pr - --y
1
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PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, APJHL I), 1870.
DOUBLE SHEET THREE CENTS.
f
VOL. XIII. NO. 85.
FIRST El)lTiON
TRUE ISTUIS.
Army of tlie ltni.c.
The Grand Reunion.
Ad'ircss by General Sheridan.
Oration by (Jcncral Martindale.
7?ocm by George II. Boker, Esq..
This afternoon the second reunion of the
Mirand Army oi the Potomac was held in the
TrcseDce of au immense audience in the Aea-
lcmy of Music. Thin occasion was one of the
grandest which has been witnessed in this city
.Jor n long time. Every available seat and every
inch of standing room were fully occupied long
before the hour for beginning tlie exercises. A
Uiruc iereentago of ladies were present, who
ovinced great iuterest in the proceedings.
Tlie Derorallonn of the Hulldlitff.
The decorations of the building; were of the
most elaborate description. The Academy was
one maps of bunting, disposed in every con
ceivable arrangement. The fronts of the three
galleries were entirely covered with that mate
rial, in graceful and voluminous festoons. A
. double row of stars, on dark-blue ground, ran
around the upper edge of each gallery, beneath
which red and white stripes, in length sufficient
to reach around the euure auditorium, were
hung. In the centre of each balcony, directly
opposite to the stuge, was a tasteful arrangement
composed of the Bilkcn national and regimental
flags of the several regiments.
The fronts of the proscenium boxes werelike
wite most beautifully decorated with silk and
bunting. In front of one of these tho State and
city Hags were displayed. On either side of the
Btagc a brass field-piece was stationed, poiutiug
towards the audience. Inside of J he field-pieces
were two stacks of arms, ornamented with silk
iruidon and cavalry Hags on ornamented staffs.
The stage itself was set with the cut tent scene,
which is used in Trovatore and other operas,
and which represents various warlike imple
ments as hung upon the tent sides and poles.
The speaker's stand was in the centre of tho
stnge, surrounded by a circle of ten velvot and
highly ornamented chair for the presiding
ollicers and the more distinguished guests. These
were surrounded by some forty other chairs, be
hind which a large number of benches were ar
ranged for the accommodation of those holding
tickets for tho stage.
The Preliminaries.
As early as 11 o'clock, which was one hour be
fore the time for the opeuiug of tho door, aud
two hours before the beginning of the exercises,
an immense crowd had collected on Broad
street, in front of the main entrance, anxious to
obtain admittance. The noted military band
from Governor's Island, New York, which was
to supply the music for the occasion, passed
down the street about this time on their way to
their place in the Academy. This fine band,
which is composed of some thirty pieces and of
first-class talent, attracted great attention by
their fine appearance. They wore a unlfoiin of
dark regulation blue trimmed with gold, and
had highly polished epaulettes with white f rings
' and brass-hilted swords. Their instruments
shone with the brightest polish which it was
possible to bestow upon them.
Who were Present.
At earlj' as half-past 12 o'clock the members
of the various legions commenced crowding in,
all being largely represented. All seemed to
be deeply interested in this, th second annual
reunion. The men who braved the dangers of
the various hard-contested field from the open
ing of the war, under General McClcllan, until
its final victorious close, under General Grant,
.assembled in force. The 6th Army Corps Legion
were especially well represented, and their corps
flag was recognized immediately by the "Vets."
and loudly cheered. It was plain to be seen
that the patriotic fires still glowed in the hearts
of the men who had risked their all in defense
of the beet government God ever gave to roan,
und if any man in the audience entertained a
single feeling of treachery towards his Govern
ment it must at once have been dispelled.
The band commenced discoursing sweet music
early, and was loudly applauded.
The Htage.
At 1 o'clock the stage wai completely ernwded
with the heroes of the war. General Casev,
Ilciutleman, Ruff, Shaler, Newton, Wright,
Iloupt, McCandless, Porter, Dent, Owen, King.
Franklin, Van Vliet, Ranks, Prevost, and
Ingalls occupied the front seat, whilst the back
seat were filled with the colonel, majors, and
captain of the various organization that went
to form the grand old Army of the Potomac.
The enthusiusm was immense and unrestrained;
the various heroes, as recognized, were vocife
rously applauded; and the officer in the audi
ence, as their especial commanders appeared,
gave vent to their heart feelings in a mauuer
that must have gladdened the hearts of the
recipients. The old fires were reawakened, and
the audience, becoming infected, leut the aid of
their lungs aud handkerchiefs, and all was joy
and animutiou.
The Opening.
At about twenty minutes past 1 o'clock Presi
dent Grant, accompanied by General Sheridan,
entered and took their 6ents. Following them
were GeDerals Meade, Sherman, McDowell,
Irwin, Banks, Burnslde, Humphreys, Deunison,
Mott, Drum, Smith, Markland, Davies, Sharpe,
Martindale, Ellmuker, Prevost, Bingham, and
Dent, aud Secretaries llelknap, Cox, and ex
Secretary Borie. Their entrance was the occa
sion for an outburst such as never before re
sounded within the walls of the Academy. Tho
audience with one single accord rose to their
feet, and for a time tho wildest enthu
siasm prevailed. The band, amidst all,
struck up, -Hail to the chief!" and
from every corner cheers for President Grant
went up loud and long. As one would die out
another would be started, and thus they were
kept up for the space of over five minutes. Tho
cavalry oineers next ioox up me strain, aua
"Gallant Little Phil" was kept bowing and
smiling until bis spinal column weakened, and
he retired to his seat. J lie ollicers or tuctiin
Corps Legion, headed by Colonel Latta aud
Maior Gordon, next lollowed, and General
Wrlirht was cheered aud cheered uutil they
tired. Burnslde followed, and the hero of New
born was Bhown that his deeds were not lorgot
ten. llelntzleman then popping up, the audi'
ence again burst forth, and ended in a grand
huzza lor licneral McDowell.
A lull of about one 6ccoud occurred, when the
cry of "Meade ! Meade ! Meade : resounded
through the house, and the General was obliged
to rise and acknowledge the compliment. Some
one in the auditorium then raised tho cry of
General MeClellan, and "Little Mac" was
cheered until hi friends tired, when some one
in the audience commenced to hiss. This
i bronchi the officer to a man again on their
I fuel, and the dissatisfied were shown that the
men who braved the dangers of the field were
ct readv to brave public opinion, and it neees
urv eukure. in defense of their old commander,
The band then set up again, and noured forth
the different army calls, interspersed with na
tional and popular air. A the well-known
music reached the ear of the veterans, they
8 truln broke forth in applause, and for a time
tlm vocal !!adunl iho sound of tho instrumen
ts music. When the cavalry calls were sounded
Itie troopers, ull calling on Sheridan, yelled and
jelled, nnd another wild seeno of enthusiasm
was tho result. Cheer followed cheer, and tho
baud-niiibtor was almost non-plusod. Finally
the&udlcuca became quiet, when General Sheri
dan, who was the presiding officer of the occa
sion, stepjtd forward, and made the following
fpeech:
General Sheridan' Speech.
"Convades, this meeting will come to order.
The Rev. Mr. Pomeroy will open our meeting
with prayer."
(Jeneritl Martlnaale'e Oration.
