The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-13
A RemIniscenca.

The local papers of Belfast recall that
Jefferson Davis visited their city in 1858, on
the occasion Of one of the regular State
musters. Although 1t may not be generally
Known, that muster that Davis attended is
one of the most famous musters ever held in
Maine. 1t was made so by the remarkable
report OF the adjutant general Of the State,
who narrated it with an exuberance of die
tlon wholly unprecedented in an official re-
port Neither before 1853 nor since has
the State of Maine seen its equal.
Some extracts from the description of the
scenes at Belfast will indicate to the reader
Its peculiar features. The Adiutant General
begins thus:
-, On the morning of Tuesday, the 31st of August.
the sun from his eastern lair threw aside the
sable curtain OF the night and rose in majesty
silence along the waters / the penobscot' The
long expected and anxionsly looked for day had
brigade were to glitter amid Fasting swords and and
stssmers the Daniel Webster came proudly into to
port, win slreamers fiutterins and the stars and
stripes thrown 10 the DreeZe bearing on its broad
deck tne FIRST regiment OF the +. urth Division,
Win Dands IN iull chorus pouring forth the soul
stirring measures of Washingion's grand march.
At the same moment In the distance was seen the
steamer Terror with attendant barges. breasting
Division, as brave set Of fellows as ever poised
lance or aimed rifle. AT 10 O'Clock The two
regiments were landed.
Having seen these sons of Mars safely
landed, we will now pass over that portion
OF the report that intervenes before jefferson
Davis appears upon the scene. If any of
our readers have taste for wonderful Eng
llsh, however, we would advise them to
possess themselves of the entire report.
which will richly repay perusal. Mr.. Davis
now arrives:
At . O'Clock that prIncely company the Port
land Blues Captain I. A. Roberts, presented it.
three times three. The most active preparations
were now made to place the troops In the best
possible condit on for the duties Of the day. The
the c.mmandants of the encampment was ten
dered the honor OF reviewing the brigade, which
ne accepted with that grace peculiar 70 the man.
Az y O'Clock the united corps of division COM
manders presented themselves at the quarters of
that distinguished geatleman (the residence of
confines Of the encan,pment. This cort i was was
met al o convenient distance from the parade by
the kockland Guards, Captain H. G. Berry, "a
rank Of the N. v. M with a full band led off by
Ad1utant TillsOn. The escort was gracefully per-
formed, and the soldier that bled at Buena Vista
was presented TO the line amid the bugle's cheer
and the roar OF the artillery. Colonel Davis was
received with the highest marks of respect, aud
.ho iVhuhS uuO Ills FAUX ara position CleerIullV
Lenoered: He now proceeded TO review the
troops with that air Of ease and manness that AZ
taches 70 his every movement. The ceremonies of
the review concluded, the brigade was formed In
close column OF companies on the right when on
the invitation Of General Cushman the guest Of
the occasion addressed the sodiery in an eloguept
and fervd manner, thanking them for the honor
and courtesy they had SO generously bestowed
upon him, and concluded by saying that with
such troops as are now before me, we may defy
the combined forces OF the world and chant the
song OF freedom forever
This ends what the adjutant general has to
say about Mr.. Davis. but in this connection
II would be objectionable not to refer to
general disquisitlon on the subject of war
which is appended to this report,
Under the peaceful heading "dottings." we
find these sentiments
The germ and principle Of the sub,ec, nnon
which we propose TO make "a few dnfs H. caary.I
with the existence OF man, and CLAIMS a. its Iei,
innate birthrght, self-protection and The dsfe5na
OF nations. From the time when the mighty Inab
Ito date no farther back) wheeled his Serted
ranks In the solbre glens of Judea to the present
moment, the same Innate principle Of defence,
defiance and even aggression, lives on and will
live TIL the sceptre OF Universal Kindness and be-
nevolence supplants the spear OF conquest, and
the dove Of universal peace f1ufters her snowy
wings unscared beside the bloody bedk OF the
war hank. 1t is utterly useless aud puerile to
talk about the dsmanlling OF Il nations sOldicry,
ana thereby TO win the world TO the love and
practice OF peace, as 1t Is TO promise ourselves