The New York herald. [volume], April 20, 1875, Page 6, Image 6

About The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
par tu -urvc i at m illicit an 1 the great J ay,
with its crowd aud weaitb ol ceremonv, wa: over.
THE DAY AT LEXINGTON.
. Lrxi.ngton, Mass., April 19.
With the thermometer at 2) ue>f. a cloudless
sky ushered lu the 19i.il of April, the anniversary
of that " glorious day lor America," oue htiuor-"!
years ago. At 5 o'clocit the histi r;C old
towu was ln-tmci with life an .
tie. and with tlio riugiu;* of nel.s auu
booming ol cannon the imiipM'i"0 rem -v
recurred to the distant past, whon tue embattle
farmers stood upon the gr-en, resolved u n.ia
must be war it shouid begin here." L<>n2 be
tore the dav. carriages, wagons aud pedestrians
began pouring into the town. Booths ami ex
temporized restaurants went tip on every coi
oer, and conspicuous mid the patriotic enuu
?latun of the occasion shone tne uationsl lu
etinct for gain. At 9 A. M.
THK WUL'LS lows WAS AL1VK
with moving, oust ing humanity, and the muster
tents, with their gav decorations; flags and
itreamer* flutter lug from every house, presented
it once a most cheering aud inspiring aspect. Ine
arrangements in every particular were most com
plete. The mon>ter tent, in which was ,o be
?crved the grand centennial dinner, presented a
?truing appearance.
The tent wan 410 feet long and TO feet wide, witn
a central wing l&o leei Ion*. "lib plates lor 3.740
person. Evcrtr seat had been disposed of this
morning and the most exorbitant prices were
Uked and offered by those w?o bad aud those wto
lad not tickets. The main tent. In which the
?ration, unfiling ot the statues. Ac? was to take
piace, was provided wrh ?eata for 4,odO people,
yet it was not large enough.
TUB FIRST TRAIS
from Boston arrived crowded, and from nh the
adjoining towns Hundreds came swarming to the
icene. The geutaira'S ol au April suu were last
reducing the temperature to a point of enjoy
ment. and every tiling betokened a -plendld aay
in i a gloriously su ccssiut iiiTalr at Lexington.
Promptly at ten A. M. the ceremonies in the
tent begun. The immense Pavilion oemsr crowded
to overfl iwinir aud thousands surging auout the
rntiance unable to gain admission. A raw cold
wind prevailed irotn the East, reudenng it ex
tremely uncomfortable lor all and testing the
patriotic enthusiasm of the vast multitude to tne
very utmost.
The superintendent of the Lowell road tele
graphed to Boston to sell no more tickets lor
Con:ord, the single track being ?o blocked up
with ttte immense trains that it was impossible to
transport tuern beyond ibis point. To this fact
Lexington is indebted lor several thousand per
ions, who were compelled to remain here irutn
want of transportation to Concord.
THK EXERCISR3
in tne tent on the Common embraced the opo.ng
?daresa by Thomas M. Stetson, President of the
Day, who spoke as follows:?
ADDRESS OF UK. THOMAS JfERRIAM SlETSOS.
*Tce President or the day, upon taking the chair,
?poke as follows:?
Fellow Citizen-?It is a high privilege for those
Of us who derive descent irom the minute men of
April 19, 1776, aud irom iinsnip as well us Amerl
#an citizenship revere their memories, to see tne
(r^nd respect paid to these men and their act by
ml* rntgbtv concourse to aay. Karin aud lactorv,
lorum and mart, have sent tue lovers ol their
iountry, the lovers of tne only firm, concrete, con,
?motional liberty in the world to this little coun
try town to-day to contemplate the magnificent
devotion of jour ancestors to freedom. K .a
wise to devote ine-e cyclic centennial days to
our whole country, that the sounds of labor
be stilled and tnat capitol and court close, and
with pealing music, waving flags and ringing
?ells, witn anthem ana with euio^y to gather to
tue tus'oric places oi Amerlci una study th<* per
trait auug lorever in tae galleries oJ national
gAnd either the real Peclaratlon of Indepen
aence was written out m the *.ate y *?rJ' ?'
th^> na ion's *eif-gr*ut' d charter or *u P
Claimed by ctiona that spea* 1 uder yet uy tne
snout- of rallvinir pattios ,iud tne rattle oi
muskets upon this oattle ground. No oetteruse
can oe made oi tne d y than to review its ctrcum
?tance-, recall its voice* ,u:a rekmule the flatnt of
patriotism in our heurti. fc.en. >r:ai
?urroend us. On the very epo' wlure Joo sit
tne roll of Johu lat -r's comosnv waJ cal.ed.
Iber* Jonas II .rrtngton met nls earn, out iu no
pa.-sive mood dm thai warlike s >ul depart. l"ere
fcll John lirowu, battling b? too ? unded
Prince liasierbi O 'k. 1 lie hous?s aroundi us l:a e
their storv. from tn..t one tne minu e men bred
clou tne rofai troops, ana it -till holds the bull tB
returned. In its etiamber a Uritisb g^enaoler die.
that dav. lne ancient monument is by our siue,
witn its solemn scr.pture tliat one of tne nun
priest- of the Revolution wrote upon it: ?
fe*cr?J to Llberiv a .1 the RUliwof
lUc FreeJom anJ induptutleuct of AO??ri^
? tilled *nd deieuUe,! b> tb1-* biooa of ber tons.
Here, here la the place to recall the virtue and
fl?ry oi y jiir heroic ancestors,
Atsitnal beroum lamlei et f icta HKBlii.
Jau. leg^re??l iu* ?it po'uri* coanoaoer* TlrtuA
Gtttsena oi L- xing'.on? \ou have msiae it my
wmteiui auty to extend jour weicouie to u.e
lues's WHO to-day pav 1"f,^ 1.r"J,'J ,ad?Jr ot dla
ance at ti e oid batt.e /round. No *. .end <r o: ou-.
May nor gilt er or tnse : wealth and po ?er Baa
broi-gi.i tnam ir <m tbo i.< ut.as o: tn<? w.de j-nj''" ?
ttut tbey come wttu uie deep and proud
wd ct Aii AtLer.c^ pi ^ to tbo spot fiherc uer
loerty waa notn. On thts Qet J ail lo '.al
mu a.ffeiences cease. Hie bl<;od ne.e shed was
!or our wnole country. New bugiand men stood
lortn .or an, aud it iu the broad land over wdica
wave* the national flair tnere are those who mis
an ierstaud and mlsuae h r. all antipathies are
6,.sied atid stilled t UunKer Hill, *ta^Df5,rrdf*?i
at Lexinatoti ioourgii"sts neai and ur liom
the sis er c lonies oi tne old Thirteen, and irotn
other,imperial Mates u: dreamed oi among tee
posmoiiitiesoi the t en Wore, we tender a
a,a. and re.^pectiul welc* me.
We welcome *ne ancient military corporatl n of
Missachu.-et ?, to wnose veueraole anttqui y
Lexiugton vieids precedence ,ri '4m?; ttte n
oue r?;presentatives nere to-day -rom tne ?rmT
tnd navy, irom the <-? r ir. i Army o .^.e
and witn loving and fl.iai venera'ion we gr*et the
siiver-iifcired veterans oi 1*1-. who.-e tew remaiu
log iora.s vet iiuger to grace ou >ervio?? and Bal
low tue great days u! the llepuolic
we we,come tne ju nctarv. wnj?e d'5nl?e^
tlon ia so enitancea and relieved ?ti a * people is
"e*dy to light and die lor tne form ana the ?at>
,*An?f now^^itist arm? have given place to the
robes of peace, we weicome tne de.egationa iroui
tne societies and the universities.
And we heaitliy welcoms "U.' suests from the
?etslit>orliig towus, wnose fraternal rai.y ssve l^
toe lstu oi April an i otianged Its utoruing of
?loom and nor rot into juoilant vi itorj
win Lexington lorget tne timeiy aid wnen tt..
Great Woburn co up ny under lapia.n
joined captain Parker* men in t e aiternoon and
vengeance was taken for tne Slaughter oi toe
BNevef'will Lextngf n tcriret the d?:votloc ^f
Danveis. the town wuerelsrae^ Putnam was > j a,
whose cltix-ens. witti tne "Sword ?>, t.ie u.ri
of Gicieon Rosier, wita the.r dea< on as t ei. ..ead
and their n.mister for ais lieutenant. marc..e^
sixteen miles >n lonr oours to the aiaughter p a
Btme foot of the rocks. And mu?t ?? a. J
heoceiorth omit to greet the met, of
tnnerai drnmS nav* 1"?' s,:"e . .. i
to tae gr.ve tne lasw snrv.vor of _u *
venerable iorm? wuo
our celeoratloos; unt if " r e? ' r - ? *
ever revisit the Bcene^o. their eart ii) gra,,'. < .
what invtsib.e auditors tnrong arou.d tis t<.-da.? ?
