Year: 1863

EuIogy on the Death Of James Anderson,


Member Of Company A. 9th Regiment


Iowa Volunteers, Delivered by J. Geiger,
at Mass Meeting Of the Fair View I'm.


ion League, in Springfield Township, Oh


the llth Of June, 1865.


Mr.. PRESIDENT We are here as
sembled under more than ordinary cir
Gums tances of soemnity incident even to
the demise of friend from among u.s.
The person in commemo.ation OF whose
DEATH and in honor Of whose distinguish
ed services, We are here congregated, Is
not what the mass of the people, in any
cline or country, term great and renown.
ed. lie was of humble birth and left an
orphan in his sixth year; hence, compar-
itively speaking, was destitute of the
means of acquiring liberal education
1t is true, his uncle took him to his care
in his tender orphanase; but as soon as
able to earn his own bread and provide
his own clothing, he was ready and will
ing to do it. Born in the State Of Penn
sylvania, he lett his surviving mother
and came with his uncle west of the Mis-.
sisspp; before he was thirteen years of
age Thus his infancy was rocked in the
keystone State and his youth bloomed
into manhood in the broad and open ex-
panse of the Iowa prairies.


His character is as familiar to most Of
US as that of any one member Of our own
domestic circle. TO the best of my
knowledge, he was universally beloved
and respected by all who shared his ac-
quaintancc. To the physiognomist, his
frank and open countenaDce gave positive
evidence that within his bosom dwcllcd
purity Of motive, rectitude of Intention
and an intuitivc seDsibility to the rights
of all men. This noble and exalted
genius of his mind enabled him promptly y
and clearly to see his duty to his country
in its hour Of peril The magpanimity
of his soul did not permit him to invent
excuses or throw duty and responsibility
on others He was not one of those big
oted, narrow minded and selfish creatures
who could not see that they had anything
to lose or gain in this mighty conte Of
/ the nation neither was he one of tho e
who entered the military service of his
country out of fear of draft nor even 10
/ view of pecupiary compensation, for it is
fact yet well remembered that he offer
/ ed himself as one Of the first 5000 call
ed for by the President, but the requisite
number being so promptly obtained that
he, with the company to which he belong.
ed, could not be accepted. He was ready
and willing to go aud do battle for his
! country, pay or no pay, as, at that date,
there was no money in the national treas
ury, nor was there any appropriation made
for their payment at the time the call was
made by the President, nor for nearly
three months afterward. The question
now naturally arises in our minds, what
prompted this young man to so Suddenly
lay down the peaceful implements of az.
riculture and take up in their stead the
dreadful implimcnts of war? Had he a
family of his own to defend! Had he
any lands. houses, or any considerable
amount of personal property which might
be contiscated to defend? The answer to
all these questions is no. Did he not
love the enjoyment Of peace? Those
who knew him answer, he did. Did he
delight in the stern realities of war, OF
even in strife and contentious Of any
kind? In truth we must answer, he did
not. What then Influenced him to vel
untcer in the military service Of his
country? | answer, his intuitiye knowl


edge of the rights of man. He knew as
we'll as did the heroes of l776, that al


men are created equal and endowed by


their Creator with certain inalienable


rights, among which are those Of life


liberty and the pursuit of happiness; ant


that to secure these rights our govern


ment was instituted with national con


stitution which is the safe guard ane
guaranty of these sacred rights to ever,


person whose feet press upon our SOIL
lie knew that this is in strict accorda- c.
with the law OF nature written by th'


same hand that laced the planets in thei
orbits, and, like them, constituting par


Of the eternal system of the Universe


every human being ha, a complete tislc I,


himself direct from the Almighty. 1
r man may be poor in this worlds goods
: but he owns himself No war or robber
! ancient or recent, no capture, no middl
< passage, 10 chapSe ol chine, no purcnas
+ money, no transmission from hand t.


hand, no matter hcw many times and n
matter at what price, can defeat this in
defeasable Godgiven franchise. And
l Divine mandate, strong as that whic|
n guards life, guards liberty also. Even a
+ the very morning of Creation, when Co


said, let there be light; earlier than tn


ma'ediction against murder; He set a


everlasting difference between man and


chattel, giving to man dominion over tn
fish of the sea, and over the fowls of th


air, and over ever living thing that mo,


eth upon the earth.


). :" hat right we hold.


n By his donations; but man over men


He made not lord. such title to himself


Reserving, human life from human Tree.
Is But it is asked, did he know that thes