USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Athol, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 7
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There is preserved in the Sprague family an interest- ing relic in the shape of an ancient document which con- tains the marching orders sent to an Athol captain : "To Capt. Eph'm Stockwell:
Sir :- By virtue of an express from Genr'l Warren in which i am Directed to detach Every Sixth man out of my Regiment to go to the releaf of our Distressed Breatheren to the westward. I do Hereby Di- rect and Order you forth-with with-out the Least Delay and with the utmost Despatch to Detach Every Sixth man out of the Training Band and alarm List of your Company for the purpose affores'd and See that they are acquipt according to Law with armes, ammunition, also with Kittles and Cooking utensils. The Selectmen are Directed to acquip those that are not acquiped, you are also to detach one Corporal. And when you have so Done you are to march them to Petersham on Mon- day the twenty-eighth day of this Instant July to meet on the Paraid near the Meeting House in said Town at nine o'clock in the forenoon, you are also to take the command of the men Detached from captains Nye, Henery and Lord's Companey's Together with your own Detach- ment. And from sd Petersham you are to make your Route By the way of Bennington, where you are to receive further orders from Colo- Cushing, you are to Return me a List of the names of those men De- tached from your Company Immediately.
Barre, July 26th, 1777.
NATHAN SPARHAWK, Col."
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ATHOL IN THE REVOLUTION.
This company was in the battle of Bennington and afterwards captured, in New Jersey, a British detachment one less in number without firing a shot. In the terrible conflict of White Plains two of its men were killed who bore the Athol names of Morse and Goddard. The first pastor of Athol, Rev. James Humphrey, has left this rec- ord respecting them, "Mr. Earl Cutting, their townsman and messmate, was between them when they fell." Tra- dition adds that one of them when wounded, leaped over a fence and died without uttering a word.
T
Preserved in the archives of the State House at Bos- ton on the various muster rolls and continental pay rolls of companies and regiments we find the names of 156 Athol men who served in the Continental Army at some time from 1775 to the close of the war.
Capt. Ichabod Dexter,
Capt. Thomas Lord,
" John Oliver,
Lieut. Abner Graves,
Lieut. Benj. Townsend,
Zebediah Allen,
Sergt. Simon Goddard,
Sergt. Caleb Smith,
6 Steven Stratton,
Ezra Hudson,
Joseph Cummings,
66 Martin Morton,
Ebenezer Goddard,
“ John Humphrey,
66 Geo. Cutting,
David Oliver,
William Smith,
Aaron Smith,
Corp. Asa Smith,
Corp. John Stockwell,
Joseph Morse,
Robert Young,
Samuel Hara,
Benjamin Death,
John Stone,
Nahum Fairbanks,
66 Francis Smith,
Wm. Braimond,
Ithamer Bowker,
James Wilson,
Drummer Isacher Bates,
Fifer Simeon Prosson,
Moses Ball, Aaron Ball, Theodor Bates,
Noah Bates,
Drummer Jesse Stockwell, Fifer Moses Goddard, Nathaniel Ara, Isaac Ball,
Ephraim Stockwell,
Joseph Buckman,
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
Uri Babbitt.
Nathaniel Babbitt,
Joshua Beal
Jotham Biglo,
Reuben Buckman,
Samuel Bradish,
Daniel Bushnell,
Jabez Carter, belonged to Reading, but enlisted for Athol.
Lucas Carlton,
Ephraim Cady,
Ephrain Cheney,
Stephen Crosby,
Wm. Crosby,
Samuel Cutting,
Earl Cutting,
Win. Cutting. David Copeland, Joshua Davis, John Dike,
Jotham Death, Benjamin Dollbear,
Benjamin Fairbanks,
John Fairbanks,
Philemon Fairbanks,
Joseph Fay,
Jason Fisk,
Jonathan Fletcher,
James Fletcher,
Bartholomew French,
Ebenezer Goddard, Jr.,
David Goddard,
Stephen Goodell,
Timothy Goodell,
Reuben Graves,
Samuel Hale,
Asa Hartness,
Edward Hamon,
Lucas Hilton,
Wm. Holman,
Daniel How,
Jacob Huckans,
Moses Huckans.