Adams and Hancock, wi, - ve, ed 1
upon this plat orm, are wi n us. ' _,!??
wit . us. For t e rewards wmc . Heaven f
those who strive and die lor tn?ir country we 'SQ
conceive uone more rnagnifl ent than
tu ic oi a nation saved o nocrty.
to-day will l,e nere. Tne dead neroes are wuj as
is oar triumpbsl pHge-tit. reverently wel
come their companionship to day.
Then followed a praver by the Rev. Mr. West
eett, hymns by he Boyiston Club and the unveil
ing oi toe statues by the Bon. C'hariei Hudson,
who spoke as follows :?
AULBLKS or <. HARLES KCDiO*.
Every nation owes tu oirtn and its preservation
? the gai.antry of it* -mi uers and tbe wisdom of
,ts statesmen, impressed with tins truth and the
?biigation tt imposes tne people of Lexington
Save placed in toeir Memorial Uall the s'.atues oi
two ?u.dier*?one a minute on-ia oi tne Revo.ut.on.
the other a Union soldier of the late w.ir. in this
way wc nave 'eatiQed our just appreciation of t e
military and the va.ue of the r s ervice*, but we
??ei tuat our duty is out hail done. We have two
racant ntches In our nail, wnich we purpose to OU
with tbe statues of our Illustrious -'atesmen, n
rfate ul scknowied^ment ol their wi.r d. ie
lire W at tne gallantry of the Soulier and toe wis
lorn ol tlie statesman sbou.d s ted t ieir combined
lustre in our consecrated nail, and so teach tne
rising feneration -oat the civil and military
Mwer are botn essential to me preservation
? IU,u-..|,?. .so. M? ?? """"I
(B tee s^ection of our snnjecta. T?o
uane? tone to os uasougSt, #e could net
overlook tue men whoso ardent devotion to
human rights had excited the wrath of rtie King,
the Munsiry uud t ie Komi <iovernoj\ These pro
scribed patriots, known and honored throughout
it><? country, wre particularly identified with
Lexington and were heto on tue latno'ts l'Jtn of
April. Returning irotn the Provincial Congress,
over wtiose deliberations otie had pre-iaed and
whose c< tinsels the other bad controlled, they
had taken up their anode with the.r ir cud and
couipjor, Itev. Jonas Clark, whose heart beat .n
unison with theirs and whose wisdom .?nd patriot
ism Ln.ale his house a favorite place of re?ort to
the leading patriots of the day. Uere these dis
tinguished statesmen were sojourning to avoid
the threatened seizure aud transportation recom
mended by Ueuer il Gage. Nor was this prompted
by mere selfishness. They lived for their country,
as tnelr history a' un>'au'tiy shows. Tne eider of
tue two, in tue miust of comparative poverty
which he mlsht have bartered for boundless
wealth, cneuriul.y devoted ihe u -at years 01 his
lue to the cause of liberty, and did mote to bailie
the designs of the Unitary and prepare tne
colonies lor Mlf-government than anv otner man.
lie was, in fact, i>e oiuamzer or the American
Kevoiutlou. l-ai-seeu.it and sagacl- us, he early
perceived tne resuu 01 tue coutroversv aud Kept
THE OKEAT END OK COLONIAL INDhPENUKNCF
constantly iu view. Out while he labored to I11
cuic?-e tr,e principles oi liberty ana equal rights
with all the steadiastness oi a stuniy oid I'dritaa
he uao wisdom- to avoid those impracticable ex
tremes iuto wlilcn many ardent m-u are apt to
fall. Lie Knew tnattne c domes must act. iu uni
son; that Massachusetts, thougu goaded on ueany
10 desperation. must bear aud forbear till tne
other colonies were p.spared to meet thecrUis.
lie Knew that it would oe madness lor a sinale
co:ouy to raise the standard 01 revolt anu at
tempt aloue to withstand tne giant power of
Ureat Britain, and so he uevoted his best energies
to unite the colonies, auu thus tnaKr lonnuun
cause in resisting oppression. though ma leeimgs
were ardent, they were restrained by his soiiud
judgment, aud ins firm religious principles rorever
bound hiiu io the interest of ms country. v\ nile
be was urging moro moderation, and ac
tually holding the p-ople in one section oack
lroin overt acts, lie used Ins best efforts in
other places to impiant tue seeds of liberty, and
iiiei are the people ler tne impending struggle.
Meeting his opponents at every point, he snowed
that we stoou upon the broad oasis oi the hnglisn
constitution, aud that they were the rebels aud
the vto.ators oi the law. When taxation was the
theme oi ci ntroversy, they were told that taxa
tion without lepres utatiou was repugnant to tue
luudauieutal prim iplea of Magua (.'Darta. VVlieu
t,roops were s ut here to eniorce their arbitrary
decrees aud awe the people into su'ituis-ion, they
were told that, by the lundauieuta! law or the
tea m. the military must be suuoMinaie to the
civil power, and that standing armies iu times of
peace could not be lawiuliy quartered aoiong us
witnout me consent oi our Legislature. In this
way no deieated tne designs of tue Ministry and
laid a Arm inundation lor colonial Independence.
Nor -a as this influence conQned to las own town
or colony. In every change of affa rs. in ever*
new scuome ol oppression, he was the first to
give the alarm ana state the true ground
oi opposition, and, taKiug the cne irom mm.
in a short tune his profound axioms became
household words In every Dart oi the colonies.
Me al.owed nctuing to divert mm Irom us purpose.
Neither elated oy success nor depressed uy tem
porary deieais, tie moved steadily onward aud
generally turned adversity to his own account.
YVueu others hesitated he was ready .or action.
Wiieu others laitered he stood Arm and never ap
peal ad more collected or more truiy great tuau
wi,en the storm was gathering or tureatemnsr to
burst upon uis devo'Cd head, lie met every crisis
with dignity and rose superior to ti.e oc a-don.
Trusting in the justice oi his cause and 1> aumg
upon a righteous Providence, wiieu he had uken
his position he stood collected aud firm, immova
ble us .viouut Atlas,
Though storum and tempest* thundered on its brow
Aud oceans nroKe in nillowi at it* tee!.
No wonder that such a man, with hia patriotic
ken, should, on hear.ng tne tt-saillug musketry
iron. Hit- commotion the day we commemoiate,
exclaim, "Wn-t a glorious morning lor America
la iuis!*'
TUE t'N VEILING OF TUE STATUE OF SAMUEL ADA US.
[At this poiut the veil was removed.]
isamucl Adams : li.e patriot and tne sa-jel
There he stands in Ills ruurbie firmness ana his
marble purity. Aud wno so dt to be associated
w.tu him as uis proscrloed companion. tue gener
ous young merchant of tto^ton, who laid uls
princely lortune upon the altar o! his country
and was ready to li^ni the oilering when tiie pub
lic good shoui i require it: lie w. g an aid lit
patriot and unluitermg in bis devotion to the
cause of ms country. VHin a iortuue and a posi
tion in society winch would nave secured to mm
any place Uc would reasonably desire, he put his
fortune and his ail in jeopardy by adhering to the
cau-e 01 the people. Having enlisted under t..e
banner of freeuom uo man was more boid or per
severing in his efforia. He presided learie.sair
over tue Provincial congress. whose meeting* the
Kojtal Governor had loroiddcn. lie w as Chairman
of tne Committee of baiety. api ointed oy tnat
Congress aud ciothed witn la.ge executive pow
ers. *nd was, in tact, the thief Matnstra e 01 the
colony and as such the Com manitr-tu-caie:
of the military, and had oower io
cail them into the Held in any emer
gency. Among otner important pcsitious
wuicu he occupied, he was calied to preside over
the Continental Congrens?a body o; men so re
nowned for prudence, sagacity and wise states
manship as to draw irom Lord Chatuam the
n.gnesi euiogiuin < u the floor oi i'a llaiueat.
JOHN IIASCOlK's S T A U K.
lint there is ne eveut in his me more interest
ing iu lueu aud more illustrative ot ms character,
perhaps, than auv otner. 1 auude to tne >act tnat
l.e <ook ms pen and wrote. In a bold?1 had almost
said a defiant?hand, uu name upon a uocntueut
watcn, a the time, in the estimati-m oi thousanls,
w.<s as ukeiy to or ve nia death warrant as ms
passion to iai>?e.
[At una po nt the ve l was emoved.]
mere t? ti e ti.ure ?t Juna u .uvea, boldinsr In
hs I'.iu'i mat immortal sctOll wni 'n ; ro
claimed us an independent natt n. i;eauag
hii uim?. and Qi-i alone, tne affixing ol
li e otQcr Dailies being an aitertnouz.'it induced,
in aouu ee^ree at least, uj tn- pro, pt exam
pie 01 tueir president. Here, leiiow citizens, >oa
Have a view ol Ui? two distinirui-r.cd pa'r ts we
deugnt to ftoQur?i atriot-i wiw eiioody tne zeal,
tii? ririnue-s, t e aeli-sacrllcihtf ?p rit 01 ti e Kev
olutton: 11 iber cuBld apeak tbey would k'.udle in
our ur-ji h hi* ardent iove ol liberty. wmc.i W'>uid
lnauce u* to 101.ow tlieir example and piedge our
uvea, our lor unes ant] our a&cred hmor t *ue
taiu me lu.Htituciona tney labored io eMab.ian.
