Year: 1872

Decoration Day.


Address delivered at Middlebury, May 3Oth, by


Hon. JAMES NJ. SLADE.


Fellow Citizens-We stand by the
graves of those who living we loved and
though dead, speak to US in language
sancti6ed by deeds of holy patriotism. de
votion to country and the rights of man
The grass that grows so fresh and green
over their last resting place is but sym.
bolical of that love and affection we
should ever entertain for their memory
Yonder sun shines upon q nation and
country they gave their lives to save aud
bless. Yonder village and surrounding
community from which they went forth
to battle for the right, sits tranquil to-
day, through their efforts, combined with
others, to preserve our nation and gov
ernment from overthrow. The dwellers
on yonder green mountains, and in our
fertile valleys, will never forget the sac
rifices Of the thousands who went forth
at the call of their country, and who laid
aside their ease, their personal domestic
enjoyments, the happiness of the social
circle, the ordinary pursuits Of business
life, who bade farewell to loved ones at
home, aud with the prayers of mothers
who had watched over them from infan-
cy, and the blessing of fathers who had
looked upon them as their solaca in de-
clining years. that this nation might not
be blotted out from among the nations of
the earth, but that civil and religious lib
erty to all might be secured to the end
of time. The call of the government was
an urgent one. Most cheerfully did the
people respond. State after state through
the north and west awoke to the reality
of the stern demands of patriotism and
love Of country. Vermont throughout
its entire borders was aroused, and sent
out race of men fully adequate to the
emergency, and as the sequel showed rem
dered signal service in the ultimate over
throw of the rebellion, blotting out that
curse of humanity, slavery, restoring the
supremacy of law, securing obedience to
the constituted authorities of the land,
and advancing civilization to a point un-
precedented in the history of the world.
Fresh in our memory is the struggle of four
years through which we passed. The al
teraations of hope and fear, the repeated
demands for men and money, the reverses
and victories of our brave armies, the
movements of our army and navy, all
served to increase The excitement and in
tensify the struggle. On one hand, men
who had for years been plotting the de.
struction of the Re ,>ublic were arrayed
to consummate their wicked designs a.
gainst the loyalty of the nation, while on
the other hand were found those who low
ed the old flag, the emblem of our glory
and power, loved our nationas constitu.
tion, the embodiement of the political
wisdom of the Fathers of the Republic,
and that had guided US in our growth
from three millions of people to more
than thirty millions, creating state after
state from 13. the original number, to
more than 80 distinct sovereignties, with
constitutions and laws professedly based
upon the Federal constitution, guarantee
ing to cilizens the rights and immunities
OF free government. these went forth,
armed in the panoply Of right, to pre-.
serve our national honor untarnished, to
maintain the constitution in its integrity,
to preserve the states in the full enjoy.
ments of their reserved rights under the
Federal constitution, save the nation from
ruin, bring liberty to those in bonds, and
make us power among the nations of
the earth, that should be felt and ac-
knowledged from the peasant in his hum.
BILE cottage to the sceptercd heads Of
kings and emperors on their thrones down
to the latest period of time.


With few exceptions, crowned heads
were arrayed against US. They looked
on with grim satisfaction, praying for
the dismemberment of the Republic.
They reasoned, and with great correct
ness, that if this nation was discovered,
liberty would die, that we should become
the victims of intestine wars and striies,
and ultimately we might rush to mon.
archial form Of government with crown
and privileged nobility as the rulers Of
a once free aud independent people.


Thanks to God and the brave soldiers
of the nation we still live. To save unto
us this fair heritage these brave men
whose memories we meet to-day to hon.
or laid down their lives. Would we ev.
er forget them? Nay, can we ever for
get them ? Can the mother ever forget
her first born2 Never. Neither can we
forget the dead heroes of the Republic
If it were possible, we might justly de.
serve the scorn of the civilized world, and
the judgments of Almighty God. Our
national existence has cost too much
blood and treasure to be bartered away
for any consideration human. Our laws
are too salutary to be violated wita i'm.
punity.


Our constitution, the work of years
combining in its formation the results ol
age, wisdom and experience, embodyine
the fundamental law Of the land, securing
to all the liberty of conscience and speech
with civil and religious liberty, is held
in sacred regard by American citizens
and only changed as the exegeucies Of
the age imperatarely demand. With the
destruction of our constitution perishes
constitutional liberty. Its formation and
preservation is the work of those who
fought our battles, who gained and pre-.
served our liberties, and it has cost toe
much blood to be at this late day sacri
feed upon the altar of unholy ambition
or made the prey of those who would op
press their fellow men. We love oul
country with its noble charter of human
rights as father loves his only son
Here amid the scenes of youth and man
hood we have enjoyed, and still enjoy