Year: 1862




from their vantage ground and by the
light of ages, and they will SO WELD the
sword that this first shall be their last
and only contest in this question of gov
ernment, and that these historic battle
fields of ours shall be, not the recurring
arenas for the fruitless shedding of fra
ternal blood, but great seals upon the
final triumph of popular liberty.


But while you give the wealth and
power Of the n: ii IN to mailtain the
integrity Of its territory, and while you
stand by your constituted authorities
with invincible fidelity and hold them
infexibly in position, you must with
equal determination maintain those safe
guards which have been thrown around
your personal liberties. The strength Of
the nation to rise superior to every as
sault lies in the maintenance of indi-
vidual liberty as it stood under the
supremacy of the laws-in the freedom
of speech and freedom of the press.
Every invasion of the laws is usurpa-
ton, dangerous in revolution, and not to
be justified by any plea of temporary ex-
pediency. O6stG principiis-stop the
beginnings, and stop decisivelJ, remem-
bering that if you fail in this duty you
surrender the sword and the people fall.


God placed in the hands of an angel
at the gates of Eden, flaming sword,
turning on every side, to guard the way
to the Tree of Life So has he placed
in your hands a sword hich you must
keep always bare AID flaming, and turn
ing every Say, to guard the approaches
to that liberty which is the tree of your
national life.


And now, my dear and kind friends,
in parting from you and leaving our con-
nection to those pleasant associations,
the memory of which we have rekindled
tonight, what can say that will even
remotely express, the deep impression
your generous favors has made upon
me7 shall hold you always in most
cordial and affectionate remembrance,
and l can only say that gratitude and
regard for you will remain among the
permanent emotions of my heart.


The laws of Rome denied triumphs to
Generals for victories obtained in civil
wars-and rightly, too, for how can we
find in the bloodshed and misfortunes Of
countrymen occasions for rejoicing :?
But this-if it be not presumptuous in
me to say so-this is triumph which
no feelings and no laws forbid, and
which every law would be powerless to
express-a triumph in the affections of
the people.


THE CEREMONIES INSIDE.


After the sword presentation, the Ger
eral retired from outside to the large
parlor of the Brant mansion, where a
company of German young ladies were
introduced TO him. In the presence of a
room-full of admiring spectators, among
whom were many distinguished army


officers and prominent citizens, Miss
Josephine Weigel presented sash, in


the following beautifully chosen words:


1t was an old custom of our German


ancestors that the wives and daughters


of the warriors stood by them in the hour


of trial, encouraged them in their battles


for freedom and independence, and


cheered them on to their deeds of valor.


As the representatives of the German


ladies of St. Louis, we appear before you,


the patriot and the honored leader in


the great struggle for liberty, and beg


your acceptance of sash, work of our


own hands. The sword, which the Ger


mails of the West presented to you to


day, and the sash with which we accom-.
pany it, will forever convince you how


dear your name is to the children of the
German fatherland, always the true and
bold defenders of liberty and our com
mon country.


: The emblem with which we adorned
our gift will show you the spirit which
prompted its execution. "United and
free, is the rallying cry of the Germans
in this great struggle for our national ex
: istence, and we trust that John c. Ere
mont, the chosen standard bearer O
liberty, will accept and cherish this little
token of our love and admiration in the
same sense in which we present it.
To which the General gallantly anC
r fttingly replied as follows:


II gives me, ladies, much pleasure tha
you have been willing to add this beauti
ful expression of your regard to the gift
. have just received.


,, In old times, before knight was in
! vested with sword and spurs, it was Gus
, tomary that he should undergo perioc
|. of abstinence and penance. Ihave gon'
! through my period of modification, ant
4 4 1 am happy that at the end of it, m,
J sword is now to be girt on by such fai
: and friendly hands.


There is an old story, probably NOR
familiar to yourselves than to me, of
! ring, which touched sharply the finger Q
its wearer when evil thoughts arose il
!, his mind, or whenever he felt temple,
J to commit wrong. Coming as it doe
from such pure and generous source
y this touch ofyour gift to my hand, wi
be to me an impulse to generous thought
{ and right acts.


;. use this occasion to offer to you, m
9 countrywomen, the tribute of my admire
= ton for your patriotic devotion to tn
country, and at the same time to e1
e press, in the name of the good soldier
whom have commanded, their thank


and mine for the kindness which ha
5 saved so many lives and soothed so man
= hours of rugged pain. trust that you
:, selfsacrifcing devotion will have a
q early reward. / hope that, for you
sakes, peace will soon return, SO that tn