Bui, thank littven, -tie/ nave spoken and meir
worJa buv? come down to us teeiumsr wan patri
otic seli-aevotion. Adam*. in itie lu.ne-t* o au
hear , in it;* uaea t ts excessive ian; uag> ?-l
would advise peru?v<-ranc? in our -iru.ale lor
li.itrry, i oiign it were r- vea ed Irani heaven ?'lat
nine hundred and ninety-nine were io peri-- ,
anil oai) ?a? in a thoosand survive and
retain his liberty. one au-n persou r..u*t
i ave more virtu* an 1 enjov mure happiness *hau a
taousai.d aiavt ?; and et mm pr e tin lue nnl
trwnsralttottjeuiwn.it ne nai nobly reserved.''
Wit.i equa. ardor and seidevotiou lianroc* de
ciared aim*.-., willing nay. deal oua mat Bon n,
wneie nix urge properly wm situated should be
attacked and aia property destroyed to promote
the weiiare of his eoumry. In an jfUeiai letter to
Wasnngion in December. I77i, tnioiin.ng nun
mat congres- oaa given :..m authority to attack
tbe British in Boston, it he an .u:d deem it ex
pe J.e.ii, Hancock hm emphatically, I ueiru r
desire it, though, pe.-sonaUy, 1 may t?e tne greatest
aurierer.''
Sucn waa the spirit of onr favorr- salesmen,
ana suck '.ne apirit ?e sh&uid in u-e into oar c>ul
dren Cp'.n -.en pnucp.es waa our reedotn
I noed. h:i i upon auc i aiouai.au it be perpet
uated. Hancock and Adams Names to be Held
in everia-ung ressembrance : We now with
r-v.'iea:t id your :iu,? . presen e and seem -o
receive patriotic and eevoui inatruciion iron; your
? >ru e upa
aiCJKaBO B. ORATIOS.
Hon. Riuoard a., iiaaa. Jr* dailvared tna rollow
mi ' ration
now mytterl jaa ii that 'oncn or fate watcb
(ivea imm -rtality to a apot or eartb?to a name 1
Tr.a: vital ?para faila u; on it and it flaiMi into
Immortal lUt. Taare were conntieaa paaaei
tor ugn ilc Locriau Moontauia, wnoaa names
bave periabed. rue tot ran upon one or them;
an l tba name of Tbarmopylx la aa frMfe after two
n-asand years as m tne glory's prme ol ttreece,
and tn? world over li and ever will be, umong
all races and in all elimea, a watchword or neroio
?* r-devotion, an electric aboca to create a
aou. of patrot valor nnier t e nba or Death.
IS'-.re ara taica stuided vmagea over tbe p.aim
o !:? / in .nknow* to lame, and none ir-?
mown tnan Waterloo, wboae name on the mm
ingo/ ti.e ism of June, IH.a, nad n?t been be^rd
be?on l the aound oi its vinage rbimea. By tUe
tettind ann of hat day tt waa to stand rorever
an appeal of rid- and gl ry to one urea: race,
wuiie the m?r* at eranca > f Ua ayiianlea stirs to
tbe very depths tbe resentment and cna^rin of
ano ner, sotnatlta piaca m numan apeecn is a
standing menace to tna peace of Knrope. There
w re many namieta of Hew Kngland tbrou.it
which British iroopa pa sed and repassed in ;775?
Bam>ete wt:ose people waffa M leaa pairmtic and
devo'ed man your own; but tbe lot ol glory lell
io Lexington. A lew m.nutea or tne dawn ol a
sprmz morning and your name waa se.led wuu
tfce biooi of martyrs. It was to be cherished lor
evtr in tne aflactionaM memor aa of 'Ue people of
a coatinent, to be oorne on nanners above the
s?o>e of b i tue, inscribed upon tne war snips <>t
a Brtat nation an i nroudly carried into every sea,
ta ue adopted .n gratemi remembrance by hun
dro tabf towns in a,, parta or teia empire; a name
w jicta wi.i over cry?
t re? loin's battie or ce beenn
Bt'ju ? lis i ur P.^ea.i,^ ?;(? to sou,
Ibuusb batted ,>it. .? >v#r w ,a
Mat Thermopyiai an | Waterloo, imm many otler
names, owed tbeir immortality to strangers, ma
300 Spartans inarched many weary leagues
(run the centre o; l.acoma to defend. agaiust the
myriad* of Asiatic mvad?ra, ifio?e denies lur
which 'tn' natives tad uo thought 01 contending.
It was the accident that the two vast war cloud*,
charted mil witb Gallic and British thunders,
broke Just ihere, which gave Waterloo what its
own nation could never have given it. It was for
eliru Hint and toreiirn steel that struck for it the
vital spark. How a: tie have (he peuDle of Gettys
burg to do with the consecration ot its sot11
IT 18 THE Kk-LICITV OK l.KXINGTON
that she was cousccrated to the world's use by
the blood of her own sous. The men vrno iell on
this greeu uuder the shadow of the village church,
willing martyrs, were men born and reared here,
taught at the village school an 1 irotii the village
puiptt, ireeholdcrs oi your uwn lands, voters in
your own town meetings, organized Into the mili
tia oi your little community. When they stood In
line, when they reiused to surrender their iirnis,
when thev feu beneath tne British volley, It was in
sight oi mothers, wives and daughters, and that
cabalistic word to all villagers oi Ne# Emtlaud?
oi neighbor*. It was no chance conflict oi roieigu
or allied smles. It was uo work oi even friendly
and neighboring hands, sixty or seventy Iree
holders aud voters of Lexington, in their
primitive capacity, organized, alter the man
ner oi tneir lather. into military array, bv au
thority oi the town and province, Bearing
arm* by a right tney deemed their inal
ienable oirthrlgnt. thev stoou there In obedience
to tne voice oi the people of the town and prov
ince. their hearts, consciences and understand
ings lullv satisfied aud uiiy Instructed, deter
mined not to begiu war In a state of legal peace,
but resolved, U war must come, if in the provi
dence oi God It was to begin there, to meet it in
their own persons, alio, u it was so written, to oe
tne first to snej uieir blood in tiie common cause.
It is on1 oi tne proois of the infinite superiority
ol spirit over matter Mi at this immortality of a
name is n t rtie accidental dropping of a material
lorce. It Is the conscience, the will of man, that
clothes with endless lne the spot or earth
and forms its syllables into immortal speech,
in at spot is consecrated to lame or in
famr on which the human spirit has done some
great act tor good or evil. And oi all tno wood
dee a s tnat men may do for meir race, there is
none thai speaks to the heart like voluntary sacri
fice. it is not lne blood oi warriors, out the blood
oi martyrs mat is the seed oi the Church, it is
written in the very constitution oi human nature
that witnout the sheading of blood there Is no
remission of the bonds and penalties <vhich the
pri it> or the lusts oi men nave laid upon even the
most innocent. It is not so mucti the field ol ever
s ) jus a battie as it is the block, tne scaffold, tne
bum ng la^iots. the cross, of voluntary intelli
gent, sicrifice. which speaic most effectively to toe
heart, of all the voices that call to men none so
stirs the soUi as the 7oic.> of
1HE liLOOU OF MARTYRS
calling irom tne ground. And ol ail martyrs, so
it is, tnat, whether always justly or not, it is tne
first m.irtyrs wuo are longest. Known and most
\vide>r honored. In the first centuries oi the new
laun, there were countless heroes, .saints, mar
tyrs aud coniei.sors, and armies loug&c in just
and necessary sell defence. Hut tne world turns
to oi e nauie, the first- consecrated and longest re
membered; lor ne was the urs: martyr, lie was a
y -ung man oi whom we kuow nothing out that
he was one oi sevcu ordained to the lowest order
ot tne miuistry in tne Church at Jerusalem, lne
chance came to him first, and. like ail such
chances, h gave omy au opportunity. A word ol
retraction, a Hesitation to testily at the Instant,
aud nis name would have di"d with his natural
de-tin. With a brave and willinc heart he met t le
issu ?. and lor cignteen huuored .years the until
tnen unknown name of Stephen nas oeen houored
bv the dedicauou ol thou-anus ol churches aud
cuaueis ult over Christendom 'to his memory; a
day in the Chuicn's calendar is set apart lor the
study oi tie lesson of his aeath, aud at this
moment his name is borne as a oaptismai des
ignation by no small percentage ol the liuuitu
i a .e.