Rrr. Mr. Pomeroy then Btcpped forward and
mad'.! a short prayer, after which General Joliu
If. Murtindule was introduced, and after tho
applause had died away, delivered the following
address, tho point in reference to the fifteenth
amendment being loudly applauded:
Mr. I'rnsfrlent: 1 psnse for a moment before entering
on my tbeino. Yon hare lonkod forward te thin oocafion
a ono ot joyous rannion. itut tuere linfrr yot In our
earn and huiirta the raoodinjr sounds of the niiilflod drum,
-the moasurod tread of tue 'lAad Mareli," with arm re
versed, which but yostr.rdar, hy the shores of the Hod.
sou, attouued the funeral bourse of Cuorge H. Thomas.
We hiii to aland by the open iravtnf mi, of thu truest,
bravemt, noblest, most distinguished of ur comrade.
"Karth to oarlh." Uia mortal remain just berin to
mingle with tho dust, hut his doeda and tame aurviv.i.
To ilny wo hear a nation's wail of torrew ; it ia tho ure.u lo
to History's roioeof praise.
Gentlemen : If tho importance of enrh particular day
in the revolving year could be estimated by tne eoiio
(jrrncct and trie niaunittido of tho etrnia wniuh it coin,
iiieninratas, then thin fth day of April, in our t outiy,
should be plaocd conspicuous, perhaps pre-eminont, in tuu
calendnr.
Only lire years t o the morning dawned upon tho Army
of the Potomac, extended far beyond Petersburg, ahovu
the fullaof the Appomattox, full panoplied, preying lor
words excited with victory and expectation of the surTeu
derot the L'onieUorate army of Viri;inia-witb that aur.
render the dosing scene in tlie tragic, bloody draiun of
oivil war.
Do you ace in that transaction the mere success of one
army over another? As liio centuries have rolled away,
there nave been surrender! of defeated to victorious
armies again, and a lliDuwtnd timss agtin. tint this was
grander ihau a gro it. victory in the Hold. The nation, the
troe people ot the Unitod 8tates, ifee heart ana soul and
verifying soirit of American liberty, torn and rent, and
threatened with destruction by the protracted patriciUal
smipxie, were au representou more, rvnat a scone in
the glorious colors of that historic panorama!
UurUDiofwas there; in clear, decisive, but gonorou
erms. writing and receiving the imoortant woraa. which
wieldrd not our utmy alone, bnt all the weighty isaaee of
the war.
tinr nation la not yet one hundred years old ; but ia that
brief cycle wo had developed twe deadly and opposing
civilizations. On that memorable day one representative
American confronted another. They stood together, after
four years of gigantic war, like Americans, without a atain
ot dibhonor in the victory of theoneorthodeieatotl.no
othor, consummating a atirrenoer which atloclO'J the des
tinies of all tlie nations of the earth.
To-day we are removed hut a short distance from the
base ot the great transaction. V e aem aiill toherand
witness the lirst tranKporta of a, natioira joy. Wbon the
lightning Hashed ulang the vires, and with tongues of
electric hr spread the glorioue intelligence, what words
can exnroas Uie ecstaHy. the wild umotiona which tirr.
vadrd the country liko a maio iuspir&t ion! Thousands
ot homcxtoads were illuminated as thouixh fountains of
Hucbenms were opened beneath their roola Could you
nit gather the aapiral ions ot tne hearts wnich, all over
his Northern bind, expressed their joy! Victory at last!
hankUod! Thank find! Our bevs now mav comi home
again! Oun vou describe tlie maternal, the frioudly, the
ardent embraces in which they were clasped when, at
length dibcuarged, they were welcomed home again;
"Man proposes, (iod disposes!"
I do not believe tne principal chaiactors in the trans
action which we now commemorate then onuprelien Jh1
its tliiuenaious. 1 houhc whether the intellect of tho
nation haa yet fully comprehended them, itut thny are
felt, tiy popular intuitions, rno conscience ot tne nation
has botu impressed with a vital faith that, some way or other
ont or that sun under, would emerge the American Ideal
of Liber.y, uo longer obscured, but pure and complete
as ttie Fathers first declared it irem Independence Hall
Beany one nunareu yeais ago.
Assembled as we are, we might indulge in pleasing
retrospect of the eventa which form the history of the
Army of the Potomac. It will not bo inappropriate to
"fight itabattlea o'er a rain" to recount the individual
incioenta which iJlustistel the romance of actual war.
1 auiiuosn we migrt dwell on Its achievements in detail:
its contribution to military tcieiico; we might oxult in
the nroofx. which it would not bo dillicnlt to accumulate.
of its intrepidity and heroism amid trials and dangera in
fine, to receive once raoro th" thou, hts and feelings, and
stern purpoaea -never weakened by despondeney woieh
pulsated through its ranks, through all the vicissitudes of
tne struggle.
And there ia another line of retrospection and pros
pect ion to bebrietlyand plainly hut boldly considered.
which seems to me, t tins particular time, not only ap
rironriute but dt airablo. We are in the vary preseuue of
a great event, just commemorated no longer open to
partisan debate ; to be accepted aa a tact accomplished,
and to remain forever associated with the Army of the
Potomac, with the causes in wnica that army had its
........... .1 , l.n u.iltnf ,Iia . Bhii-li if in iibp
conducted', That army, like all the otb era of the Union,
waa en army of volunteers; sprang from tue people, ani
mated liv their convictions and enthusiasm. It makes
no invidious claims not even on the opposing forces
in the held. Our battlea were against our countrymen,
whom we were then, as now. auneus to bring back in
brotherly association and in hearty allegiance to the
union.
Hint rue, indeed, that the Army of the Potomao was
placed between the Confederate and the National Capi
tals. Ita blows were directed at the heait of tne Rebel-
lion. It confronted the most determined, opposition.
Its traces were tne blood iost of tho war its reverb os the
most damaging ita ultimate successes the most conclu
sive. It is true that it waa required to work out a long
and painful prob,em, in which occurred more negative
tioio jittUtuittivo siiriiH. It roue our, of the hrst erre.it re
verse of Hull Hum but it was prosorved lor the last great
and conclusive triumph at. Apnniattox.
i ho hnal Hucoess. considered in its relations to tne
future destiny of our country, euahlea as to recall, wita
out r gret, the earlier reverses. Within a month past 1
had the pleasure ot an in'. erview, in the eity oi Uichiuwnd,
with a gentleman who held au Important rank in ihe
Confederate Army ot Virginia. 1 revisited the grouuds
Hboiit MccbamcbVlUe, where tne nrst movements Degnn
in that series of engagements, now popularly, pom. us
historically, described as tue seven-days' battle, when tue
army, in Itlil, fought ana reureu down tne unicaauuminy
to the James river, at Bsxhaliand Harrison's Landing.
1 riehcriheil thtt encampment of my brigade on the ni.riit
ot the th of June, immediately al ter crossing at Wiute
Oak hwamp, and the position which we occupied in Hue
of battle on the ?.itb, while other portions of tho army do-
bled behind ua towurd Alolvern mil. "An:" exclaimed
my friend, "suppose we had seized the creasing over tne
swamp be ore the movement was tieguu
before the lattle of Gainesvide (and we migut
h-.ive seir.ed it), what would have become el you thun.'1'
To day tho people orth and souui msy well congratu
late themselves that the campaign oi that year saw the
army saved perhaps because tho passage over the swamp
was unoccupied, uut reiurnou io iu lines oeiwoeil tue
Kappahannock and Potomac rivers.
