Then let us be admonished, and know that national existence, liberty, order, law, the organization of human society upon a civilized basis, and the vast charge given us by our fathers for posterity, signified in the star-spangled emblem of the brotherhood of freemen all tremble in precarious existence, so long as there is upon the continent a pole on end with the three-barred ensign of treason and murder upon it. And let us not only bring to a bloody grave this monster of our day, but let us bring our children, like young Hannibals, to the altar of our country, and from their infant lips extort the obligation that will doom the man whose temerity leads him to the remotest sympathy with the foul instigators of this hideous drama. The whites of the South plead, by the circumstances to which I have hurriedly alluded, for deliverance ; for a large portion of the passion and patriotismnow swelling the rebellion would, by the power of a free press and an honest pulpit, be converted to the cause of the Union. But you must remember that the iron arm which now grasps the throat of press and pulpit in the rebel States, must be broken with the sword before you can inaugurate these remedial measures. A free press and an honest pulpit cannot precede your arms, but can only come on the heel of rifled cannon and Federal bayonets. Then let us show how we prize our liberties by alacrity in their defence ; let us not be stingy of blood where it will bring such large revenue of blessings to our country and the human race. And doing our duty in this dark hour, we will sustain that flag whose folds are radiant with glorious memories of the past, with all its proud significance intensified by the struggle, and see our country rise from this bloody baptism into a new life and majesty as truly the land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE. We will triumph the moment we deserve to. Then let us vindicate on the field our sincerity when we say, " Forever float that standard sheet, Where breathes the foe but falls before us ? With freedom's soil beneath our feet, And freedom's banner floating o'er us." SPEECH OF COLONEL SIMON H. MIX. Colonel SIMON H. Mix, of the Second New- York cavalry, Burnside's expedition, came forward, and was greeted with cheers. He spoke as follows : My fellow-citizens, it is the duty of a soldier at all times to fight. [A voice, " We know that."] It is sometimes the duty of a soldier to speak. 1 cons-ider this as one of those occasions ; for inasmuch as I am incapacitated from doing the former, through the politeness of an invitation extended to me by your committee, I shall try my hand at the latter. It seems to me, my fellow-citizens, but a day since I left the city of New-York to go to the battle-field. Almost the last day I spent in this city was on the occasion of a great monster meeting in this Square, held about eighteen months ago. I then resolved to go to the interior of the State, from whence I came, and appeal to the Union men there and raise a cavalry regiment, and I did not appeal in vain. My friends, I wish to say here distinctly that I am not here for the purpose of criticising any of the acts of my superiors. With the man who is placed over me will 1 serve and fight at all times. [Vociferous cheering.] I have served under Gen. McClellan. [Here three cheers were given for Gen. McClellan.] I have served under Gen. Banks [cheers] I have served under the great and glorious JJurnside. [Great cheering.] In this connection I wish to say a word. Experience is the best teacher" and when any man comes to you and tells you if the ne.-rroes of the South are employed in the army the soldiers that we have there will not fight, do you tell that man he is a fool, and that he does not know what he id talking 12
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=