Nil*, fellow citizens, let us never forget that
the men oi Lexiugtou, on that morning, were
martvrs?intentionally and inteiiigeut'.v martyrs,
l et us consider tins as;iect oi martyrdom a little
ni<re closely. Tnat was a strange sight upon winch
tne morning ot tne 1j u ot April uroke. 8 due si\ty
men oi jour militia company, minute meu, st >ou
la one. under tfeelr officers, on tue open village
green equipped and witn tneir loadou muskets
in tneir hands, a lorce or British regulars winch
vjh twelve times, and was reported to be twenty
tttn s their nuuiner, was to ias- by. It was a
time oi l-gai peace throughout tne laud. The
regulars and me militia were citizens of cue
empire and subjects m a common sovereign, our
intliua had lo .gut side ov side with Ui itisn regu
lars against i-rench regulars on many a H id,
jo neu m the same cry ol batue at Quebec, ficon
der ?<a. Crown Point and Loulsourg and in tne
West Indies. Taey had lai.en side ov gide
In oattU-, lain s de by ?lde ou the oeUs
ot hosritais In the malarious Sugar Islands,
and been uu'ied in c.immou graves on the Irontieis
In the torrid zones. M u oi Lexington had sj
served and lought aud died in uo small numoers,
'1 lie .-.Hue hand tnat bore your standard mat
morning on tne village green had borne it tnr ugn
the smoke and d.n of tne us^mt at Louisbuig;
and the s m - <irums that rolled the call at break
ol that day nad beaten their notes of assura:ic ? to
the Hitti-ti regulars, and defiance to the Kreucu
in more 'baa ?>uo em ounter. The reguurs were
not enemies tet. 1 lies? were not utiweiconie as
transient visitors, aud most welcome in acuuimon
cause.
THE DEBATKD VOLLKT.
Wur* theseaisty men tuere by uccldeit! Were
tbev enrprised tuere D) t vi?it irom tue reiru ars?
Ou the contrary, they ii-.seu?o.ed because tn- rcitu
lar- coming. iney disperse* when t ie
alarm wa* :h ugir laiae. ami came togetner as
soon n? it "a* mown tnat tne troops were ciomj
at hand. Were ihe/ there tu ou-iruc or re.-id
the marcn 01 the lintisu. They threw up no
bivn-tworks, however simpie. I hey acre uut
poste < o-nmd stone wali? or bou es or in tne
tiiiCK wood* tnatflanked the oiguway. Tiiey 4 ood
aiu iii line ? n tin.- op^'U omuiou, aforoe twelve
tiiu s th ir number marching upon tnem. lhey
were ordered to siirenucr i eir arms aril dis
perse uy au officer wu > was entup'i to sarin
and dinoerac mem. under me new order ot tniugs,
i! 'ney wer au armed band unknown ro the law.
'Ihe if uiara came out iu part t> do mat very
thing, li t.i met an. sue i organization ia aims.
Out aien raiuscd :<i *ui rentier tneir arms au i r.-?
luaea .otliapei.se. Must they not nave expected
toe result .* i :i>- voitey came, and oue-';u?rter of
that Itile b..ud XeII Xtieu or wou ded. liiev
ie,. where they stood, tt>?*ir arms in their nan da.
in. v ? re po wirleas to resist, bat ttiey would Bo;
obef. T.iey .ell wil itijt victims martyrs by mien
n n and u act. Bat ?B*t did It mean v Was it
an act of to dhardloese ? Was it a wiuul deiving
?n , exasperating 01 the soldiers actin?uad.-r
rovai oroeis t Was their death aometmug mey
proudly aiiJ vaiuiy broofnt upon themselves t
i ar-ton n,e. my irienda. i'araon me, Americau,
Ma?.sacnu?eits, Lexington men at; i women, that
1 pu: these questions as to men whom * wiiule
i-to le iave Honored lor a full century, 101 wnom
monuments Maud ana to wnos<-memory this day
u.e tn ux its oi millions are given in si la' ds and
o-inds-ae. We o ,.ght uot to be surprised if tneir
act should sceui to nave :?een wnat I suggest to
many moderate an J la.r-uiinded i ersons w o do not
> i.<jiv wea toe at.-.to, v oi those days and tho a, .r.t
ol 0'<r peopi". I wou d g.ve ? few moments now,
notto show to you, lor you al know n too Well,
but to piace on record for al' who may e*er need
tue te-son, '.lie proofs mat this act of our aneea
tor-, In some iiirh a ao ioe vrdica'de. was a wise,
well considered deed of sell-sacrifice; a -ad bit
iieceasar* par uf a plan oi actiou wnxii taa best
1.1,.i? i, u'ndiogs and ormveat hearts oi tuls prov
ince and ol toe other provinces had devised and
recomtnen< e?), and w-ncn, under tee blessing of
liod. was acted oat, to its letter ? n tins ue.d, in a
way that couid n t hjve been bettered, wii.cn
?truck right in me, touctieu tne deepest chords,
(ja^e the surest cons, era ion to tne r.evita .ie
? a . an i bss made tms day, this spot, auJ tu sir
memory, ole?sea ;orever.
i,Kur BRITAIN'S WI8X NEdLKOT.
It is s mistake < Jinmon am ug European
wr. eis. Which in time n:ar aifett new tienera
tions heie, to suppose that the peop e ot .'sas?a
chusft * .n iTT", were stritiBtf out ;.,r new uoer*
ties and p i*lieges to Which my thought tn'?:n.
aeiTes entitled ; mat :uer braveiy rose together,
ana uroice he uonda oi oppieasion and set th-m
s-.v s nee. .Not ail N tnmg oi tne un 11
N thing can oe more un.ike than tne American
?t; n tf.e o, 1774 and tne aociai and poutn a. revo*
lu'.i us attempted "n ti e (.unttnent el hnrope
l r imertlea he revolutionists du not recorfiiue
tvlieu ti e) see tliem ana cannot keep wneo tne/
have g t them. VVe oroke no bonds. We wera
nev. bound w> we e iree-born. A homogene
ous community Kngiish with trifling exceptions.
'aK nj pos e-<an/ii a new iaad, tae peopie of
Ma- ac&nsetts had t.een leu i r five generations,
by Wast liur?e caned ? th.- w,.se neg.eef ol i.re.?t
brltaio, 11 sel government and nemo ru.e We
h . i grown np iu home rule. n.>t on y as agslnat
r.rt a* itritun. but as anoue ourselves. We ai.ed
up.^ii l.ie.?t Britain or no coacaei or pecuniar/
ails, or no assiitan. e in our woirrr.ment au i tor
no so iiei s j'j ttai i .s tn our >owm or rontier lorta.
We jd never ha" on our ?o i M hereditarv '.me
or h<*ieditar lbsntutlona. We i,ad nevor ,.au r-ie
relation oi 'isron aLd va?sal. ian uord and teuan-.,
of an.v oi trie reilc* of shadows of euiiii.^m. our
-mui. proj erues weie eq ia <r u.striouted, an i n ?
ia v or custom tended to build up tamilies or
i rtv| -ge- oi grea' aCcnmulsteu seauu, but
hi! usages arid ,awa worn-d diiec;,y the
0 ti?r ?a>\ we wers not taeoruers or
experimf-tita.n'. on apecuiative i.ou.ua in
civil aBa.rs. We did the wo s iti hand Iu tne
wa . we loutid most . nvenient at tue time, arrays
k . oin/ in view wltj. i assente.i 'o, the suo>
tantiai poiitl al equadty oi men. We ^rew up a
terrnoria .1 mocra y <>i ministers, lawyera, doc
tors, mercnai. s, yeomen, tr^d'-rs. mecnaincs and
acainen, aii or ne-'ii. al. oeing sisa I proprietors >t
land, we were educate i t . tne reaponsinntie ,
r, i ies and burdens o sell-gover ment and suew
tnat tt^ere was no ii crty titno.it omuens and
lacrUke-. li.e peopie ot the towns exercised
men- cover>* gn p w rs, >>i the acquiescence oi tne
p.- >? i the prov.nce. b-cau?e it wa-. couvenieut
and: un i to be sale $9 Mieutiilc line of division
Wus dr.i wd, but a iiu': wan piacieany settled, as
tne natural resolt oi conriicntia or co-oier.iting
neces-it '?*, i>a*'jUH, principles arid conveniences.
'I ? p? oj in tlieir to.vn meetlnirs, provi ied 'or
1 Ubilc w..r?-,.p. omit tne churches, caheo and psi I
the clergymen, and so exerci?ed eccie-ias leal
P wer>. itievonit the schoolnouses, appointed
snu paid tne teaci.e'a, deternru'd what ahoaid
beiaugit an so exercised eauca ionai innoUous.
Inst orgaouf i oe t,wo militia, appointed its
officers, tttilt the stockade f rt, laid out the train
ing tleid provided arum ami equipment*. alid so
exeicised
I'UK MII.II AttY H'NCTIONS OK OOVKHXMRXT.
