574 Assembly 



strong determination and patient endurance of the German race, 

 and this was worth more than all the inventions of modern art. 

 It throws men upon tlieir own resources — it makes them feel 

 that they must rely upon their own eiforts, and when men feel so, 

 they will succeed in whatever they undertake. This feeling was 

 evinced by the pioneers wiio cleared awny the forest, and first 

 cultivated these fields. It was a noble trait in the character of 

 ^the first settlers of Schoharie. Thev had not the education and 

 refinement of those who came after them, and enjoyed greater ad- 

 vantages ; but they were men of strong minds, fearless and reso- 

 lute, wlio could face danger and endure sulfering, without yield- 

 ing to despondency — men of sterling integrity, who were deter- 

 mined to live by their own industry, and sustain themselves by 

 their own exertions. They were a noble, generous-hearted race, 

 w^ho always had a home for the stranger, and from whose door the 

 beggar was never turned away empty. They v.ere true to their 

 country and the interests of the government, wdiich had protected 

 and assisted them in th^ir emigration and settlement. They 

 fought in the French war to sustain the honor of the Queen, whom 

 they regarded as their pktron and friend ; they freely shed their 

 blood in the battles of th^ Revolution. The ^gallant defence of 

 the old fort, which remains to this day a monument of noble 

 deeds ; the battles of Cobleskill, of Duilach and Harpersfield, 

 wdiere the Hagarsand Schafers and Warners and Browns contend- 

 ed against their savage foes, will be held in remembrance as long 

 as the love of liberty is cherished in Schoharie. They were a 

 band of patiots as true as any other in the country ; they render- 

 ed as great services as any friends of liberty in ancient or modern 

 times. They suffered the destruction of their property, the deso- 

 lation of their homes, the cantivitvand massacreof their families, 

 that they might leave to us that precious inheritance which we 

 enjoy. I speak of these things, of the sacrifices and sufferings of 

 the first settlers on this soil, because it is due to their memory. 

 We owe them a debt of gratitude which we can never repay. 

 And while we are in the full enjoyment of the plenty and pros- 

 perity, which, under the blessings of heaven we have dt-rived 

 from them, we should not forget to honor them for their virtues, 

 and the rich inheritance they have transmitted to us. 



