The record-union., 1891-06-13
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
EIIsworth's Assassination at AIexan-
dria, Virginia.
Henry Edgerton's Fiery and Eloquent
Denunciation Of the Act - The
Monsoon Fight.

The most exciting news of that week
brought by pony express was the an
nouncement of the sensational death of
the gallant Colonel Ellsworth, of the
New York Fire Zouaves, who was as
sassinated in Alexandria, Virginia, while
engaged in tearing down a secession flag
from house Colonel Ellsworth's muir
der was the subject OF many an orators
flight of eloquence during the war and
for years afterward, but there never was
finer eulogy pronounced upon the
youthful martyr than that uttered by the
lamented Henry Edgerton during a spir-
tied address in the State campaign OF
1861. That address, which deserves to
rank with the best productions of Ameri-
can orators, is probably not in print. A
portion of it, recalled by the writer, from
memory, in which reference is made to
Ellsworth's untimely death, is as fol-
lows
"Fellow-c citizens, what spectacle Amer
lea to-day presents! But yesterday we
were happy and united people, power
ful and renowned throughout the earth,
and advancing with rapid strides to the
realization Of destiny great, hopeful
and grand. But to-day how changed the
picture! A wicked and abominable re-
beIlion has reared its impious crest in
our midst, threatening to OVerturn our
Liberties, and scattering death, devasta-
ton and havoc throughout the land
The train bands of secession, of nulIifica-
ton, disunion and revolution are gather
ing thick and fast under rebel chiefs
under new and reasonable banners, un-
der new and unwelcome airs-to wrest
from us the heritage of our fathers! On
the other side twenty millions of freemen
arise in their war-clad majesty and might,
and are gathering with thronging helms
and serried shields around the COnstitu-
ton, TO save that heritage and hurl back
the infidel foe!
I'm this crisis, sir, there was but one
path Of duty before the great [Douglasl
Democratic party. 1t has merged and
wheImed all past issues in great, noble,
and transcendent patriotism Sir, thou
sands of Democrats gather with us to-
night in this State around the altar of our
common country. Some in the cities by
the sea, others in the valleys, and others
again upon the mountain-tops, and, with
hands uplifted to Heaven, they swear by
Him who iVeth forever and forever that
the Constitution which Washington
founded, which Madison signed for
which Clay lived, and which the immor-
tai Webster defended, must and shall be
preserved! Through measures of peace,
Ofhonorable compromise and adjustment
If possible, but through battle and tears
and carnage and blood, If necessary! By
means of peace, / mean when rebellion
sues for peace! By means of compro-
mise and adjustment, when a great and
formidable conspiracy shall ground it's
arms, and sue to just, magnanimous
and beneficent Government in a spirit of
loyalty and obedience! =
1T was for this, sir, that Needham, and
Lane, and Stone died in the streets of
Baltimore, each martyrs death! 1t was
for this, sir, that the brave, noble, yet
unfortunate Ellsworth yielded up his
life, a splendid sacrifice! Celestial Spirit
thou shalt descend to immortality in
company with the Sainted heroes Of the
republic! Thy day of vengeance shall
surely come; slowly, but brightly Will it
break! a brave, intrepid race of patriots
to-day issues from the mountain fast
nesses of the loyal North; thy spirit has
descended upon them, and they go forth
TO shame, by immortal deeds, thy cow
ardIy assassination, and to avenge thy
offended shade with heaps of bloody sac
rltlCe! The CORY hand of treason could
deprive thee of life, but not thy followers
OF that spirit of patriotism which inspires
them-that chivalrous courage and that
determined purpose which ere long shall
hurI treason from its throneW
......... Every old-timer remembers Ma
poleon C''Nap") Broughton, tie politician
and lobbyist, who died few years ago.
Thirty years ago Nap was in politics,
and was something Of a boss. One dav
he. and uncle Jimmy Gallagher, who
had held la CustOm-hOuse position, met
on Montgomery street There had been
bad blood between the men, growing out
of some political transaction, and as soon
as they came face TO face they began to
abuse one another.
There was nothing the matter with
Gallagher's tongue, but there was with
his pugilistic ability. Broughton had
no impediment in his fists, but he
had in his tongue; and as Jimmy was
rapidly doing him up at the jawbone
game, Nap became desperate and led out
his right, getting home on Jimmy's
smeller. Then they had it, rough-and-
tumble, all over the sidewalk and the
cobbles,. and if the police had not arrived
when they did there would probably
have been job for the Coroner.
'B-b-by go-go-golly!" sputtered
Broughton, as they dragged him off the
battered form Of poor Uncle Jimmy, II
low no s-s-such trash tito insult me
o-o-on the street,"
The statement was recently made
in a San Diego dispatch that Charles
Cady, who is begging in the streets of
that city, painted the Bear flag and raised
il at SOnoma. William Baldridpe of
Monticello, Napa County, in an interest
ing letter, states the well-known fact that
William Todd, nephew of Abraham
LincOln's wife, painted the Bear flag.
Baldridge did not go to Sonoma until
two days after the party that arrested
Vallejo. When he reached Sonoma the
Bear flag was flying. He adds this bit of
history about Gady:
About three days after I went to So
noma man came in early in the morn
ing. He told me that he and Charles
Cady were in Yerba Buena and heard of
the capture of Sonoma and were anxious
to get there, but the town was under
martial law, and no one was allowed TO
go out or come into the place. Cady and
he stole boat in the night and ran up
Napa Creek to where the town is. He
got horse and went TO Sonoma and left
Cady in Napa. 1t was four or five DAYS
after the flag was hoisted before they left
Gerba Buena. William Russell, who
came across the bay with Cady, is in the
Soldiers Home at Yountville.n
......,..At a Union meeting held at the
then town" of Richland, down in
FRANKLIN Township, William Johnston
presided, and the Vice-P Presidents were
Dr; Williams, ID. De Gross, E. f. Aiken
anu dwight Hollister. S. w. Green and
+. II. Gray were Secretaries. i. L. How
ard reported series of ringing Union
resolutions, concluding:
tourth-That there is no neutral
ground, and those who profess neutrality
add TO the intamy Of treason the disgrace
of cowardice.n
\ band Of 'Union-loving Secessionists"
from georgetown were present, and they
made such kick over the resolution
that a prominent citizen moved to strike
II out, winch was done after a fierce
wrangle; In fact, the sympathizers with
the SoHth had majority of two, and they