The tnwui ordered tlocal police. drew tiie
jurors lor the courts, and so took tneir part m
ju ticml affairs, Itiey wbi representatives to ti.e
General Court or the province, una ho took part lu
ttie l.HMiest legislative functions. They a-sessed,
ur tneir discretion, arid codected taxes lor all
these purposes, and noexercised sovereign powers
over property. But, ctueflv. the-e town meeting*
we. i' pai liaiiieuis lor the li ee d.sciissioti 01 ail
qu'stims ioucliink tne interests oi ihe peop:e and
organs o, popular communication with tiie La is
lam e and Executive, 'lne records oi these town
meetiu ?? are the wonder and aomirauou o. siu
dents or poiuical philosophy ever, where. They
were a fi.'w thing iu mo worlu's iiutorv. It nas
been -aid that n every other record should perish
trie true character and lull Itutorv or the civil
si rugtfle from I7tiu to 1775 could tie written irora
ihe records ol the towu meetings, including the
resolutions adopted and the instructions sent
to tiicir representatives lu the Ueneral Court.
In the provincial government, too, we were
iree. We chose representatives by towns and the
representatives elected the Council. The nidges
were appointed and paid t?y ourselves. We or
dered our own militia system, established and
regulated our Judicature. and persons charged
with crimes were tried within the province oy
juries drawn by lot lu the towns. We laid and
collected our own taxes, and no tax had ever b en
imposed upon us by imperial pow^r. We held
allegiance to the crown aud were psrts of the
British Empire: but we were a Beiigoveriilug,
home-ruling people, loyal, content, well educated
aud industrious, giving uo cause o; just complaint
to the people oi England. in snort, wo had been
lor five geuerations the freest, most sell-governing
Seopie the world had ever known. In an evu
oar
THE PRIPK, JEALOUSY AND OREKD
of the mother country, and quite as m ch of Its
trading. uiaiiuueturiug aud middle classes, as
of us nobles and gentry, set its eye upon tne
colonies for imperial taxation. We denied tne
right. Burke wonid not argue the abstract ques
tion of rlgtit, which, he said, could only be saiely
disc ssed in the schools, but stood on toe practi
cal posl ion that Parliament had never taxed the
colonies; that it was a novelty, or gtuating In a
mere theory oi Parliamentary omnipotence, was
leit by the colonies to be unjust and onpresslve,
aud uiight oe dangerous and would not pay lor
itseli; and those, he said, were reasons euoueh
lor statesmen, lne Stamp act was pas-ed, re
sisted, peaceiully, but perttnaciou-ly, and re
pealed. The Parliament returned to tne cuarge,
and tne tea tax was p isseu, reslstei by solemn
leagues and covenants uo io import or use, to
wuica "nearly all the people became parties. Lex
lng: >n resolved, In worn* whicn lew but a New
England town-in m ca i lu ly appreciate, ".i any
head of a larnl y ID this towu or an. person shall !
from th s time forward and uu< 1 the duty oo >
taken oir, purchase yuy tea or sell and consume i
an. tea in the r lami y, such person shall
le looked upon as an enemy to th s town
und to his eoutitry, aud snail by ttus town
be treated with uegiect and coutempt." (Peace
ml resistance al t.u?save lu the case of two
cargoes at Boston, to whicn water, cold and salt,
was prematurely aud ucsclentiflcally applied.)
The Boston I'ort bill was cruel in itseli, highly
tvrauiilcal and a moan appeal to the jealousy of
other towns and urovinces. in which it failed, to
their infinite credit, and only exasperated to the
last point or endurance the sensibilities of
a or.ive atul generous people. The Restrain
ing acts restricted our commerce and sought
to banlsti us Irom tne hsneiles. But, bad
as were tuese we 1 kn ?wn measures, and
dangerous to peace aud lioerty, it was uot they
that aimed thj fatal blow at our accustomed
rlgtrs aud liberties?me blow that must be latal
eiti er to our system oi sen government arid ho ue
ru e, or to parliamentary ani kingly omnipotence,
that Placed tue two systems lace to lace in irrec
oncilable coutiict. the acts or 1774, gcnerically
known as tn ? Regulation a< ti, were radical anil
revo:utiouary. IheySvent to tne lounaatlous oi
our pub.ic system, aud sought to reconstruct u
irom the base on a tneorv of parliamentary om
nipotence and kmgly sovereignty. * * *
WE WEltti Nor TIIE REVOLUTIONISTS.
Trio Kinz arid Parliament were tue revolutionists.
Th -y were the radical innovators. We were iho
conservators oi existing insulation". Tnejr were
seeking to overthrow aud reconstruct on a theory
ot Parliamentary omnipotence. We stool upon
the de euce oi what we had louuded ana built up
under their acquiescence, and w tliout which we
could not be tne iree and sell-govern.nc people we
hau always U'ifn. We oroke no chain. We pre
pared to strike down any hau l that might at
tempt to lay oue upon us. i here was uo one in
stitution. 1 ? w oi custom, political or social, Irom
the mountain top to the sea-hores that we cared
to change. We were then content to go on as
parts oi the British Empire, holding that siacic
anil easy allegiance we had aiwa>s held ou the old
terms or seii-k'Ov#rumeut aud iiome rule. It was
not until more than a year alter Lexington
and Bunker Mill that, finding the two
tilings hopelessly inconsistent, we de*
claied our dyuastio independence, and in
that sense ana .or mat purpose oniy became
revolutionists. Against ihese subversive revou
tionary measures tne colonists prep?red to re
sist oy iorce. lor to mat i iey Knew it a list coine.
Meetings, caucuses and confesses of towns,
c 'UUties, oi the province ana oi ail the provinces,
b c ime the oider ol tne day. They w re all illegal
under the new system, and we ueid them at oar
peril, lne 1'roVinc al Congress coll. cted taiiitary
stores, called on the towns to orgainz. ? the town
cnuipauies, a id ocuati to or/arnzj "the Armv of
Mas^a ?nusetts." Iho oil m litia recognized by
tue K >yai Governor, liaudi appears i, and the new
mituu * as ias lorraina, still lucuoate, but it
was illegal under the uew system, and we Joined
It at our p nl. U.gc netermneii to disarm and
disperse the new miiina, to uesir y tne military
stores, and. iu short, as Lord Dartmouth sug
gested. to eflec: n.r the troops *'a gener.n dis
arming of tne colonists." 'i'ne-e declarations
?egau to be put luto execution. Tie tro<>p*
maicned out Into tne country t ?now themselves
to the people, a iorce oi 1.100 visited Jamaica
1'lain. A body or lOi was permanently quartered
At Maisofleld, ia ttieORi coiouv.
TUB TRJOPS SKUICU U It POWDK*
at Chariestown and two ii>- J piece# <it Cambridge.
A lew weeK? oeiure ' >e latli ?;! April a i *rge lorce
w a.* s it to ~aletn to lestroy tiie unitary storea
collected '.here; tiie militia garnered, t e people
throuaeuthe way obstruction* were interposed,
and me lorce wnnoiew w.tnout b.oodsued. tue
troops cut ? il suppies inu-nued ior in, ami we cut
of) supple* lutfu'lpi! Ior tii-iu. bun so lar mere
bad been no coumct. No irre trie vault act uad
been dooe. iudor says, iu ma ? Life o: on-.-' 'hat
notwithstanding the poll ical excitement wnica
continued ? r ten year-. *i u hardiy an interrup
tion: noiwitn-tjndiu.: the hot zi-a. or tne son* "f
Liberty, toe outer opposition 01 as xealou* loyal
ists, the p.'"Sence ?! tue iniutMy, cases ol indi
vidual collision witn tbe soldier* a nd '.n?! seizure
ol stores?anil, "tirougbour mis vrtiole period of
lerment not a s.ume human in*- wa* taken oy ttie
Inuaottants. either b> aasassl nation, popular
tumult or pubac execution." lt?e Conven
* I i n ii Middlesex resolved a* fol.owa:?in
support ol our ugot* we are called to en
cou iter ?*ven deatn. we are yet undaunted,
seunlble mat he can never (lie 'oi <u?u wim
lavs down tun lite In suoport; id ? nc laws and ;u>.
er ie* ..His country." Lexingtou wrote to Boa
ton, ? We trust tit uod that niiou i tie sta'e oi our
attain require it we snail ready to aacridce our
e-tate? ani evtfrvuucg d arm ii'e?yea, and life lie
sell?in ?uppport of tu? common cause." pinner
wrote iroiu tnaiand, -our countrymen muat seal
the can e in ? tieir b ooa.*'
THK ATMlWl'HEIlg Wa* CUAR'.KD WITH WAR.
