National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-31
DECORATION ORATORY.
Some Passages from tile OratiOns-COl.
oneI CorAhiIl and the Veterans.

oncI CorAhiiI and the Veterans.
"As l look over the concourse," said
Colonel Corkhll in his Grafton at the Soldiers Home
yesterday, am reminded that am speaking to
an audience that has not its counterpart in any
sembly that to-day meets for this purpose; for
have before me the heroes of three wars. Men
who were with General Scott at Vera Ctuz, Cerro
Gordo, and Chapultepec; men who were with
General Zachary Taylor at Buena Vista, Palo Alto
and Monterey, and trailed through the poisonous
swamps of Florida in the Seminole war; men who
pointed the cannon that Grant thun-
dered at the gates of the rebel capital, and
men who followed the invincible Sherman
as he led his resistless columns from
Atlanta to the sea; men who have earned
their undisputed title to their countrys gratitude
by their heroic conduct on many a hOtly contested
battlefield of the Republic. l sure that in
this presence can afford to be somewhat personal
the day, the occasion, and the audience justify
it, for am speaking to men whose history belongs
not to themselves but is the common property of
the country for whose honor the labor and toll OF
their active life have been given. Before me are
men like
| SERGEANT JOHN T. BRAYMAN,
now nearly eighty years old. Fifty years ago he
Joined the ranks of the Seventh Infantry, and has
followed the fortunes of his regiment with all its
yicissitudes and dangers its battles and its gories
| the red warriors of Osceola. And afterward, with
Scott assisted in waving it in triumph over the
Halls of the Montezumas; and Sergeant William
Rafter who thirty four years ago donntd the uni
form OF an artilleryman and went aboard the
steamer Lexington, bound for Monterey, Cal. On
that vessel were three young lieutenants of the
army, then unknown to fame, but whose names
have since become household words-WiLlam Te-
cumseh Sherman, H. W. Halleck, and E. o {. Ord.
And who does not know
SERGEANT JOHN WALTERS,
whose familiar face greets you at the entrance Of
the Soldiers Home? Thirty five years ago he
Joined Company of the Second Artillery; aAd in
the war with Mexico was under the command of a
then obscure officer of the army, but one who has
since written his name high upon the scroll of his
countrys honor, q man with whom l served, and
whom learned to love with that devotion and 10y
atty which is nurtured and matured only by asso-
citation amid the Vicissitudes of war, in camp and
upon the field. l saw him in command of brig
ade, a division, and finally grand army corps. |
saw his ifeless body borne from the field and
take this occasion to say in the presence of these
soldiers and this vast assembage, that a drawer,
true-, or more unselfsh patriot never wore the
uniform of the United States army than this young
lieutenant known to the world as Major General
John Sejgwick. Sergeant Walters carries upon
his person evidences Of his bravery when he fol-
lowed his gallant commander over the embaDk-
ments of Churubusco. But speak of him here
because, although private soldier, he was the
trusted orderly of that distinguished officer to
whose care and foresight you owe this magnificent
home of the soldiers of the Union. I might go On
and call by name one hero after another among
those who are here assembled who still probably
wear the soldiers uniform; but no word that l
could utter would add luster to their fame FOX Is
was earned in an arena where words are IdIe-in
contest that puts to shame the aph3,tsm that the
pen is mightier than the sword
HON. MARK II. DUNNELL,
in his Grafton at Arlington, said: The greatness
ofthe Republic was never so Enthusiastically dis
played to the world now. Our increase in
wealth was never so great our material pros
perity was never so imposing The credit Of the
Government is a marvel to the older powers of the
world. During the sixteen years which
have followed the close of this war of
the sections there has been displayed
among us a wondrous power in recuperation and
development We are to-day justly proud and
justly happy, for with this return to the triumphs
of peace We behold an increase of that fratcrnul
spirit which took its fight when the spirit of war
triumphed for the hour. deem tia duty, here
where sacred ashes rest to invoke the con-
tinued and yearly growing increase of this spirit,
till every State and every citizen shall concede
thst God hath given to them
THE FAIREsT INHERITANCE
beneath the skies, and that Washington and Adj
ANS. that Henry and Franklin thought out and
formed for US the best civil government which has
yet been given to any people in any age. Our ex-
tent of territory, varied climate our rich Soils
our mineral resources, equal 10 all the possible
demands which the most refined civilization
may exact and call for; our vast sea-cOast
our inventive genius, our characteristics as
race, give notice to the whole world that
we must be let alone in the mighty work which
God and nature have assigned us in the worlds
career. Perfect freedom alone opens up to man
his majestic possibilities, and puts into action every
force with which he has been endowed 1t per-
mits scope to every aspiration of the soul and mind
civil government which can allow to each citi-
zen in it the highest personal freedom in the modes
adopted for
INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT
in the line of real progress and happiness is the
best government. Does not our Government give
us this liberty in larger measure than any other?
Not simply that We elect our own rulers and are
sovereign in a true governmental sense, but that
the Government is absent from us, lets US
alone, permits and makes lawful every
act which, under law, we may resolve
upon for our own personal good. We may
go and return. Every school is open to
every child. The dictates of conscience are left
free to all. The State has not made our scholars,
it has not given US our statesmen, but it has per-
mitted the citizen, in no way aided by hereditary
rights and privileges, to make his way TO the
highest place among scholars and statesmen. Yes,
my friends, we mag well rejoice to-day in our
grand civil inheritance. But we must remember
that not mere material resources and personal
freedom make state"
Decoration Notes Elsewhere.
General james a. Beaver delivered Grafton at |
Music Han Wilkes Barre. Pa
Dispatches from various parts OF New England in |
dicaIe appropriate observance Of the day
Appropriate ceremonies were held at Cypress Hill |
New York, by the James H. Perry Post, |
No. 50.
General George H. Sharpe, speaker Of the New /
York Assembly, delivered an GRAFTON at Albany, at
Martin Hall
At Cincinnati the graves of soldiers were dec !
GRATED in Spring Grove Cemetery. General r. r. |
Dawes, OF Marietta, delivered the GRAFTON.
At Elizabeth. " j., the day very generally OBJ
served as y holiday. The Uric Dahlgren Post Grand
Army of IL" RernA'c. conducted memorial services
at Evergreen Cer:e:nry assisted by the Phil kearney
Guard They :;ea,.ad oil the soldiers graves in the
-J-arle S,.s! cemetery.