Year: 1862

that testifies to us or by history, there is no
promise more sure than that of certain deliv-
erance to people worthy to be saved. 1t re-
mains to you, ye yeomanry of Maine. We solid
men, Il mean not solid blocks, houses or gold.)
to see whether thfs people shall be free and
prosperous. Trust not, sirs, trust not to the
leaders of politics or press trust to God and
yourselves,-your brave and honest hearts.
Look not to the vanes upon the meeting houses
to observe the signs of the times, but to your
hearts.


Now, sirs, / didn't come here to talk politics,
but suppose, as Elder Rollins used to say af-
ter sermon, snow, brethren, there is liberty;
so must free my mind, and / declare to you
by all the responsibility that belongs to me as
a citizen, as a man intending to do right, that
in my sincere judgment the people of New
England and the free Northwest have got to
take this work up, according to the dictates of
their own hearts. We have got to be emanci-
pated ourselves from the prejudces and trad-
tons of the past, not from the principles! We
must be true to them; baptized with blood, re-
corded in all the testimony of the fathers and
sanctified with prayer. don't know as ever
dared to despise any man, because he was poor,
humble or black. l know not how We as q
body of men can decree so to despise him, and
/ don't know how Maine or any State or nation
may SO decree.


When traitors have attempted to drive the
ploughshare of ruin through this land, de-
clare that we are driven from necessitv to so
conduct our relations to them in this war, as
that we shall stand justified between ourselves
and all who are related to us,-stand justified
between ourselves and God. Short of that, /
know OF no salvation. The unveils, yet think
wel-intended, idea to fight for freedom and
yet to protect the property of rebels in and
over their crouching slaves, is depicting our
treasury, draining the best blood of our veins,
and causing untold misery.


But | shall not follow up that line of thought.
l am here simply as a Windham boy to extend
congratulations with you. No one is here to
pull me down, to say am too rash, or to sug-
gest that may lose vote, by saying so and
so, but | am at liberty to speak right out and
free my mind. But while gathered here on
this sabbath day of liberty, cannot be less
broad in my declarations than the Providence
that leads us. Let all who wish rush against
the bosses of the buckler of Jehovah. but 1
dare not! In encouraging, persuading or bid
ding the sons of Massachusetts to war, never
had right to give myself to the slavery of
ambition. 1t is a sad and solemn task which
Providence imposes--to carry truth ON the
pinions of battle and enforce it with steel-but
no men have the right to plunge families into
woe, to inflict losses, disasters and death on
foes eren, unless in maintenance of moral right.
We have a right TO destroy, by necessities of
war, but no right to do it for ourselves, or that
some chieffain or civil leader may gain APP
plause,-that nation or party may reap the
reward of what men term glory. Some things
are worse than death or its infiiction, and that
Is why we have the right to fight would
have the people make up their minds to make
the rebels black or white and all their posteri-
", to see that in the future they are to become
happier and wiser as the result of this contro-
versy. Being justified in fighting for our flag,
we will come out glorious and united, and
those engaged against US shall bear witness
that it was to our moral principles they owe
their happiness and future.


Why should you, with each regiment that
goes out from among you, send a chaplain?
Why bless every flag, unless you mean TO car
ry with you the principles Of truth and justice,
the contrary of which are not in consistency
with yonr professions?


But row we must part, and the years again
shall roll by. Twenty-Five more may go, and
another anniversary come. One quarter Of a
century of time is but as drop of sand on the
shore. Five-and-twcnty years Who of us
will remain on earth? In five-and-twenty
years the work of most of us shall have been
neglected or performed, our record made up,
and we shall be honored or unwept and un-
sung, and without our help of heart, head, or
hand, Providence will still work on. We may
be silent if we will, hpt surely as the past
mas Dttn, SO Dflgnt VIII Dc tnt future. care
not how wild or visionary the prediction may
seem, but believe in my very soul that we
shall yet, one day, be reunited from the At
lantic 10 the Pacific, under one beneficent,
just, and serene governmental power OF a peo-
Pile, prosperous in industry, humble before God,
and true to themselves.


| am a Patriot, hope; believe every man
here is patriot. What makes community
but an aggregate of men inspired by the mag
netism oil brotherly love? And from the
sentiment of patriotism we rise higher to the
philanthropic.


And in taking my seat, cannot forbear TO
speak of our many brave boys who have
shed their blood in our present war; Their
blood is not yainly poured out, or forgotten.
When "a brave soul has burst the cerements of
clay, let loose by rebel bayonet bullet, it rs-
es to take the place OF the human form, and
still engages. There is no loss of life, father
Dear mother, OF that fair haired boy who fell
against the foe, he is not dead! They live still
for Us, and their example and presence nerve
the arm, and fire the heart, and give you no
bier view of the struggle. They will appear
wherever the red, white, and blue floats
above serried columns; beatified spirits, with
their face to the front, where the rank forms,
and the enemy advances.


"Ab, foul tyranfs do you see them they come,


All, black traitors, do you them as they come,


All, rebels, traitors do you see them as theycome,