'Ihe cause ol war was too iiutuense to be decided then.
H took three succeeding years of bloody conthct; it has
taken ttve voar.s of protracted strife in the civil arena since
the surrender of AppomatUix to reveal the magnitude of
the differences between the North and South, und the in
tense prejudices, hostile to liberty and common to both
sections, which provoked the war. ft was not a war for
aggrandi.eiuent cr conquest ; it was necessary to preserve
the nation und assimilate tne people.
T he truth gleams, like the sun ablaze at noonday, that
this natioii.ll it would be treo, must rcogai7.e (not as
f littering generalities, but. as living vital parts), tud po
itical tipiulity of the ciiiv.eus, and that the powers in
the tiovrrnuient shall be those, and only those, wuioh the
governed consent to comer.
rialll uniel l UHllce J .4ucy in 111 greai case ul riamiuru
against lired hcot I : -"The wora 'people of the Unitod
Mutes' ami i iticns' are synooomoua lonns. unu mom
tho same thing, 'i'hoy both describe the political hjiiy,
who, according to our republican institutions, form tuo
aivereinty, aud whe hold and conduct the government
through tlioir representatives. They are what we
familiarly cull 'the aovereigu people,' und every cniou ia
one ot the people, Htid a consi ituent member of the suve
reignty."JAnd tlie Chief Just ice procaoded t demonstrate
to his satisiacucn, tout a cerium ciuss oi persons, oi
African descent, were not. included, und wore not in.
tended to be included, under the word "citizen," in the
Constitution, and could therefore claim noueot the rights
and privileges vi.ich that inidriiuient. provides lor, und
secures to tho citizens ot tho united mates; una ne oe-elm-ed
ttiii t. "on the contrary, thev were at ihut time con
sidered as u suunrilinsto unci inferior class of beings, who
had been suhjiinaied hy too dominant race, onu wmitjjr
emancipated or not, ci remarked subject tj tUuir au
thority." . .
The argument reii9ri on in nisi.oncai laci, wnien can
not be denied, that this o!a&9 of pnrsoas had been mtro-rln..-,l
into the country as cantivei. held and sold as
slavoa; th t under the Uoa-titu lion itself', for the period
of twtnly yearn xiu-ri's uuopi ion, iue mates uouia not um
prohibited by law of Congress from allowing the imiiorNL
tion oi thoe caotives. in bhort, they could not be citi
zens under the llonsl itut ion, bocause ihcy were liable to
be enslaved at the pleasure of the States. The converse
of the arcusneul as presented by the tlnief Justice waa
logical aixl decisive. Said ho: "if personsof the sVf ri
van mre are citizens of a IStutn of the United tsiates,
they nould be entitled to all ot these privileges and im
munities in every btato, and tho fttuto could not rostriot
thtm; for they would hold those privileges an 1 immiiui
tiea under tue paramount uthorilof the l-'edoral Gov
ernineiit, and Us courts wou'd be hound to maiutain uud
enlorce llicni, the Oi nttilati' n ud luws of the istate to
the contraiy notwiths'uuiiiog,
Jt- rciiuirusno argument now to demonstrate that the
dilifrencus which bad uriseu between the Northern and
bouthurn people, by their opposing industrial systems
und institutions as the consequences of slavery and the
exclusive jurisdiction and riguti "f the htatsuuvor the
subjuct, oould not be reconciled whiloW'ayery continued.
'Die goTcrnnicut cannot, be Iree ill which the laboring
claases are excluded from all power, and by the unsur
uinuntable condition f race 'rom all opportunities to
attain to any participation in political power. No hussan
iuventien or law can assimilate the people ef the United
tsiaua, and unite them in the bonds of fraternal regard.
W hen aclasailiuationof iuhahitanis into laborers bensalh
and rnlera above shall be tolerated and established
throughout a wide be't of onr country, such a ayatein
ie not freedom it ia tyranny It would inevitably
make t rants of the rulers. It ia against
the fundamental ideaa of the Declaration of In
deiwndenee-ngaiaet all oar American idea of
liberty, aud of nationality, ae expreaeed lu the
Constitution ot the United Btatee. That instrument de
clare that the citueaa vf n Bute ah ail bv all the
privileges and Immunities of citizen In the avernl
Mates, flits; years ago, In a constitutional convention
of New York, the distinguished Cnancellof Kent, and
Hume King (ence Minister to Knglahd) maintained and
declared that this clause conlerred on e-nnnipntd Am
csns tho light to vote on the aame terms as other o.f f
rrns, from wliich right, as was m.i'fitainuil, they oould
not be debarrel In a Htate constitution. Hut the prac
tical construction, nbseiiuently dtflned, nd Jtldicivly
adopted in the rasffC-.f Jjred Bcott, whibt adiiiiti'hg t'.l
power ef the State to confer a limited Mate citizenship
on these emancipated men, bad fairly established that
they enuld not thereby be invested with the
character and prerogative of citizens of
the United Htate. Within the limits of one
hlate they might be mad free; going into another, they
might be imprisoned, sold for jail fes and made slaves.
T he anomalous and discordant relatioas in whiuh these
facta placed the several Mates and the peopls there if,
tended to war-mado it, Indeed, the only avenueto peace,
because it. opened the enly orum in which these moon
gruities conld be eonteatsd, fought ont and reconciled.
Iiespite the individual opinions of the soldiers of tbo
Army of the Potomac and of all the armies of tho Union,
they were constrained by eventa more potent than state,
men supreme, like the voice of (led -to do battle like
their grandfathers for the ideas df the revolution self-
f oveismenthythn people for the people. We struggled
or peace and we have learned at last that the indispen
sable condition of peace ia the homogenity of the
people.
With some hesitation I have pursued this enure of
thought in this presence, at. this time, but I have been
persuaded by the belief that the occasion was appropriate
tho subject germane to the war the object ot practical
anil naturul importance
I do not know of bodieeof men in the United States
more potential to intloenee kindly and benelieially the
public sentiment of tho rotithand the Nori h also, than
the soldier of tho Northern armies, still preserving organ
ization and intercourse in incietien liko this, dissociated
from political parties, assuming only to represent them
elves. It is pleaFant to meet, ae we do now, to look Into each
other1 fnce. to revive and recall the ineidonts of the war
in which we bore onr eoveral parts. Hut we are citixens
and patriots, having a deep and absorbing interest in the
welfareef eui-country, animated, I be'inve. with an in
tense and cordial desire to sea our old ling rhsered again,
an of yore, by the men who encountered us in battle array ;
whowere infuriated with the purpose to lower it through
cut tho South aud supplant it with tho stars and bare.
Hail again the time waen. from r-t. John to the Gulf, onr
whi le people shall movu forward heartily and prosper
ously to f.be uiusic of the Union; when the Confederate
and Union soldier, and all tho people whom they repre
sent, shall recur to the w ar without a pang of Borrow or
acrimonious hate ; wh n the war shall be understood und
aewpted as a necessity, ubselitte as destiny, which no
peace: ul measures or statesmanship could avert aa the
end towhioh we wore forced by circumstances and con
ditions which, in lrtil. no human precaution could con
trol ; as though Cod himself bail issued the edict for tbo
drult and summoned us in opposing masses to the hold,
there, find there alone, with the swerd, with ehnt ami
shell, to resolve the nutional disputes which were rending
s twain our common country.
