Year: 1860




The following touching passages are contained in
the speech of the Hon. Alexander r. Boteler of Va
delivered in the House on Wednesday. We honor
the head and the heart from which they proceeded.
Phe incidents narrated cannot fail TO mosten every
eye by which they are perused. The language em-
ployed for the purpose is the language of elevated
patriotism


"The district which represent, and the county
from which confe--that county made famous by
thu raid of Brown--was the first, the very first in
all the South, to send succor TO Massachusetts In
one of the most beautiful 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 roots of a
thunder-riven oak, there assembled on the 10th of
July, l775, the very first band of Southern men
who marched TO the aid of Massachusetts,. They
met there and their allying cry was, "a bec-line
for Boston,"


"That beautiful and peaceful valley has never
been polluted by the footsteps of foe for even the
Indians themselves kept it from the incursion of the
enemy. 1t was the hunting range and neutral
ground of the aboriginees This band assembled
there, and "a beo-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 be present when the fifty years rolled around
Three aged, feeble tottering men-the survivors of
that glorious band of one hundred and twenty
were all who were left to keep their tryst and be
faithful to the pledge made fifty years before to their
companions, the bones Of many Of whom are bleach
ing on the Northern hills


'S5ir have often heard from the last survivor of
that band ofpatriots the incidents of their first meet
ing and their march how they made some six hum
dred miles in twenty days-thirty miles day-and
how as they neared their point ofdcstination WASH
ington, who happened to be making reconnaissance
in the neighborhood, saw them approaching and re-
cognizng the linsey-woolscy hunting-shrts Of old
Virginia. rode mp to meet and great them to the
camp how, when he saw the captan---lis old COM
panion in arms, Stephenson, who stood by his side
at the Great Meadows on Bracdock's fatal field, and
in many an Indian campaign, and who reported
himself to his commander as 'om ihe riqLt bank Of
the Potomac he sprang from his horse and clasp
ed his old friend and companion in arms with both
hands. He spoke no word Of welcome, b0t the
eloquence of silence told what his tongue could not
artcuiate He moved along the ranks, shaking the
hand of EACH from man 10 man. and all the while
--as my informer told me--the big tears were seen
coursing down bis manly check.


"Ay, sir, Washington weptl And why did the
glorious soul of Washington swell with emotion?
Why did he weep? Because he saw that the cause
of Massachusetts was practically the cause of vir-
ginia because he that her citizens recognized
the great principles involved 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 Washingtons side to defend your fathers
iresdes, TO protect their homes from harm Well,
The Uist 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
Seeman fell was the very rock over which Morgan
and his men marcheda few hours after Hugh Steven
sons command had crossed The river some two miles
further up


'May this historical rcnnscence rekindle the
embers Of patriotism in our hearts Why should
this nation Of ours be rent in pieces BY this ire
pressbe conflict Is il irrepressible2 The battle
will not be fought out here When the dark day
comes, come II may, when this question that now
divides and agates the hearts Of the people can only
be decided by the bloody arbitranent of the sword
II will be the saddest day for us and all mankind
that the sun Of Heaven has ever shone upon.


81 trust Mr. Clerk that this discussion will now
cease trust that all will make an effort by bal
lotting, and by succession of balotings TO or
ganize the House. | trust that we will 20 on In
our efforts day aer day, until we do effect an or
ganization and proceed to perform the duties which
we were sent here TO discharge that the great heart
Of our country will cease to pulsate with the anxiety
which now causes Il 10 throb; and that we win
each, in our own appropriate sphere do what we
can to make ourselves more worthy Of the inestim-
able blessings which can ouly be enjoyed by free
and united people