Seth Hutson
Elnathan Jacobs,
Jolın Jacobs,
Eli Jacobs,
Whitman Jacobs
Jonathan Johnson,
John Kelton, Lucas Kelton,
Jonathan Kelton,
Timothy Kendall,
Joseph Knights,
William Lewis,
William Lord
Robert Love,
James Lucas,
Abner Morton,
Joshua Morton, Silas Marble,
Moses Marble,
Aaron Marble,
John Mansur,
Daniel Mayson,
Josiah Moor,
Moses Mixture, John Munro,
Sam Mixture, Asa Buckman,
Abraham Nutt,
Robbart Oliver,
Aaron Oliver, Joseph Parker, David Perry,
Daniel Parling Eben Parsons, Nathaniel Powers
Richard Morton,
Samuel Kendall,
Isaac Comming's,
Jonathan Childs,
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ATHOL IN THE REVOLUTION.
Benj. Presson,
Peter Thompson,
Seth Rider,
Enos Twichell,
Zacheus Rich,
Josiah Wait,
Daniel Rice,
Peleg Watson,
Jotham Rice.
Nicholas Watson,
Rufus Richardson,
Sam Watson,
Benj. Russell,
Ichabod Warner,
Luke Robbins,
Abel White,
Solomon Smith,
Eben Williams,
David Smith,
Jacob Winslow,
Eben Stratton,
Levi Witt,
Peleg Stratton,
Kimble Woods,
Zebulon Stratton,
Jonathan Wood,
Thomas Stow,
Samuel Young,
Rufus Taylor.
William Young,
Isaac Train,
David Young.
Jonathan Train,
When we consider that the entire population of Athol during the Revolution did not exceed nine hundred, we can form some idea of what the people of this town were called upon to do, when almost the entire able bodied male population of the little town must have been in the service at some time during the war.
We have no means of ascertaining how many of these soldiers were killed in battle, or died from disease brought on by the hardships and perils encountered, or the feats of valor or heroism they may have performed ; it would be interesting to know something more of their lives, but the records of both town and state show that Athol was ever ready with a noble spirit of self sacrifice to contribute of her sons and money most liberally for the cause of free- dom.
The following are some of the votes passed by the town during the war:
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
July 24, 1776, voted "to grant six pounds to each man who should enlist into the colony service to go to Canada." March 10, 1777, "voted to raise thirty pounds to provide a town stock of ammunition." April 29 of the same year, voted to pay twenty-four pounds to each man who "shall enlist himself into the Continental army for three years or during the war," and the selectmen were directed to borrow the money. June 6, six pounds were. granted in addition to the above to each man so enlisting. Dec 2, 1777, it was "voted to raise 1128 pounds 16 shil- lings to pay the extraordinary charges of the war." At a town meeting held April 9, 1778, a committee consisting of John Haven, Aaron Smith and Jesse Kindal were chosen to supply the Continental soldiers' families with the necessaries of life, according to the act of contract. June 16, 1778, voted "to raise 125 pounds 11 shillings, to pay for the Continental clothing and for transporting the same to the army." July 15, "voted to raise 1583 pounds, three shillings and eight pence to pay those men that have done service in the war for the town of Athol." June 28, 1779, voted "to give 500 pounds for each man that will engage in the nine months Continental service." Voted "to allow 170 pounds for any man that will engage in the six month's service to Providence Plantation," October 27, 1780, voted to allow 7,650 pounds to Oliver Holman, for beef procured by him, as agent for the town, for the army.
CHAPTER VII.
WAR OF 1812 AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
" A weapon that comes down as still As snowflakes fall upon the sod, But executes a Freeman's will As lightning does the will of God, And from its force, nor doors nor locks Can shield you ;- "'tis the ballot-box."