When this view ot the great, contest shall he finally
accepted and apprehended as truthlul at the North we
will lie prepared to dismiss the arrogance (if there be
any) of conquerors: the sentiment, of vengeance (if there
be any) excited by the sulforing and sorrows of tho war.
At tho South, the idea n subjugation will be dispelled,
and tho publio mind will be prepared to acrmlosoo in t'le
results and their inevitable conetjuencea. J am devoutly
t.nanklul that within the last two neoka those thoutrlita
have been relieved of a partisan aspect (so unstiited to
litis place), by the great consummation embodied in the
fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of tne United
fitates an amendinsnt which comnmndsaud gnirnntsos,
with snpreme uuthor ty, tho political equality of the citi
zens without diMinction of rac or color.
It seems as though the time is now at hand when univer
sal amnesty may lollow. Is it. not true that tile soldiers
hare awaited "uch ft measure of clemency with iuipatien'-e,
reluctant to delay so long - somo of us, pu'bap, over
r.eulons, and uuder-cstiinuting the hindrances which have
bitlicrtomade it inexpedient. All along, from tho hnin.
tting of the contest, we have been like children at school,
gradually and with hesitation brought to understand tho
war in which wo were involved. Who cannot, recall thi
amazement with which we lookod on our Soithftrn breth
ren when they began to secede, actually to prepare for
civil war! W'hat. frenzy! What causey What naif tho
North done to drive them bo such a dire proceeding.' Can
they really fire on tlie old tlag -break away from the pur
riotis sentiment, of Union and Nationality? Are they
really in deadly earnest? The South delitintJy thundered
that we were violating .Southern rights! In utter bowil.
derment. we exclaimed, What .Southern rights have we
violated?
Standing now on the eminence to which the uceoding
events have raised na, we can see and almost explain tho
"Southern rights," which wo wro in fact undermining
and uprooting, and the men ns which we were exploring to
that end, and that we could no more rnstrain ourselves
than we could turn back the torrent of Niagara.
At the North we had no slavery: we had universal
Iiolitieal enuulity, eavo only the discrimination which
ong after the period of the revolution we bad learned
Irem the South to make against the small remnant of the
African ruce among ua. With what immense atridos we
bad advanced aud were advunoing! The whole world waa
Pouring, not siiunly treasures of art, but people! people!
human beings all over our Northern lands. They leaped
over the boundaries of States. The stroauu of
population and freedom wore spreading and extending
all over the Territories. I'ire could no more re
aist the flooda than slavery could withstand the
onward tread of the peoples of the earth in incroaeing
columns to settle and poasees the Territories of the United
States. The barriers interposed by constitutional dog
mas to stay this progress wore idle and wek us pack
threads in the hands ot giants. In tine, tne laws of Nature
are not more certain and inexorable ttian the power of
jHipulatior, thua increaaing, and multiplying, and nccu
inulatiug in immense masses, to overcome and crush out
slavery, first from the Territories and eventually from the
whole land, iteforo thie torrent of people and hostile
opinion, it is true that slavery was doomed!
Thua i described, and fully deseribed, the aggression
of the North on Southern right. It ie true there was
joyous exnltation in trc edom ; there were vigorous demon
stration of slavory: but these were mere word, which
the South never feared and which disunion could not sup
press. What though slavery was intrenched in and protected
by the Constitution t So it was. hut the same Constitu
tion procluimed the government ef the people, the eqnal
right of the citizens, invited immigration,annonneed the
power to naturalize all the subjects of kings, disregsrded
the obligation of allegiance, assumed the national right
to take any man wherever born, und however bound, and
te translate him into an Amenoin citizeu ; the equal,
before tho law, of the princes whose authority he repu
diated, and tree a the ocean wave which bore iiim to our
shorn.
These were the germs of inevitable war in the Constitu
tion itself.
The tenacity with which the human mind clings to the
pofseaaion of powar.of autnnriiyovermen, whether denied
irom actual ownership, or in any other equivalent form, is
men the world over is written in ail tho histories of the
human race.
Our Southern brethren were born and roared in the
midst of an absolutism the most intense in tbo whole
civilized earth, Thy did not create it. It was theirs
without wrong on their part., at least of thi generation.
Nay, we cannot truthfully ward off ihe reminder uttered
in the halls of Congress and re-eohoed thro jgh the press,
that tbo commercial North, more than the agricultural
South, had made profit ont of the slave trade carrisdon
from Airica to this continent. Se bad Portugal and
Spain. So had England and all the commercial nations
ot Christendom during 2iK year. And the tratfio, still
continuing in 17h:, was actually and expressly sanctioned
and licensed in the Constitution nf the Unitad States.
W bat wonder that the South sincerely believed that their
ownership of this specie of property was jast; and that
all measures and policies and opinions which impugned
their title were unjust. On their standing ground the
Constitutional guarantees nearest and dearest to them
were those whioh assured their right to their slaves.
Hut they could not silence the public opinion outside
their States, which deneunced the national justice, while
restrained from assailing the lawfulntss of tlieir title.
T hey had ne Const ltul tonal Shibboleth toatitle the voice
i mankind. Above all, thoy conld not keep back tho
stream of immigration which set athwart the Oulf Stream
towards the coasts of the North.
It is a fact that there was no alternative for the South
but rebellion, independence, separate natioaality, if they
would maintain aud perpetuate their peculiar social and
industrial institutions; and there was no alternative f ir
Mie North but resistance and war, if they would inumtiin
and perpetuate the Union, aud the immigration und
naturalization of tlie people ot all nations wro are at
tracted toward America by our probtic soil and the mag
netic desire tor liberty and self-government. Audsowe
wrreluonched into the treineudous coniliet, urgod on
both (idea by the most powerful interests which c.iu ever
incite to human effort.
It is curious now to read the blindness with which w
at leust of the North, engaged in the struglo, and bow
we utterly failed to comprenend the causes of tuu war.
Was there a man umong you who in Iwil believed tint
your band could not be stayed until ooutuuru slavery,
with all its incidents, was uprooted and unuihilutcd? Did
Congrefs believe it when, on the memorable day in Jdly
succeeding the first pultlu of Hull ivun, it solututily re
solved that tho war was waged only to Maintain the
Union, preserving the exist ing rights of tho Slate un
impaired? Did President Jviu.oln (canonized be
bis memory unit nan a!) roally believe it, w.ien in
September. 105, alter tho rever.-es of tho Penin
sular campaign, he ptibltxhod a preliminary tiuuuo
of ninety dttys that be would proclaim emaucipa
tion if tho South did not cease tiom the war aud
submit to the authority ot the Constitution?