We fen it in eveiy oreatb. rh?re was ee'iimeis
of ieadlr prepara'i >n and a i>a lent awaiting ol
tne tailing of tue bolt. [tie i roVin<M*l congreas
sppnin-eii a day of fasting. nuiui.iauo:i and
prayer?a meaeure of deep sigaillcauce iu tbo*e
ua>s It ordered me citi*e.i* pay their laxoa
10 Mr. Gardner, iae ?gent ol tiis peop e, and not
t-i me ro.a. collector, a.i i Lexington dn-cted .ne
coii" tor* o obey ttus order and tbe "own
w?u d secure thsm Uarm e-s. me issue wa*
mule win. nr. u wan soiemiv roaolvcd mat we
must not precipitate tue war-? we mnn not strive
ti,e flrit bio*. We ?er- to eudure thieats, in
suits and de nonstrauou* of vi ience; tm the
British troop* tuus'. lire tii* ilrstshot. ltiiswaan.t
a lot trial teaoift wita our ancestors. Iney were
close tea-'<aer?. couid vain ttraifbt on a Une nf
oirv, auJbai almost a superstition* respect for
tiie iaw mey ten the uupori.siice oi saiisfyin(t
the .i tends i uiir cause in Hu* au i. and in tne
omer -oi 'e?, ?>iue of vhicii wer> scill uncertain,
au i il Wa* feared tli a lr.e , eooieo Ataasacuuse'ts
woutd odtruu tntir ?yfcp*th) and ?u, port. Ac
cording. r, me con tin -ntal ? .mgre*s recommended
tue peopie o( tm co.onr to hvoiU a collision with
t.ie King's troop-, and ... all caiet to act ouiy on
tue de.enaive. Iftla advice ?n repeated oy tne
Provincial Congress ? noed oy the town taee:
i. ?*. n oteta ironi tne ,.u pits and me press, and
wc were coiiiiDitted to it ue ore me wori i. Men
oi tbi* <iar are * ui'times amused to see that, nn
mediately alter me uattie oi Lexiagtoo, me colo
ni*i* tous to C'lir c inir a ill davits to s ow that tne
liritisii Bred first. Hut :u?-y were better tudgs*
Tiian w" can now be oi wuat was important at
that time. Wnen the Britlan troops marcued out
tuat morning it ?a* noi mere.v <o destroy the mil
itary ?tore* t.ec ed at coucord, on to dinar in
ami disperse a..j m..r.aty orgaaizatl ns not re
cofni/eu oy tbe new ,aw?. an I to srre-t anu com
mit to pn^on me eaiJi .? patriot*. If t .ey i.ad
come acrost a town meeting or a cong es*, ne.d
withou. <uthori'.y .i the ro>a. Governor's w*r
ram, tii'-y -?ouid have entered and d'sner*ed
me tn?eung oy me oayonet; tud wno mil doubt
t iat, like \n? Koniai: senators in me.r curuie
Chair* an 1 stats y robes, our anceituiain tueir
hrim> *puu cloihea, and on the plain woodea
iienciiea >i tr.eir otflce, Senators of tne mwu and
couuty, wouki iiiive . leided up tnelr lives wuere
tii"y aat ratner tnaa acknowledge he tyraunical
command f it mattered little, and no oue Cuuid
prtdici at ah, wnetner ttif lir*-. blow would tan on
the town meeting, tiie con areas in its ?es-ion or
toe rniiHla eumpatiy on the traihing Held. Ine
tioops * ere vooeuruV our military utore*. Il we
c nil coi.ect toeii enough io defend mem we
wood loim lout.d in-in ami -land our ground, and
11 tie troop< retired, Weil; II uot,
THIV Ml -1 KIRK Till! Kljurr SHOT.
The troops were to oisarm ?ini disperse the new
militia. Ii a compati> waa out in martini ai iav ior
tne purpose o deience they nius? sianu their
ground an i retain their arm*. H tne regular* with
draw, Wei., i, not tue miotia most await ino 11 at
volley. N .w, *,iat was all tins out a call ior m ir*
tviontn? I he Orxt that ic. i muit lall a* mart) rs,
Ine u tie wouiu Of gin with tne *hut wtnrn toot
tu-ir live*. No can corn i oe maue oemano ng
more lortnnde, more nerve, than mis. Many a
ui.in can rush mm battle, maddenod ov the scene,
Wi . Would nod ,t uard to siit'l l in his line, in
active, to swan tue v.oiey u i. must come. But
our peopie wore thor^iuiair inatrueted in their
I runs*. They nad studied It, discussed It tu the pub
lic meeting and through the press, earned it in the
tUioue o: grace, ami tried it bv every lest tiiey
knew, They Had made up tueir minds to the
issue and were prcpaied to accept Us renul--'.
When the ne?s came at mB&t that the regulurs
were oaf, and marching tli.it wav to destroy the
fiiore< at Concord, to arrest leading patriots, to
d'sperse and U narm all assembled lorce.s, tuey
came toge'her ou luis green m lull ranks. Inry
a ted under the eye and counsel 01 Adams
and liancocs. aim 01 their own wise, venerate I.
patriotic pastor. The widow awaked ner only
sou; the young bride summoned her husoand;
tne motherless chnd her lather. ."Hie regulars
are out and something must i'0 done!" Yea,
soinet.iltig inu-1 oe done. Thar something was to
stauu on tne deienaive and meet death u it came,
and then meet war witli war. * * ?
IIAVK I NOT 0KU0N9TRATKI)
what 1 undertook to show, taat nut we, but tho
Hritish King and Parliament, were the revolu
tionists, the innovators, the latiical subverters
ot institutions; tnat we wore tne conservators of
tune honored, dearly-loved institutions ot self
government and home rule, and that on that
morning, on tins spot, youi townsmen were in
teutioualiy, Intelligently, the first martyrs?yet
martyrs In war?ana that on this field war began*
Whenever British troops in martial array met the
provincial multia iti martial array, earn In line of
duty and under official command, and the K.iug'8
tro p< in array ilred upon the provincial soldiers
in array, the war began, war is unilateral. One
party can initiate it. Hero both parties .stood
ready or war, ami it began with ilie volley aud
the lading oi the dead and wounded. It is not of
much account lu any political or military sense,
but a aatlaiactlon to our pride in our ancestors to
know that, ra.snly it may be, uselessly, pertiaps,
but bravely beyond doubt. ttte lire was returned
by men stiil standing in tueir Hue, in their mar
tial array, and tnat tne line was not broken until
they were ord< red to disperse by ttieir captain,
waosaw that the regulars were Iiasteuing up, on
both flanks, to surround and capture them, and
that wueu tne survivors withdrew they took tueir
arms with diem.
?SEVEN YKAKS OK CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS.
We are here to-day to commemmoiat* nrst
what was done at Lexington and tne heroic con
ductor her sons. This ft due to her and to them.
But we are here also to remember the dead of
that day troui other towns, Who laid down their
lives in the common cause; the seven killed or
banvers, tne six or Cambridge, the live oi Need
ham, tne lour of Lynn, the ihree of Acton, and
two each of Su.ioury, Woburn, Mediora and
ChaiTeatown, aud the one eaen ol Bed ord, Water
town, bedham, ltoxbury, Brookline, Salem and
Beverly, aud the wounded of all tnose to a us and
of Concord, Frauur.ghain, Stowe, Billerica, New
town aud (,'lieinislorJ. vVe are hero to join heartily
in sympathy with those thousands wuo at this
hour are commemorating at Concord the events
that took plaoe wKUin her limits, the second sceue
in the drama oi this day so hcrotculiy
enacted at tho North Briuge. This is tho
dawn of seven years of centennial com
m;morauous all over the soil 'of tho
old thirteen States, to be joined in by the people
o! this vast empire, oi all kindreds aud races aud
tougues, from Laiiada to Mexico, lroai rue Atlan
tic to tne J'acilic?a sight the like of which tno
wurld has never seeu, and scarce a tongue in any
part ol the civilized woild utters a doubt of tue
Justice oi our cause. Men, women, children or
Lexiugtou, tne curtain oi the grea- drama rose
here to be acted out to tue last sceue at Yoi e
towu. It began witn the hrst lire or Britisn
troops lu maruul array on American troops in
martial array, and did not end until tne last Brlt
lsu sold er leit tue soil oi the new Republic aud
our inucpendence was recognized. At tne close
o: the last century you erected your first monu
ment on tins spot. Lafayette, who .saw the sur
render at Yorktown, c.uno in September, 18J4, to
see tne spot where began the co.itest in wu.ci ho
took .so uoole aud disinterested a part, and
clasped hands with lourteeu oi tne Hurviviug
heroes of tne day. In is;i5 you reinterred your
heroic dead under your simple uiouuimut. conse
crated by tue eioqu nee ol i.verett. in 185:1, Louis
Kossuth, an exile irom the banks of the Danube,
alter tho disastrous war lor the ludeueudeuce of
Hungary, made a pilgrimage to this place, to pay
Ids devotlous ' to tne birthplace or American
liberty," and said oi your patriot dead, i n words
as true as they are eloquent: "it is meir sacri
ficed blood with which is written the preiace of
your nation's tiiatur.. Tueir ueath was auu ever
will oe the first oloody revelation ol America's
destiny, aud Lexington tne opening scene o a
revolution tnat is destined to change the charac
ter Oi human governuieuts, aud the condition of
the human race "
Cod graut that, if a day of peril shall come,
tne people of tltis Republic, so favored, so numer
ous. so prosperous so ricn, so educated, so tri
umphant, may meet ii?and we can ask no
more?with as much or intelligence, seli-controi.