HE WAR of 1812 was most strenuously opposed by the people of Athol, and the significant language of the various petitions which they addressed to the President of the United States and the State Legislature show the intense feel ing that prevailed and that they were in earnest. The first action taken by the town was at a town meeting held August 31, 1808, when it was voted to petition the Pres- ident of the United States to repeal the laws laying an embargo. The following were chosen a committee to prepare the petition : James Oliver, Elijah Goddard, Joseph Pierce, James Humphrey and Joseph Proctor.
The following petition was read and unanimously adopted :
.
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
" TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The inhabitants of the Town of Athol in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in legal town meeting assembled, beg leave respectfully and unanimously to represent that although the evils resulting from the late embargo laws may not be so immediately and sensibly felt by inland towns as by our seaports, and although the farmer may not at present so much as the merchant feel their deliterious effects, yet they are consid- ered of sufficient magnitude to create a general alarm and distress in this interior part of the country, and that the ruin of the husbandman will soon follow that of the merchant unless said evils can speedily be removed. We therefore pray that said laws may be suspended as soon as may be consistent with the nature and fitness of things, and as in duty bound will ever pray."
This petition not having the desired effect, the fol- lowing winter a town meeting is called to take action on the subject, when the doctrine of state sovereignty and resistance to national control is advocated in a most emphatic and unequivocal manner. The records of this town meeting are most interesting and read as follows :
"The inhabitants of the Town of Athol in legal town meeting on Wednesday, the 15th day of February, 1809, assembled for the purpose of taking into consideration the late measures of our National Admin- istration affecting our Navigation and Commerce, voted to choose a committee to draft an address to our State Legislature upon the subject aforesaid and the following gentlemen were chosen, viz: James Oliver, Joseph Pierce, James Humphrey, William Young and Joseph Proctor. Adjourned half an hour at the expiration of which time said inhabitants inet agreeably to adjournment and their committee reported as follows: "That whereas civil liberty and the pursuit of happiness are considered by us as inalienable rights, and no less essential to the good and well be- ing of Political Society than publick authority, therefore: Resolved that we will never surrender these Rights but with the surrender of our lives and as the late measures of our national administration by which our commerce is well nigh destroyed, the right of Trial by Jury in many instances taken away, the civil authority subjected to the military, standing armies distributed over our peaceful land and the right of property left unprotected, arc in our opinion, partial, unjust, inexpedient and unconstitutional, the opinion of any earthily judge to the contrary
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POLITICAL HISTORY.
notwithstanding, therefore: Resolved that we are not bound to support and we will not support such measures: Resolved that we will con- tribute all in our power to aid and support our State Legislature by all proper means, in opposing such oppresive measures hoping and earnestly requesting that Honorable Body not to quit their posts until they shall have asserted the Sovereignity and Independence of this State and secured to its citizens their wonted privileges.
James Oliver, Chairman."
William Young and Abner Twichell entered their verbal protest against said report.
Political History. It was in 1776 that the first step was taken toward the formation of a State Constitution, when the Legislature recommended to the people that they choose deputies to that body authorized to fix a form of government. The plan or form of government for this state as agreed upon by the convention held Feb. 28, 1778 and submitted to the people was rejected by a large majority. because no declaration of rights was attached to it. That it was not satisfactory to the citizens of Athol is evident by the action of the town meeting at which it was presented. when one hundred and one voters, voted not to accept it. and a committee of nine were chosen "to take into consideration and point out what amendments they think proper on the said form of government and report to the town."
In January, 1780, the existing Constitution was formed and submitted to the people who ratified it by a vote of more than two to one. A declaration of the Constitution was that "all men are born equal," and under this provision it was decided by the Supreme Court of the State that slavery was abolished. At the first state election under the Constitution Sept. 4, 1780, Athol's vote for governor was. John Hancock 39, and for lieutenant
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
governor, James Warren 19. In 1790 Athol's vote for governor was, John Hancock 29, Hon. James Bowdoin 9, and Hon. Nathaniel Gorham 6. In 1794 when the immortal Samuel Adams was chosen governor Athol did not cast a single vote for him, the vote for governor that year being Wm. Cushing 22, Samuel Phillips 17 and Francis Dana 12.