What was that but proclaiming that if tho
Boui h would submit, there should be no further le; ti
wards einaucipulion? It would be false to Ueclaro mat at
that period, even I he rank uud tile of the armies of the
North received with unanimous satisfaction and joy,
these ineipieut revelations ul the providtntiul tendencies
of the war. Hut wu could not reendo nur delay. Tne
army aud the nation hud believed them the unseen
presence and power of thossme spirit of liberty which in
spired the great declaration oit77'l. Thewerld lookod ou
with diverse Hympailues. With few exceplious, the
princes und nobles louxod for our overthrow, but the
musses were on our aide. Why not? Our cause was
then. Not the princes, but their subjuct had emi
grated hither. Our soliliora had friends, hrjihers, lathers,
children, scat tore (I all ovor liurope. Our recruit catno
from countries whose governments were plotting our
luin. Hull w rse tor the South; their it.siitutious not
only repelled thoselet'ionaot friends, but thoir laun'ing
population had ben tratisf irruud into a most duujturous
and hohlilo clement beneath their very rools.
Our Southern countrymen were brave- in tho whole
earth nouo were bruvsr; but it wu inovitahle that
they should tuccutnb but or o the myriad still gather
ing and approaching, whom uo dlsasUr couol diminish
or appal. , ,
W hen, five year ago, the claah of resounding arms wa
tilled, and our part a soldiers wa periormed, the vast
Intjorityof the nation ha beeneuueated up to the idea
that the seed of war must be eradicated Irom the Con
st ilutiun, the', there must be n more slavery. And o
the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution wa
adopted prohibiting daverv and Investing Congress with
power to make the prohibition effectual. T'o make it
effectual and thorough aa the distemper that produced
the wa; to aeeure luture peace and security, it wo not
enough that the word "slavery" should be obliterated
from our Constitution and laws. The ord, aa expressing
an idea r aeulimint, woe eomparativeJy uexuilea, diaao-
c'ated from all it industrial, social, and politieal inei.
dent These incidents, and not the word, embodied t.ne
idea of Soul iiern rights, to jireserve which the Son thorn
ptepln broke away from the Union, and attempted a sepa
rate nntit inlity.
At first the Northern people, nd their representatives
In (Ingres, wholly intent on Southern distempers ami
reenmt ruction, believed that the thir eenth amend
ment mots 11 the requirement of the crisis, and actually
abolished slavery and all it Incident. And so it did,
in my judgment, if it had been construed according to
i'timpoit, That inch a construction was resis'el, and
finally overborne, I cumulative proof of uVpih and viru
lent of the disease whicn infected th Whole country.
The disinfectant of war, with all ita sad memories, was
needful for us as well a our Southern breth'i, The
honest logic of the thirteenth amendment, and th act
cf Cengres railed the Civil Kights bill, pat.ail Is "d.--tiiance
tbereef, would have placod the ballot in tho hand
of the ematcipatea African of New York and Ohio, aa
well a Ctorgia and Virginia, bus, despite the logic and
tho great wroLg and danger of enforcing a latin consti
tutional rompuhion (gainst denrgt and Virginia, which
was not equally operative against Ohio ami Now York
ilesoite the impossibility nf iissiini'ating the people of the
United Slites, if the whole mans ot Southern laborers
honld he utterly excluded from participation in political
power, despite the horrors of the reent war, which wonld
ultimately break out again if these laborers should be dis
franchised. The thirteenth amendment, wa emasculated
and so construed that It would not secure the ballot the
wand and inrgiia ot citizenship to the emancipated race
in the Northern States.
It was a deadly aim suicidal construction: It degraded
the name nf American citizen ; it intused into tlie Consti
tnticn a diitinclion between sovereign citizen and sub
jngated citizens : the one class anil their posterity to rulo,
tho other cluss and their posterity 10 submit and labor
en voteless, voiceless. Under such a Constitution, where
wi.s tbo American idea of liberty ami duality ? How
could the industrial anil political systems of the Baath be
permanently transformed ?
'Uho words "people" and "ritizen," ld Chief Justice
Tcncy, "are synetiymoua, and mean ihe same thing" in
the Cot stitntion, 'J be eamo Constitution enjo-ned re
publican government on the States, nd pledged tho
natiou, with all ita (lowers, legislative, exsoiitive, ami
judicial, to guaranten obedience to tho injunction. It
ceclared the equality of citizen in privilege and im
munities which no btnte could vi date. It would saura
that the citizens might go, under tho legia of
that supreme law. irom one remote boundary of
this country to the oilier, the ritual in political
opportunities, at least, , every other citiien. It
declared in cssplu.it language that the people
ordained it. that they shall "have representatives."
Nor could Ingenious sophistry break througo all thase
powerful aud conclusive provision und inteniionsof tho
Constitution ; the weik ot Washington and bis cotempo
rsrtea; of the men who had compihd ana proclaimed too
Declaration ot Independence, und therein tlrst enunciated
the experiment 01 self-government, who a little whil be
fore bud solemnly pledged tber lives, lot-tunes, and sscrud
lienor -staked all in a war 01 eight sears' duration, to de
fend and maintain that Declaration.
The argument to accomplish tho ti'cirtal work wa sim
ple and brief. It. was tound antl ovolted from theclunse
which, while comma ntling that the p.-wplo itall have tho
ballot that is, shall choose representatives adopts,
nevertheless, usa suitable qusliliosiien 01 eotera, such as
the Ktutes impose on ttie ele'-tr rs o? iho most numerous
branch of the Stale legislatures, T'hun a moreruleot
conveuie nee, fttl0ptd asf.uch, was perverted and trans
formed into a tremenitousenvineof i-.olitical power. The
word eiualiticution was wret ched lroiu its ordinary mean
ing aa defined by lexicographer, and illustrated hy expe
rience anil practice in constitutional ejovrnmenta. It
really implied onlyti poiesa of preparation by maturity
of years, or succo s in tho nequiaition of property or
education, or length of resilience: something which tho
citizen could attain to with reasonable effort and time
but ell the while eoho'iatent. with the constitutional rule
of republicanism and equality.
Hut through the conntiuotinn placed on this word 'qua
Hf.cuticn." the Stutt swerq suddenly made severally su
preme. lTnd.r tho pretence of qualifying and fitting the
people to become electors, they couM uttsrly subjugate
and dertroy electors. They could anuihil ite ihe constitu
ency of the Nat innal Government and silence the hall ot
Congress! Worse still, thoy cculd make a hepublioan
rule of qualiMcatioii tor one class of the people and thoir
posterity, and lorever restrain and debase another class
and tueir posterity. They could subject the feeble to tho
strong the poor to the rich the citizen, perhaps of
African, perhaps Corman or Irish, or .Mongoliun descent,
to some other favored race, arbitrarily, inoxorablv, and
forever! Did it never occur to the coustruotinniats that
they had ordained a power which might, in some political
convulsion in seme Southern Stute. subjoct tho white race
to tho black?
Thi rule of construction was a counter revolution-subversive
of the vital ideas of the American system. It waa
novel as it was incongruous and destructive. It had
never before botn theoretically assorted against the re
cognized people and citizens of the United States. Cer
tainly the atatu of the African race had formed no ex
ception, becauae, previoua to the thirteenth amendment,
it had been established by supreme judiotal decree that
they were not and could nob become citizen. Happily
for tiie country, tbe fifteenth amendmont ha dissipated
these incongruities. It is tbe culminating offspring and
glory of the war- It realize Oliver Goldsmith's pootio
vision :
"As seme tall cliff, that lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,
Thongh round it Ureuat the rolling clouds are spread,
Kternal sunshine settle on its head."
