of the Veterans OF the Next.
can war. 1t was nay province in
1868 to land st Point label, Mexico.
[ was a stranger in @strange land, L
looked to IandWard, sHd-bleak sand
hills answered my vision. / saw a
flag afoat and instantly inquired
what is that. That, said the inform
er, il the burial place Of the Ameri-
can soldiers, Who fell il 1861. |
made humble pilgrimage to and put
some svergreens On these uukept
graves.
At Brownsville, Texas, l was
shown another place over which The
stars and stripes kept silent au-
die0ee further en- in the interior Of
our sister Republic at Negros Pc
gros, fouad few graves unmark.
ed. At individual cost, plated
flag staff, from which the stars and
stripes we're sent aloft. Correspond
ing with that sister Republic was
advised that our beloved Govern
ment had marked the pathway OF
our fallen heroes to the city of Mex
ice. But, it remained for our be-
loved Mouataia Boy, Bob Taylor, TO
stand in the Congress Of the United
States and eloquently plead fer q
Governments grateful recognition,
Of Veterans service, service sacrifice.
Oblation made The return fer which
and of which has made ours the