The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-10
CEDANT ARMA TOGE.
Col. Fenner's Adieu to the Cres-
cent City Battalion.

ond oolden ons,,lettes for the epotlees ermine,
tIolonel tnow Judael Fenner called hIs splendid
battalion under arms yesterday TO bid them n
Iaat farewell. The ceremony was remarkably
ouchins and full of feeling.
When the four companies. radiant In gray
and gold had formed In com panv front In the
wat hall Of The armory at Mechanics Institute.
Col. Fenner. with his guests, marched up to
the platform, where seats awaited them.
THE GUESTS
were Col Theo Lee Bhute Of the Governor q
staff Major Gem w. J. Bebsn. Dol. w. i. Vau-
dry, of Gen. Fred ORden's etaff, and formerly
comma nder Of the companies known az the
Crescent City Battalion, Gen. Augustus heieh
ard. OF the geoond Brigade with bis staff; Dol
Brauebn and Major Armbruster, and the stafI
OF the German Battalion: Dol. q. Leaardeur.
Jr., and the atar Of the Louisiana Field Artil-
cry; Col. Ad Meyer, of the First Regiment. and
staff: Major Harry Pickles. Of the Second ReRl-
,tnept: DOL J. u. Richardson, representing the
washington Artillery; Capt. Theard repre-
sentjnR the Orleans A. derry, and others from
various commands.
The guests having taken seats on the plat
form
COLI CHARLES n. FENNER
addressed them "a follows:
Friends and Cotnrades-In severing my on
cfal connection with you, felt TINT should be
doing vlolenceto my feelings If did not make
an OCCASION TO meet you once more. with har-
meas on our backs" and to express my regret
/ at parting from YOU,
When was Invited more than two years sgo,
to assume command Of this battalion, my
'btuised arme" had been long hung NJ for
monuments" myself arduOuay engaged In the
puraulte of civil life and nothing was further
from my expectation than the6 ever again, qn.
less ths coil Of ny con9try ahond be Invaded
Il whatever with military affairs. But when
4. saw this body Of noble youth
rsr state FeF9 sR from me The yexs 81
the fourteenth of September aud ninth OF Jan
paty. representative Of ali the conservative
Tor a leader under whom they might preserve
and consolidate their organization, | felt thet
Che choice of myself was compliment which
could not be too highly priced, and that was
under the hgheet obligation of civic duty To &C.
espt IT, | have never had occasion TO regret 1t.
Erom that day 'o this your conduct has ex.
maintained an esprH ia corps which has
rendered discipliue superhpous, You have
achieved pr9foieney IN dr,il and ma,tisl ex;
Che most experienced experts on leettye occa-
nions. the natural exuberanee Of youth has
been ohaetened and s,nbdned by the eenss Of
called ON to act in serious emergencies you
have been ever ready " respond with PROMPT
meas and alaerity. No olt3en has ever aeen y uni
form of this battalion diegraced by partictpa-
tion In riotous debaucherr or lnwleespese. No
citizen hHa ever obse, eed your martial bearing
aud cadenced etep aa you marched these etreots
without feeling that here was safeguard of
order aud bulwark of liberty
In my own official Intercourse with you let
me pay that have never experienced from any
sinale officer or man anything but the moot
,eoH~teeue Difference and the prpmptest obedi-
been presented to me. There hae never been
occasion for n court martial or FOR the iniliciou
ofany military penal,r--not even for the light
II ID a renroaeh 10 the youth of our metropo-
lie that the ranks Of such q battalion should be
go ecantily filled, we'll resulated militia ia
the buiwark OF liberty In q free State. Govern
ment and society are subject TO the constant
setion of centrifugal and eentripetRl forces
The former must be restrained or anarchy re-
suite and the conservative sentiment, like every
other human influence, must be backed by
power In order to be respected.
When this essential power. however, - con-
cehtrated IN the hands Of a professional claes.
separate from aud independent OF the people
there resnits severance OF Interest and gym.
people, full of temptation to ambitious men
and of danger to popular liberty. .,
Of The eoSs snd for the pseps
daily Ia all the avocatons OF life. with common
interests and r. full sympathy With the op! ,,.
while amply sufficient to repress disorder aud
protect life aud property, may be equally relied
on to defend ponulsr rishts An, ana maintain the
II has been the fortune OF tho military or
ganisations which compose the present militia
Of the state r sve sgnal pr3hSts h Gt n their En-
GATED. The fourteenth Of September and ninth
of January. illustrated their readiness to pro
tect the rights and liberties Of the reople. while
their recent actions demonstrate their prompt
ness to aid the civil authorities In enforcing
the laws and maintaining the peace and order
You. young men. have reason to be proud
that you are members of this battalion. You
are performing civic duty Of the highest
ton Of all who have the interests OF society at
heart, 1t ia time that Rejecting men should
recognize and show their appreeia'ion Of such
service. Membership in good standing OF n
well organized militia company should be a
passport to favor and employment. Our mer-
the trlfing loss Of time which these duties en-
tail. should encourage their employees In every
way 70 join these organizations;
Young men of wealth and leisure should be
ashamed to leave these duties 10 be performed
by those who have less stake In the community
than themselves. Women. who have most In
should send their sons and lovers into the
ranks, and should bestow their favor upon
those who, in the hour of peril. may be relied
en- for protection. All patriots and good ctti-
zens should co operate in building np public
sentiment which will encourage, foster and
maintain this safeguard of free stase-a we'll
fbeseech you, therefore. comrades. TO stand
by your colorR. Fill up your. ranks: let your
feet your friends and associates. and bring
them to your sides. Give TO your officers the
same support and assistance which have ever
experienced at your hands. You will carry
with you the priceless consciousness Of duty
done. and will preserve Louisiana as "A State
In which, while lie. property and order are Sc;
cure. the precious boon Of popular liberty will
be defended against nil assailants and handed
down as an heritage TO your posterity.
For myself, while the necessities of my new
position compel me to terminate my active
official connection with you, cherish the hope
that may be remembered by you as a friend
and regarded a. a counselor to whom. In any
time
advice and assistance as | may be capable Of
rendering. shall watch the future career of
your battalion with not less interest than have
FELT In its past: and shall never cease to regard
IL as one of the proudest mementoes of my life
that was the first commander Of the Crescent
City Battalion.
AS soon as the loud applause and cheering
which followed this Grafton had subsidized
COL. RICHARD c. BOND
arose and said:
Comrades have listened to the affectionGte
and eloquent words of Col. Fenner with strange
feelings of admiration. mingled with pain and