Whatever may have been our individual perhaps our
partisan opinions from the elevated plain wo are at
tenth exalted, we can no begin to unfold, io all Its
grandeur, the destiny ot our (Government und country.
Our object is inuuease. We will solve the problem
whether the idoa of self-government is blasphemous or
divine. It reoeived solemn expression antl consecration
by our father. It. has been embraced by ouraelves,
baptized anew in the blood of our countrymen. The po
litical crucible i at length finished aod prepared. We
cannot retire from the experiment, if wo wonld. We
must find out by experience whether the equality of
man before the Oovernment aud law ie or ia not
a delusion. Cod haa provided beautiful resources
in which tbe experiment uiav be begun aud ex
tended; but, remember, we are admonished by all the
agoniss of civil war that we cannot test it with
the highest types of the human race alone. We start
with admitting the brotherhood of man that all are
created equal. We have thrown our portal wide open,
liy our naturalizatiou lawa we have luvitod all to com
and be enrolled a citizens as constituent, members of
our sovereignty. Wo must tike tbem a they come.
We must educate the ignorant; incite tho slothful to in
dustry; direct tbedepraved towarss virtue. Our preju
dices will confront ua we must subdue tbem. This is a
nation's work If w fail, the conclusion will simply bo
that human nature cannot endure self-government.
In the stupendous experiment, now fust
aacending.full orbed. Wo recognize the cordial co-oporation
and aid of all our countrymen of the South. Let tbem all
re-enter the ranks of the people, reinvested with all tho
privileges und immunities of citizens, i believe the so'
diers of the Army nf the Potomac and all the Union
dier will hail iheir return with unanimous acclaim.
Bury the smouldering animosities of civil war. lUrelt
nf animosities and regrets, it waa a national atrugglo,
rcplote with glorious memories and results. Tell
or its incidents with the Southo-n soldier erst
cur foe in battlo arrsy always our fellnw-conatry-mm.
Hy the war we bave demonstrated beforo tho
nations of the earth, our united martial power. There ia
no exaggeration in tho statement that on nurownoonti-nent-nat,
across tbe narrow sea to the neighboring isles
in a jist cause, we can confront and repel every possible
combination of hostile power.
Constrained by events wliich no human sagaoity could
avert, we have waged an American oivil war enled it
without a trace of conquest, without the infliction of one
revengeful blow, without the impositiou of any terms ex
cept the concession of liberty, with all its blessings to ull
tbe people.
May not tbe men like those in whose presence I now
stand, well exult in sicb a war! Tho pages in whih its
liistory shall be written will have your names inscribed,
will be signalized in tbe records of the ugos; not alone a
illustrating military uchicvhuiunts but tor the spirit
which prevailed and diffused over tho desolation of the
struggle tbe enduring verdure of national hfe, liberty,
and fraternal peace.
After the General had cloied the band struck
up "Hail Columbia," after whioh General Sheri
dan Introduced George II. Uoker, Estj., Secre
tary of the Union J.euuue, who read th-j follotv
Ing poem of Lis own conception:
Air. Holier' Pnm.
Turn as I my in search of worthy themes,
To till wiln lue til poet's solemn dreams -Rome
bint from Homo, some retrospect of Creece,
lied with their war, or golden with tlioir peace;
Home thought of ltucelot and Cuineveru,
The "Aim in samito" and the "mystic mere;"
Or there grand echoes that forever How
I rom Roland's horn through narrow Roncesvaux ;
Some spark yet living of the strange romance
Whose llmno illumined the Crusader's lunco;
Or that Ktron purpose which unclosed the sea
Before tbe vision of IheOenoese;
Or when the love-lock and tho "lose-cropped crown
Dietl Willi a laugh, or triumphed with a iroa n ;
Or the fruil "Mayflower" poured her prayerful flick
Upon the breast of Plymouth's wintry rock;
Or when the children of these hunly men
Hoarded th throne they never loved, ugain :
Those splendid themes, so sacred to my youth,
Those dreams of fancy w it h their heart ot truth.
Paled as I viewed them in the fresher rajs
T hat light the scenes of those hemic daya;
Shrank, as the young Cuiossus of out axe
W ith scornful tlngor turned t he historic page.
And sought, through pigmy chiefs and pigmy wars,
To peer bis stature and his drosoful scars
Sought till a smile o'erran his studious frown,
T hen razed the records as he wroto his own;
Matchless in grandeur, product of a c-inse
Asdsep ami changeless as t bote moral laws
That base thoinsulves upon tho throne of (Sod
Fair with Hi blessings, awful with Hi rod.
But why explore the sources of the flood.
Whence ail the land ran steel and lire and bloody
liy heart ifrltiug, like aitethored steed's,
To join the heroes in their nobledeeds.
A xioise of armies gather in my ears,
The Sunt horn ) ells, the Northern battlo cheer ;
The endless vulley, ceaseless aa the roar
Of the vexed ocean brawling with its shore;
The groaning cannon, pulling at a brouh
Man's shreds and iragiuenta through the jawsof deat'j ;
The rush of uoro, and the whirnug sway
Of tbe keen tabre cleaving sutil from clay ;
And cvtrall, intelligible und clear
Aa spoken language to a listening ear,
I he bugle orde-s ihe tamultiions bords,
And lead tke flocks of battle with it words.
"1 was nuue to wituuas and to feel the shame
Manassas cast upon our early fame,
When tne raw greenness of onr boastfnl band
Y ielded a viotory almost in their hands ;
Fie from the Hold betore a vanquished foe,
And lied abont it, to complete the woe.
Since then, through ail tue changes of the war,
lay eye have followed our ascending str:
Ascending ever, though at tune the cloud
Of nark disaster cast it murky shroud
About our gnid. oppressing men with fear
ft th last day of liberty drew near:
vThrorub ail I knew, and, wiUi ssy faith upborne,
Turner! en the"eW wl'ti pitying esnrtt,
''I atkor Cain- Mar still filler Itadeatined plac,
Lo t to cur ght, but shining in Cod' face.
With growing courage, day by day, 1 hung
Above the soiriler of the quiet tongne.
Sneerabiaaed about him. penmen longht his war:
Here lie wa lacking, there he went ton far.
f 1 las, how bloody! But. alack, how tamo!
0 for Lee'e talent! O ye fool, for shame!
From the ttrt move, his foe defensive tt Jod ;
And was that nothing? It tea worth tho Mood.
O, ( 'hief Supreme, tbe head nf glory's roll'
( will of feel. O lotty, genernaa soul,
Sl.aring thy laurels, lest a comrade want;
Why shguld I pam thee, Jfvory mouth oie, Grant!
Firm wa my faith In him whose sturdy skill
Three dreadful day had held the quaking hill;
Stood like a rock on which the fiery spray
Heat out its life, then alow'y ebbed away;
Saved our domain from rapine, waste and wrath,
And taught the foe an unreturning path -Light
of our darkness, succor of our need,
Uod of our Conntry, bless tbe naino of Moad.i!
1 saw with wonder Sherman's Titan linn
Pour from the mountain to the distant brio,
Sweep treason' cradlo bare of all its brood,
And turn its garden to a solitude.
Fear ran before him, Famine irroaned behind.
And, following Famine, oatu the bumble mm 1.
Who felt a care within his bosom grow,
Of mero tbun pity for the hapless foe.
