Year: 1860

The following touching passages are contain
ed in the speech of the Hon. Mr.. Boteler, de-
livered in the House on Wednesday last The
incidents narrated cannot fail to interest all
who peruse tbem. The language employed for
the purpose is the language of elevated patri-
otism = .s.s.s.sgll go. ,sss ssllsszssrSE


sThe district which I represent, and the
county from which come-that county made
famous by the raid of Brown-was the first,
the very first in all the South, to send succor
to Massachusetts,. In one of the most beauti-
full spots in that beautiful county, within rifle
shot of my residence, at the base of the hill,
where glorious spring leaps out into sunlight
from beneath the gnarled roof of thunder
riven oak, there assembled on the 10th of July,
1775, the very first band of Southern men who
marched to the aid of Massachusetts,. They
met there, and their rallying cry was, "a bee
line for Boston,


"That beautiful and peaceful valley had
never been polluted by the footsteps of foe !;
for even the Indians themselves kept it free
from the incursions of the enemy-it was the
hunting range and neutral ground of the abo-
rigines. This band assembled there, and a
bee line for Boston was made from thence
Before they marched they made pledge that
all who survived would assemble there fifty
years after that day. 1t was my pride and
pleasure to.b present when the fifty years roll
q.
the survivors of that glorious band of one
hundred and twenty-were all who were left
to keep their trust, and be faithful to the pledge
made fifty years before to their companions,
the bones of many of whom were bleaching On
the Northern hills


"Sir, have often heard from the last survi-
vor of that band of patriots the incidents of
their first meeting and their march; how they
made some six hundred miles in twenty days
| thirty miles day-and how, as they neared
tbeir point of destination, Washington, who
happened to be making a reconnaissance in
the neighborhood, saw them approaching, and
recognizing the linsey woolsey hunting shirts
of old Virginia, rode up to meet and greet
them to the camp; how. when he saw their
captain-his old companion in arms, Stephen
son, who stood by his side at the Great Mead
ows on Braddock's fatal field, and in many an
Indian campaign, and who reported himself to
his commander as ''fzom the right bank of the
Potomac"-he sprang from his horse and
clasped his old friend and companion in arms
with both hands. He spoke no word of wei
] come, but the eloquence of silence told what
his tongue could not articulate. He moved
along the rank, shaking the hand of each, from
man to man. and all the while-as my inform
er told me-the big tears were seen ooursing
down his manly cheek.


~ss'Aye, sir, Washington wept And why did
the glorious soul of Washington swell with
emotion? Why did he weep? Because he saw
that the cause of Massachusetts was practical
ly the cause Virginia; because he saw that her
citizens recognized the great principles invol-
we'd in the contest. These Virginia volunteers
had come spontaneously. They had come in
response to the words of her Henry, that were
leaping like live thunder through the land,
telling the people Of Virginia that they must
fight, and fight for Massachusetts, They had
come to rally by Washington's side, to defend
your fathers fresides, to protect their homes
from harm. Well, the visit has been returned
John Brown selected that very county as the
spot for his invasion; and, as was mentioned
in the Senate, the rock where Leeman fell was
the very rock over which Morgan and his men
marched few hours after Hugh Stevenson's
command had crossed the river some two miles
further up.


"May this historical reminiscence rekindle
the embers of patriotism in our hearts! Why
should this nation of ours be rent in pieces By
this irrepressible conflict? Is it irrepressible!
The battle will not be foughtout here. When
the dark day comes, as come it may, when this
question that now divides and agitates the
heart of the people, can only be decided by
the bloody arbitrament of the sword, it will be
the saddest day for us and all mankind tha
the sun of heaven has ever shone upon"