?ell-devotion aud lortitude, as aid tue men oi tins
place, in their lewuess, simplicity aud poverty,
one n und red years ago.
A benediction and military music brought the
tent exercises to a Quale.
TUE PROCESSION
was immediately lormed and followed oat ttie
line of route as previously arranged. 1 lie Presi
dent and numerous other celebrate# fai.ea to put
in an appearance, the majority or taeui devoting
ttie morning lo Concord. In point of numbers'
however, tlic procession was eveu in excess of the
the most sanguine expectation-, extending a dis
tance of betweeu two and throe nn.es.
owing to tne non-arrival ui itie President and
party froui Concord, wno were to review tne
troops, a delay of over an l:our was caused, and
tbelmmens) throng of sijecta ors, as well as tbe
thousands la tne paooession, were subjected to
a omng, piercing emi wind, anything but con
ducive to patriotism. Tbe mtny
ML'TTE .ED OKI MBLIVG3
m ebt Have been "beard around too world," by a
toacu of uootic license.
At lenmn, about two P. SI. tbe niarcb was re
sumed, and, pas-ing in review oefore me President
and suite, tbe procession was dismissed,and airrana
raid was made upon tbe mammoth diuner tent.
Owinn to tbe lateness of tbe hour at winch. tbe
procession disbanded, tee tent was not thrown
open to tbe ilctet bolder* nutii three P.M., and
even ttieu, so deuse was tne crowd surrounding u
on ail sides, thai all those entitled to admission
di i not succeea in eaecttug an eutrance before
lour o'oiock.
TUB PROGRAMME
contemplated thirty-four regular toasts, but tbe
lateness of tbe boar and trie very chilly weatlior
necessitated a sertous cartatlment. Tbe tatil.' as
signed to tbe President and other distinguished
gaests, Including members of tne Cautnat, Gen
erals Banks, Burnside and Bennam, Governor
Gaston and stag and others, to tbe number of
about 100, were ranged along tbe side of tbe lent
upon a raised dan.
Hon. Tboraas Merriam S'ltson, president of tbe
occasion, occupied a seat lu the centre, and, as
?oon as proper consideration lor tne 4,000 half
famished individual wonid admit, announced,
in a brief speech, tne expected literary banquet
THB TOASTS,
as given, were;?
'The President of the United States." Re
sponded to, in tbe nsnai manner, ij Uh Excel
lency.
"l'bs dead of Lexington." Responded to by
General Banks.
1 ue trator of tne day. Mr. Richard II. Dana, Jr.,
replied in a witty and most relictions speech,
which elicited unreserved appiajsa,
??The State of .*outn Carolina."?Never will Mas
sachusetts lorget tbe proud response of Soath
Carolina the very nignt she heard the war noto
from Lexington. Oovernor Caambenin may veto
everything he wishes, bat he must not veto oar
earnest respect lor a voice from the palmetto
State to tbe pine. Governor Cnamoeriln. who re
sponded, was received with much applause,
as were also his sentiments of earnest desire for
the complete and eany restoration 'of true fra
ternal feelings between the two great Common
wealths.
"The common wealth of Massachusetts."?
Governor Easton believed that on tbe ldth of April
and the rustone grounds of Concord and Lexing
ton, Massachusetts needed oon<* to speak for her.
"kngland and tbe United States." So rega>ar
response was given to this toast, but in lieu s let
ter was read from tne ex-Premier of England, Mr.
Gladstone, as louons:
Lohdon. Msrcn 5, 1175.
Gg>TLEMiN?I have the nonor to receive trie
letter la which yon conw-y to tiie a rerr
wartn and couriers invitation to attend
the banquet Which it is prop aid to
liuid at Lexington in coinme moration of
the atta.nm*nt of the in impendence
bv the United '.ates ol America, lhe circum
Stanc suf t:ie war tnat yteuea that resnlt. the
principles it iliu?tratt>s, and the remsrkabe
powers and characters o tue priocipa me i wno
took part, wneth.-r a< soldiers or civilians, in tuo
etrnugie have always invested it with i? peea
lisr interest in my -yes quite indepeimeniy of
tne inimime con ern of this country n ih ? events
Uicm?e.Ves. On account o: these featuies that
w*r and us accompaniments *eem to me :o con
s' mite one os the must instructive cnipt-r* of
modern ntstory, and I -lave repeatedly mom
nj?-uded tneiii loyotineer men as suDjects oi espe
cial stiuy. With mess view* i t,ecj not say bow i jt
i am irotn re^ardiug tbe ai proacnlng celebration
witii inuiffSfS?s. It is enure,y beyond my poser
to cross tne tea, even wltu the pr?seut a unliable
communication for the purpose ol attendance.
Tne present time happens to oe lor me even in
dependently oi mv attendance in Parliament, one
oi v ry urgent occupations which I am not at ln>
ertf to put aside. But 1 earnestly h m e and 1 can
not douot thai trie celebration will be Worthy
Of the occesion. in a retro-pective view
ol tbe event ui period my coantrynmn
i can now cou template Its incideoui With
impartiality, i do not think thev should severe!;
blame tueir ancestors. ?hose struggle to matniail
ttte uuity oi the Brltuu tuuire u out? tha
tnu-t, I think, a:ter tlie late irr ? ;t. war o
the North and South, be viewed in Aiuei
lea with soute gympathT and Indulge tin
Wo ran hardly be expect a to rata v ry Highly
ttie motives ot tnosi oMier powm <vi,o Knew
ttie.r wo.nut into the o'her scale. and wtui so s.-u
Rioiv contributed twards ilie ooiebra'inir it not,
tnueed, toward detenu rung the issue oi
the war. Vet. lor o:i", 1 can most
truly i-uy tnut whatever tu^ motives,
and however p.tInitil riw process, thev. wane
seeking to iio an injury, eon erred upon us a gi a:
beueh! t>y releasing us irom effort*, tne c uiiuu'
atioii oi widen (VniiM have oeen a i unmixed evil.
As regatds ttie fathersol ilie American constitu
tion themselves, , 1 believe we can and
da now contemplate their great qualitim
aud achievements, with an aduiira'ion us , mu a:
that oi Americau citizens themselves, ami cut
lejotoe no less heaitily tliut in the counsels o
Providence they were made the instruments oi
a tiurpo.se most beneficial to the world; The
circumstances under which the United State*
began their national existence and their nnex
aniDied rapidity of advance in wealth and popu
lation, enterprise and power have imposed ot
tiielr poople an enormous responsibility. Thej
will bo tried as we shall at the uai
oi History, but 'on a greater scale. The;
will be compared with the men, no
only o( other countries bur oi other times. Thej
cannot escape trom ttie liabilities aud burdem
wiiicli iheir greatness imposes on them. No one
desires more lerveu'.ly than I do that tney mav bt
enabled to realize the highest hopes and antictpa
tions thai b long to their great position in tbt
lainli.v oi man.
1 nave the honor to be, gentlemen, vour obliaed
and iaithiul servant, VV. E. GLADSTONE.
"The Bench and Rar" was responded to bj
Chief Justice Gray, of Massachusetts.
"The Colleges and Universities," to which Majot
General Josnua L. Chamberlain, ex-Givtrnor oi
Maine and President oi Bowuoiu College,
responded In a most graceful and eloquent ad
dre
"The Commerce ofthe United States." Response
by Elliott 0. Cowdm, Esq.. of New York, wh?
said s?
SPEECH OF FLI.IOT C. COWDIN.
Kb. President and Fbli-ow citizens:?I begyoo
to accept my tbanits for the invitation extendec
to m to be present to^dav, and I only wish that
the duty oi acknowledging the trltnte you have
Jusi paid to the Chamber of Commerce or the Scat*
of New York had devolved upon an abler repre
sentative. Deb gated by that body to bear to you
its congratulations on tills occasi >11, mv colieaguei
and myseli are prond to take part in the com
memoratlon of this memorable anniversary. Thi
battle of Lexington lntused Into ths lite
of this people the flrst sentiment ot
American nationality. It was the inaugura
tion of a clvu war between portions oi
the foremost commercial nation of the ttmoa.