Or spent a tear on that which Fate's decrees
Already wrote among ber victories,
W hen in tho tumult of the battled ran
Shone Fortune' darling, mounted Sboridan!
ltapid to plan, and peerless in th light.
He plucked Fame's chaplotaaa by sovereign rlgat,
Fmurged triumnhant from a wild retreat,
And blazoned victory'a eolure on defeat.
I watched with Thomas whilo his wary glance
Marked the rah foes their heedless lines advance ;
Step alter step ho lured their willing feet
Into the toils irom which was no rotrcat;
Then with a ewnop, us when the englo swings
tint nf bis oyry, with thr roar of wiuga,
'I he veteran fell upon bis venturous prey,
A nd rolled hi line to mobs in wild dismay.
Hut hurk, what titling from the West, advance)
To choke Fume's voice, and dim her shining glance?
Still are the lips that gave the wise command.
Park the controlling oyes, anil cold tlie hand
1 hat, an the needle toward tho northern aky.
Pointed oneway the way of victory.
Our annals hold nccitrn ttio soldier's fame;
A n.-itien's ulories cluster rouud hi name;
No deed oi hi require the grace of song;
Mere praise would do their simple grandeur wrong.
Turn Irom his honors, which ho left to earth.
And ponder what he bore to Heaven hia worth.
A single nature c.-e-t in antique mould,
Ocntle, serene, child-f.ender, lion-bold,
A heart with sympathies so broad and trno.
That trust and love grew rund him eie they knew.
Open, sincere, nncovetons and pure,
Strong to achieve and patient to endure;
Heedless of fame, he looked within hitnsolf
For that reward which neither prniso nor pelf
Cangive tbo soul whose naked virtue stand
Heforo Cud's ye, b mouth Cod's liftod hand.
In tbe long future ot this mortal hive.
Who may proiict what record will survive?
A little shudder of enrth's brittle crust,
A nd rrnn and man' renown were scattered dut.
Hut in his day to Thnmn it. was given
To sow his Held, and gather fruit for heaven.
Which neither worm can gnaw nor care 111 iko dim.
And these are deathless, these be took with him.
Through nnximisyesr. I saw the martial flood
Singe back and forth in wuvesof lire and blood.
Sometimes it paused, and sometime seeio l,ti reel.
Spent aud exhausted, from the Kobcl stoel ;
Hnt every rhnck was sipping, blow by blow,
'I he Li' rs that backward held the overflow ;
Till suddenly the ruin cracke! and roired.
And over ull the human torrent poured !
Then bloomed the harvest of our pa'.ient aims;
Then bowed the world before our deeds and nam?:
T lien on the proudest of l-iinio's temple gut.ee xT
Shone novel recordsand thick-crowded dates. .timfi
New wreaths were hung upon her horned sarines,
New clarions blown beforo her martial lines;
Fresh incense smoke 1, and fresh libations dripped ; '
"i he vernal laurels irom the mils wjre striimeil,
And woven in chaplets. Far and ne'tr the num.
Of gladness ushered the returning drum. n '
Welcome stood beckoning, looking towards the South,
With cheers of transport brimming in the mouth ; .,,
Till cume the rapture of that crowning hour, j
When the vast armies poured thoir awful pwer, ' t.
In dense procession, through the marble binks
That rung and quivered with a nation's thanks; '
While, like a temple of tbo morning sky,
August, sublime, refulgent, calm and high
Towered in its might, as symbo of tbe wbolo,
The dome crowned presence of the Ospitol.
I envy those whose tattered standard waved
" lib in the city which their valor saved,
The Uaatern heroe and tneir Western peats,
'The hoi) joy that glittered in t heir tear.
n lumnging upward to tnenation's turone.
They knelt and sobbed and kissed the very stone-.
And thon, brave army, that hast borne tne brnnt
Of stern repulse so often on thy front
'1 hou who nast rallied from each stunning blow.
With godlike patience faoing still the foe
Thou moving pivot of the deadly tight,
Whoie cteudtast centre held all thing aright,
Twioe savod us from th fee's audacious feet.
And drove him howling through bis last retreat
Hung on his steps nntil for peace he knelt,
And sued for mercy which be never felt
I thank just For une that it wo toy fate
Alone to hurl the traitor from their state;
Alone to make their capital thy prize.
And watch the treason close it ulojdy eyes!
0 roll, Potomac, prouder of thy name.
Touched by the splendor of thy army' fame!
Thrill with the steps of thy retusning braves.
Wail through tby margins nf nnconntett graves,
1 augh at the echo of thy soldiers' shout,
W humor their story to the binds about.
Ye, reel each passion of the human soul.
But roll, great rivor, in tby glory roll!
Forgot not here ihe nation's martyred Chief,
Fallen for the goBpol of your own belief.
Who, ere be mounted to the poople'a throne,
Asked for your pruyors, and joined in them hi ewa.
I knew the man, I see him, as bo stands
With gilts nf mercy in his outstretched ha nds;
A kiunly light within bis gonllo eyes.
Sad us the toil in which his heart grow wise ;
His lips half-parted witu the constant smile
that kindled truth, but fnllod tbe deepest guile ;
If is head bent forward, and his willing ear
Divinely patient right untl wrong to hear;
real in Ilia good nose, humble in his stute,
F'irmin bis purpose, yet not passionate,
He leo his people with a tender bund.
And won by love a away beyond o mraand.
Summoned by lot to mitigate a time
Frenzied with rage, unscrupulous with crime.
He bore bis mission with so meek a heart
That Heaven itself took up his weary part;
And when hn faltered, helped him ore he fell,
Kking bis effort out by miracle.
No king thia rr.oo. by grace ot Cod' intent;
No. something better, freemen President!
A nature modelled on higher plan,
hord of himself, an inboru gentleman!
Pars by his fate. Forget the closing strife
In the vast memories of his noble lite.
Forget theseene, the bravo stealing nigh.
The pistol shot, the new-made widow's cry.
The palsied people, and tho tears tnat ran
O'er half a world to m-urn a single man.
Hut, oh! remember, while the inind cun hold
One record sacred to the days of old.
The gentle heart that beat its life away
Just as young morning donned bis robe of gray.
Stole through t he tears boneath his golden troad,
And touched in vain the eyelids of the doad!
Remember bini as ono who dietl for right
With victory's tropin glittoriug in his sight:
His mission finished, und the settled end
Assured and owned by stranger, foe, and friend.
Nothing waa left him but to raate the aweet
O triumph sittitiir iu the nation' Boat. ;
And for that triumph lieavon prepared its courts.
And cleuretl its champaigns for tiuwonted aports :
Summoned the spirits ot too noble dead
W ho le i in battlu for the ciuso he lod :
Sold iera and ctnu aw ikend tro n the clay.
And ranged their legions in the old array.
There l.yon led. and Kearney rodo amain.
And skilled McPherson drew his bruile roin,
hrae Key nobis marshalled bis uoduuntod cor,
And Sedgwick prei-ssd lo reach the front once more.
The star uf Mitchell glittered over all,
A nd St evena answerod Keno's bugle-call-
Bayard looked worthy of ins knightly nam".
And MariMiold' eye were bright wit h bat.tlo-llamo.
lander's gruud brow was flushed with eager ire,
Antl Strong arose fr.1111 Wagner's roaring tire.
