38 



national unity, and loose them from their ordered spheres, 

 madlv to rush and tumble in the destructive tumult of a 

 social chaos ? Shall man's last hope for man go down, as 

 though the sun should set never to rise again ? These are 

 the transcendent issues of the hour. How awful, how ur- 

 gent, how irresistible are the appeals that come to every 

 American heart ! The dead hand of the past is laid upon 

 us, and thrills us with its ghostly admonition. The multi- 

 tudes that throng the coming generations turn suppliant 

 faces towards us, and plead for a country. Everywhere, 

 they who had faith in liberty, observing us, anxiously in- 

 quire " Can liberty corrupt a people ?" And them, ah ! 

 them, the noble men who have fallen and been covered 

 with the flao- ! Bear them to their rest ; scatter the flowers 

 upon their graves ; bedew the turf that enfolds them with 

 tears for patriots to their country lost ; and set as on yonder 

 sculptured stone* the enduring traces of their names. But 

 oh ! if you would give the guerdon of eternal honor, 

 if vou would build their proper monument, deep as the sea, 

 high as the stars, finish the work they have begun ; recon- 

 stitute the state, uplift with arms of strength its prostrate 

 pillars, and on the arch of empire, ranged anew and founded 

 on the rock of ages, grave the imperishable words, " Liberty 

 and Union, noiv and forever, one and inseparable." The 

 sacred oath is on the soul of the people of America that 

 the work is begun shall be accomplished, and the gates of 

 hell cannot prevail against the vow. 



'< For Freedom's battle once begun, 



o c- a » o 



Though baffled oft, is ever won." 



Even now, hear the shouts of the soldiers, hear the shouts 

 of the sailors, as their voices go up in joy and triumph. 



'' The monument to the Massachusetts soldier, Sumner H. Needham, -nho 

 was killed in Baltimore, April 19th, 1861. 



