The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-09-18

and best remembered and most worthy
OF American admiration l think arr
those OF Daniel Webster. Lot me cal
your attention as ! close to two OF hi
remarkable utterances familiar 10 every
American boy who studies at all The
history OF his country.
WHERE WEBSTER WAS WRONG.
In one Of his great speeches he says
and the motto has become almost a.
familiar as tho notices that arc quoted
from tho great man who led uH through
the rebellion. He says: 1--WE have one
country, one constitution, ono destiny.'
That sentence was Webster's sixty years
ago. Was it true then7 One country.
No, my friends, l must say to Mr.. Web
ster that that was his prophecy OF what
would be. 1t was his hope OF what
might be. It did not exist in all the
days OF his life one country. Why. 1t
was two countries. Slave there, (point.
ing south) freedom there (pointing
north), and contest all along the line
that separated tho free State from the
old slave holding States. Why, ii Abra.
ham Lincoln had made any one OF those
great patriotic and moderate speeches
that led him straight forward to the
Presidency south OF Mason and Dixon's
line it would have been at the risk Of
his life. Ono country, Mr.. Web.
s.er? 1t was two countries, one
side OF the line free, the other
slave, and you were mistaken. You may
have hoped for it, but yon hadn't 1t.
Not ono constitution, Mr.. Webster.
Why, over on tbatside (pointing south)
it meant the right OF secession, the right
Of nullitication, Of the sovereignty OF
the State, that Il part was greater than the
whole. On the other side it meant
supremacy Of the Union, and that the
Nation was greater than all the parts. II
was two constitutions, Mr.. Webster, one
for the South and one for the North.
One destiny! Why, one destiny? On
the one side under the black banner Of
slavery; on tie other side they were
looking at the north star, at the stars in
the banner, and were marching in that
direction going apart every day, and now
as the result OF your war we can say that
the prophesy and the help OF Mr.. Web.
ter has been fulfilled, that after We
fought and won at Appoma,tox We for
the first time had one country, one con-
stitution, one destiny. [Applause.
TRIBUTE TO LINCOLN.
"Thero is one too little mentioned
when our great reunions come and
patriotism rises upon the sounding OF
drum. call him iu our muster, l name
him in our grief, captain OF the consti.
tuition. Abraham Lincoln was our
chief. [Great cheering, Every soldier
knows tnat at the head OF the shining
roll OF those who gave their lives for their
country i'll that great war must stand
forever the name Of Abraham Lincoln
[ [Applause. and what a history!
beginning With the humblest and
least hopeful OF surrounding conditions,
what a record he left behind him. l
read q description Of him at nineteen.
They described him as having on buck
skin breeChes much too short for the
legs Of the young man; low shoes, with
gap OF five inches between the lower
end OF the pantaloons and the shoes;
with cap made Of squirrel skin, or two
or three squirrel skins; without educa.
ton but starting out to get one, and to
think that under our institutions that
man took place that gives him remem.
brance and gratitude and love through.
out all the world to the end OF recorded
time. e..
This was made possible by the war
which We fought. Had We failed the
fame and name and memory Of Lincoln
would have been sad refrain, while
now it is hope and joy and gladnesa
whenever Christianity and patriotism
prevail. We were comrades with Lin.
coin. Would you give your part in that
war for any in civil life? [Cries, mo,
never" For all the mines, all the
Golcondas to fill your pockeis7 Not il
you understand it as you should. What.
ever is best ia men and women does not
end with this life. The civil honor,
fame and gold we do not take With
us, but the character formed is eternal
as immortality. MS
l thank God for one thing, comrades,
that it was permitted to me to march
shoulder to shoulder with you during
the long tedious days and nights Of that
war, and that We now survive to come
together and brother up without regard
to rank or distinctions OF any sort, as
men who labored together for the well
fare OF their country and all mankind.
l thank you for your kind attention."
After the applause which followed
this address had subsided, Governor
Fleming wss presented, and on behalf
OF the State again bade the veterans vel.
come. His speech was short, but in
good taste and happily expressed. When
he resumed his seat the meeting was Dc.
clared adjourned till 2:3O p. m. There
was SO much handshaking and renewing
Of acquaintances at the dinner hour
that the afternoon session was pretty
late beginning, but the vast audience
did not seem to grow impatient. When
the meeting did begin it was 80 full OF rare
good things that all were more than re-.
paid for their wait. Prot. Sarchett
opened the proceedings after good deal
Of inspiring martial music with March
ing Through Georgia" and at his request
the immense audience Joined heartily in
the chorus. Ex.President Hayes then
formally called the meeting to order and
asked Prof.. Sarchett to sing "The Girl l
Left Behind Me" (which he did to good
effect.
:. STIRRING spEECHHs.
General Hayes then introduced Gen.
eral Powell, OF Belleville, ILL.,, who read
IN eloquent and appreciative eulosy
upon the late President, Gen. George D
Crooks. At times. as he spoke of the
character Of General Crooks as it i'm.
pressed those who knew him intimately,
General Powell's strong voice faltered,
and many Of his hearers were deeply af.
fected also.
Gen. "Bill" Gibson was then called
out by the Chairman, and was received
with cheers. He made 0 speech such as
only he can make, and soon had the
boys laughing hysterically and wiping
their eyes by turns. He said: "Boya,
how glad and how, proud I am that We
are alive. Let US thank God there are
20 many OF us hero yet. The majority
have gone home, but this Is an occasion
when a fellow rejoices to be one OF the
minority" He then INDUCED in remin.
iucences and stories in his well known
inimitahle Gtyle, aEd wound up with q
thyiltinO q q mat ronb q m !. martnn Ho po;3