From such a conflict trade shrinks with iastinctivi
uread. Yet irom tae outset or tue Revolutionary
struggle, so unequal on the side oi tho colonies, tht
patriot cause was sustained by that cla=s which ha<
the must to lose in ttie event oi laiinre. "War," ai
Muron says, "moves ov two mam nerves, iron and
guld." Tne mercaants of tne heroic period wo
are contemplating geuerously placed their
money a ill credit at tne disposal of the
feeble government. In a word, the his
tory of ttio merchants of the thirteen col
ouies is I he lltianciai history of t ie war lor inoe
pendente. Wnat would nave becaim ol tue -u,
lenuir s luiers \>l Washington. Greene, Gates,
Lee and otner enmp itriors, in some or the darkest
periods oi tho contest, except for the marvellous
energy and skill oi that eminent merchant oi
i'nilauelphia, Kooert Morris, in lurnlsoing money
to carry on tne struggle, and largely too by means
0 his own credit i But for hiui tne arm? would have
been disbanded, ills services as a nuancier wero
as essential to (he successmi t'l-iniuatiuu oi tne
war as were tiio-e oi Washington In tne field,
snail 1 remmd you that botu or the illustrioui
men whose sculptured leatures have this oaj
been unveiled beiore us were engaged in mercan
tile pursuits r li is a a miliar fact that
JOHN HANCOCK,
among hundreds oi other wealthy merchants that
cou d be mentioned, staked evervtninur on the
popular cause. 1 speak o. him as a mcrcuant, and
u auy one usires to kuow the kind oi uierenau Use
he dealt in. by reierri'ig to the Boson KvealtiQ
1 'use ot December ib, 1704. ho will nud the loiloir*
ing advert.seineut:?
To t>? >oi I, by John Uancock. at his store. No. #, ai
tile east eliJ of ruueuil Hail Mart t a ifuneral assort
men I of Knifli?li an I lnlla coods, alio .Newcastle eoah
?ini iruli nutter. oiicay lor cadi.
Although ttie nunc ji ms property was in a num
ber oi wooden houses in lioston, yet wneu, ai
President o Congress. Oe transmiited to Washing
ton th- resolution relating to an a tack on Bostou,
th u beta by the ?iriti?h troops, lie said, ??May
God crown rour attempt with success! I most
heartiiT wisn it, tuounh individually I may be ihi
greatest suiter r," Tne boiiioaiduient, wlticn was
nappily averted, would have oeeu tue Uuaucia
ruin oi .luiiti lljucock. Litue known perhaps, ai
a merchant, and iar le-s lortuiiate than ilaucock
in W'fid.y a if airs, .Samuel Ad.ti.is was mua;i|
patriotic a.id lucorruptible. "i am not wurto ouy*
ing." .said he, wtieu anp oaciied by au emissary oi
the British Ministry, wuo attempted to brine ulj
to tietray bis couutry; "I am nut worth b.riri;
but. nucu us t am. ad tne treasury oi Eualant
couid not pay lor me." Wed might Thomas Jeder
son pronouuee him "a truly great man, wisc 11
council, icrtiie lu resources, immovable ia pur<
pose.''
SrKAkS FOU NEW YORK.
But. Mr. President, I an loraetung that you
Buiaui neii mo ta speag tor tne New turk Chain*
ber oi Commerce. 1'ti it association was instituted
in ttia ye tr iiii* b? ? voiaatary agreement oi me
leading uierciian'-?> oi tuec.ty. li Wa? a period jI
jir . ouua ex.itemeui. rne traders oi watt
w.is men tne colony <Jf New Yoric had
suilered under heavi burdens. Die N ivuu
uoii acts 01 the British 1'ai .lament tended to
destroy the commerce oi me c .ouies. l ley were
nut aaowed t'j i aoe witn any oreiffn country.
iiui export to England their otu inercnaudiM
cept in Britten vea?e s. Iron uu . - i hi me
colonies; out uo an article con. 1 be manu <ctnr.-J
b? Hie people??lt muati.- imported. Wool was
abundant; out uo c otu cou.d .-e man ui uetur J
except ror private us?, aud uo: a pound el tlie raw
material cou.d be soul ir ui loan to town, out all
must oe a?ut to fc.n r.aiui, to ue u innately ie
turued a? manu igcture i ciotns. bur a ue l *.u
fiearv duties. Be.i*ei wua then l"--u y a. a .:i<
the sireaiiu. out uo natter was p?rmiued o nave
ntore ".an two ap. >rentic-es, aud not a Qa; could
?>?- -old irom ooe.coiuuy to auotutrr. i'nese are
uut s ecimeua 01 tnat va^t network ol
re-trictioi.s upon trade and commerce ia wnicn
Great Britain eu ircied tno tuirtee < couine-i?
example* selected at raudom to illuairate mat
poiicv woicn regarded tlie colonists a* narbariane
rolling in wealin, me cniei en i ol wnose existeucs
*ai o ue 'i-avi.y taxed 'or ! ir beujilt of tie atie
tocrai-y at home. lue i'arilaiueu'. added hum; .a
tiou to e.\ ortM'U. Naval otncera, aotim.' under
tne law. were insolent tuwai i colouia. vessel*.
iUey c<>mpeued tueui to >ower tueir Ha/* tu tuKen
oi uomage, Ored ou mentation slightest p.ovoea
ttou aud impressed tpe;r seamen whenevertue?
CDo?e. 1 he Mutiuy act, as it was caded, requir -d
toe inhabitants ol tne co onies to iuruiM
qi.arti.ra an 1. to some ex em. sapplies ioi
all tbe so. n?r.s tnat might i>? sent ovi
irom Kuglaul to oppress them. l"h ? parage <M
tne m lino act. in 17&, though less iniatn us tiiaD
much previous legislation, aroused sucn in
tiou iu a:i tne principal Am rica.t colonies aa
cie.?riy showed that England .nu^i either change
hei poller or prepare to en orce it it m? ^om or
me uavoue.. Tue piotracted an i violent atrug
?le over tiu? act, involving the principle oi tiixa
tiou without rei re??utai?o.i. wa^ me prologue to
th.it mighty Ura.na who<e opening -cene wan the
battle ot Lexihgtou, au<i who*- clo.ing act waa
me evacuation oi New York oy the rear ^u.ird <?
tn- ilmisti armv Nownere Were i?Mnd mure
fctrenuxui opp-u ata ot me opprea-ire i?m+
lation to wnicu I nave rciecred than In tae rauga
Oi ;ne mercnati ? ot New Vorlt.
couvehciai. orrosiriu.N ro tykvnnv.
An:"iig tne iiiom proiniiien' in their oppjaltlo?
were mo-e very same niercuanta who ar.erward
became loremosi in the tonndation and organisa
tion oi tae i namnerof I'DUDtice. Four out oi n o
Ave Sew for* de.ew'ates to the flrtt c'ongreM of
t!,e American coiomet?namely, .Jo>iu Cruder,
Philip Livingitou, NVii iam i>a>ard and Le^naiJ
Li-penard?were memnara oi tue Chamoer. a?
earu ai (j.toner, iT8?, a corre-pomung com
luit'ee oi me Sen York Ataeinoiy h.m
t.tk'"0 opon the other provincial LepMa
'ur.i the upceaaitvof holdinir a general Cougre .1
oi :be American :o,,.u:e-. That Cougreaa pre
sided over i<y i in mis Koggiea ol Maaaacooaetta,
was actualh usemol fl at New York, ou tue 7Ui
oi uctooer, lTrti, upon the urgent recomtneatiatioa
ol 'lie M.i-sj Du^ei!" l.egi?.atuie. but tue original
movement which ed u> it must be cr?di e-t to
New Yorit. Oue oi the flr*t meaeurea oi this con
gress was the publication of a ? Uec.aritiou o in#
Kignta and urievan e? of me Co.ouie*' ?u ad
drees adn irabie in tone matter and m inner, list"
all tne State papers o> me Revolutionary tra, ae
? ertinz th; rignta oi ail urtiisn ? o o isia a i
particuiariv n.i.sting on ttieir exclusive power
of sen-taxation, and tneir ciairn ro a trnl of
Jury. inn p .wer.ul paper was iroin the
pea of J.?nu Cruaer, i mercuant ol New ^ urn and
me hrst i'reaideni oi tne cnamner oi Co niuerce.
lh those neroio iay- mere was out ou ? step iro it
theory to action. On tne 3ist of uctoo.-r, 17'Jj,
ttif merchants oi NeW York ueld a meeting an J
resoived
Hr4?To Import ao foods from Bn?ian4 uat.l the
Stamp net rr pea led.
. - , ri - to immediately countermand all orders l~nt
for ?nring ,'oo.ls.
lh. <i -tj ?eii no aoodt ir <m Ureat Briram on com
mission.
these resolution-* were signe i Of more than two
huudi ed oi tho principal murchan'* of New tor*.
Tins Jetermiuod movement wae immediately fol
lowed by a popular denioastratio.i. oa tue ?er?
next evening me citizensg^there i m wna' is no?
the Cltv Hall I'ar* an I nuug iu ''UJ^v UWO eriant
Oovemor uoideu, the iepreseniaiiv& ?i kin-^
Oeorge HI., wno was intrusted witu t ie duty >i
eniorcing tne rttanip act. Another party i.rosi
open the do <n oi ms carr.age n ii-e, nu i irawiug
out the carriage, placed his edlgy inside
oi It, whee.ed it to tne Mowung i>r?en, bum
a bonflrg mere, and Diime.i ro asnes n>?
eaupage and effigy. laeae demonstranone hav