There gallant Bufnrd ia tho van was seen,
And Corcoran wuvod his tlag of Irish green,
llirncy's clear eyes were radiant with hi faith.
Winthrop aud (;rhln smiled at bullied deaih.
Down Shaw's dsik trout a solemn purpose ran -The
slave's resolve to prov himwlf--moro nun ;
The hero's courage, lor that humble hope,
W us all thst winged hif up the bloody slope.
Thero burly Nelson blustered through his ineu,
And Kichsrtlson deployed hi lines again.
Hiikrr looked thoughtful; Wadortb'a liberal hand
Pointed right, forward ; mid the sharp command
(if Smith's wild valor bore hia soldiers on,
As when it rang o'er fated Doneison!
All these, and more, before the Martyrs gaze
Passed tliruuc.il the shouts of heaven's tumultuous
praise,
The sound of clarions, and tho choral songs
Of ruvture bursting Irom the seraph throngs;
Passed, like u pugesnt from the evening skies.
Hut luft a picture on celestial eyas
Whose tints shalldonpen s the days Inorease,
And shine a marvel in that Kealm of Peace.
During the reading; of tho poem, as the names
of the various military heroes, living and dead,
were mentioned, tho audience loudly applauded,
and the speaker was obliged to cease for a mo
ment. After the poem was finished the band
struck up the "Star-spangled Banner," when
some ono in the audience proposed cheers for
the "horse that carried Sheridan to Winchester,"
which were loudly given.
Kpeeeh of President Grant.
President Grant then beinr; called on, stopped
forward and said: I am yery happy to see so
many of my old comrades of the Army of the
Potomac, and would be (clod if I could properly
express my feelings on this occasion. I can only
return my thanks for this Kind reception.
SECOND EDITION
LATEST BY TELEGRAPH.
news from the Pacific
Fifteenth Amendment In California
Opposition to Celored Voters.
Items oi JVnv&l IVoavk.
FROM WA SUING TOJV.
Naval Order.
Sffcial Denpatrk to The Jioening Telrgraph,
Wamiinotos, April it. Secretary Kobesou
has ordered Commander Henry Wilson to pro
ceed with the United States stcamnhip Krolie,
which Is now at New York, to the flshinir,
grounds In the vicinitv of Prince Edward's
Island, where he is to cruise around duriur, the
fishinjr season to look after American interests.
The marine rendezvous at this place has been
clof-ed, as the funds of the Marine Corps will not
justify keepiiijr it open.
The leave of absence of Pnrseon Thomas M.
Potter, U. S. N., now in Florence, Italy, has
been extended three months.
The Second Auditor, Hon. 15. B. French, has
prepared a circular in referenco to the recent
decision of the Supreme Court, in which ho says
that it applies ouiy to men who enlisted fur
three years, between May 4 and July 22, 1S61,
and were honorably dipchartced. Discharge for
promotion does not entitle the soldier promoted
to this bounty. Soldiers entitled to this bonntv
will not be entitled to bounty under the act of
July 28, 1806. Tho bounty there promised Is
upon certain conditions named In the act, and
the decision docs not change these eondilions.
FROM THJSPA CI FIC.
No ii th Anierlcna Advlrpn.
New York, April 9. The steamship Henry
Chauncey, from Aspinwall the 1st, has arrived,
and brings the followina; news:
A riot occurred at Panama on the 2Sth ult.,
between soldiers and natives, duriu wliich one
person was killed and three or four badly hurt.
Considerable excitement was created, but iiuiut
was soon restored.
The Panama Railroad Company have with
drawn their sailing vessels between New York
and Asplnwall.
The Darien surveying expedition Is actively
at work. They had explored several miles
inland, but had not succeeded in flndius; auy
indication whatever of a low elevation through
the Cordilleras for the canal. The news is de
cidedly discouraging. More laborers are re
quired. Scarlet fcrerhad prevailed at Guatemala.
The country Is tranquil. All those concerned in
the last revolution had given themselves up or
escaped to Mexico. Two hundred stand of
arms and a small cannon were captured from the
rebels.
FROM THE PACIFIC COAST.
Colored Voters.
San I'kaxcisco, April 8. Various county
clerks refuse to muster the colored men as
voters until the opinion of the Attorney-General
of the State Is received. Over fifty Democratic
members have addressed a letter to the clerk
of Sacramento congratulating him on his re
fusal to enroll the colored people as voters under
the fifteenth amendment, stating that they will
support him with all the moral, and If needed
all the physical, force God had given them.
Oregon Politics.
The Oregon Pepublican State Convention,
which met in Portland yesterday, was tho
largest political body ever assembled there. In
addition to tho nomination of Mr. Palmer for
Governor, and Mr. Wilson for Congress, Mr. M.
llersch was nominated for Treasurer and
James Dickens for Secretary of State.
Hun FranclHce) Market.
San Francisco, April 8. Flour, $4'50'TO!V.tii).
Wheat in demand aud very quiet at $r30tfi)l 'CO.
the extremes. Legal tenders, 90!.
FROM TUE PLAINS.
New Town la Colorado.
Dknveu, April 8 The Union colony, Mr.
Mesker, President, now numboring five hundred
members, and coming from tho different States
of the Union, have located in Colorado, on the
Union and Pacific Railroad, at the junction of
the Hache-a-Poudre, fifty-four miles south of
ChtvenBe and fifty-two miles north of Denver.
They have a towu site, water power, timber
brought by the river, coal lands adjacent, aud
control seventy thousand acres of most excellent
land, which can be easily irrigated.
Tlie mountain range, twenty-five miles dis
tant, furnishes lime, sand-Btoue, iron ore, and
timber in abundance. The new town is to be
named "Greeley," after Horace Greeley, of tho
New York Tribune, who is to deliver an oration
there on the fourth of July next. Mills, 6tores,
and churches will be erected this coming
season.
FROM HIE WEST.
Another Dentil from ilir Cureless Cue of Conl
Oil.
Cleveland, April 9. Mrs. Wing, living on
Williams alley, was horribly burned by tho ex
plosion of au oil can yesterday afternoon, and
died last night. She was pouring the oil upon a
fire to increase the flame. Tho report was like
one mude by a cannon.
linllroad Matter.
Cincinnati, April 9. S. L. L'llommedieu,
President of the Ciuciunati, Hamilton, and Day
ton Railroad, is out to-day in a long note ad
dressed to tho stockholders, prompted by in
formation of an effort being made to displace
him at tho approaching election. He defends
his course in the management of tho road, and
claims that tho road is now out of debt and pre
pared to pay tho cost instead of tho scrip di
vidend. The Nf. I.onie NnlcMe.
St. Louis, April 9. The young man who
committed suicide at the Quarautiuo Hospital
night beforo last, was named W. Eager, Instead
of Charles Johnson, as reported. He was re
spectably connected in Canada West. Among
his effects wag an envelope addressed "Henry E.
Eager, Hamilton, Ontario."
FROM TEE STA TE.
The City Mewernue I'tlllyntlon Bill tilrued by
tbe overuor.
SpeeUU DenjxtfoA to The Homing Telegraph.
Harrihbuko, April 9 The Governor haa
signed tho bill passed by tho Legislature, giving
to the "City Sewerage Utilization Company'
the work of cleaning tho streets of Pniia-
dclphirt.