The insurrectionary movement known as the Shay's Rebellion which had its greatest following in the interior and western parts of the state does not seem to have been looked upon by the citizens of Athol with much favor. This is clearly shown in the action of Athol in the conven- tion held at Boston in 1787 for the purpose of considering the proposed National Constitution, when the entire northern part of Worcester County with the exception of Athol voted against its adoption, assigning as a principal reason that too many of the rights of the citizens were not well guarded. As a general rule those towns and indivdi- uals who favored the Shays movement, opposed the Constitution, from the fear that there would be too much power in the central government.
It is interesting to note the part Athol has taken in the various political movements that have agitated the state and nation. At the first presidential election held Dec. 18, 1788, Abel Wilder Esq., and John Sprague, Esq., each received forty votes as candidates for electors of the president and vice president of the United States. A large majority of the voters of Athol were Federalists all through the carly years of the century, and in 1800 when Caleb Strong, the renowned Federalist, who held the
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ATHOL IN THE REVOLUTION.
office of governor longer than it was held by any other man, and is said to have been the man of the most decided character that has ever been at the head of the state, Athol's vote for governor was Hon. Caleb Strong 75 votes, and Hon. Elbridge Gerry 10. Governor Strong was defeated in 1808 by James Sullivan, a democrat.
The Federalists regained power again in 1809, when Christopher Gore was chosen governor, but in 1810 the Democrats were again successful, making Elbridge Gerry governor and re-electing him in 1811. All through these changes Athol was steadfast to the federalist cause, and in 1812 when a most vigorous and successful effort was made to "redeem" the state from the democrats, and Hon. Caleb Strong was again their eader, Athol rolled up her largest vote when Hon. Caleb Strong received 169 votes for governor and Hon. Elbridge Gerry 27.
In 1829 the voters of Athol and other towns in this section of the state were unusually agitated over the rail- road question and broke away from all party allegiance. This was known as the anti-railroad election. Governor Lincoln who was in favor of a railroad line from Boston through Worcester and the southern part of the state to Albany was opposed by Hon. Samuel C. Allen of Greenfield. who was supported for governor by many of the towns in the northern part of the state. In 1828 Lincoln had received 66 votes in Athol against 26 for Hon. Marcus Morton, but at the election of 1828 Governor Lincoln received only two votes, Hon. Samuel Allen 142 and Marcus Morton seven. The following year Athol's vote was reversed, Allen receiving but two. Morton 41 and Lincoln 59.
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
During the ascendency of the Whig party in Massachu- setts, Athol was a Whig town, and in the famous Log Cabin campaign of 1840 when the great victory of "Tip- pecanoe and Tyler too" was achieved, cast 233 votes for the Whig electors, 79 for the Democratic and 11 for the Free Soilers.
In the great political overturn in 1854 when the new American or Know Nothing party elected Henry J. Gardner as Governor and buried the old Whig party in Massachusetts so deep that it has never had a resurrection, Athol went overwhelmingly in favor of the new party, the vote for Governor being Henry J. Gardner 200, Emory Washburn 67, Henry Wilson 13 and Henry W. Bishop 20. The year before, Emory Washburn, the last of the Whig governors, received 146 votes, Henry Wilson 122 and Henry W. Bishop 63, but the Know Nothing candi- date for representative to the Legislature, Josiah Haven, was elected after an exciting contest of two days, receiving on the last ballot but two votes more than the number necessary for election, it requiring a majority vote to elect at that time which rendered the representative contests, especially, very exciting.
From the formation of the Republican party in 1855 to the present time the vote of Athol, with a few excep- tions, has been given to the candidates of that party for national and state officers. The state campaign of 1860 was a tremendous struggle, and the coming war loomed up on the political horizon. The Republican state con- vention had nominated John A. Andrew for governor, and against him was pitted Erasmus D. Beach, the old Dem-
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POLITICAL HISTORY.
ocratic war horse, the candidate of the Douglas faction of his party. Amos A. Lawrence was the nominee of the conservatives and Benjamin F. Butler of the Breckinridge, or ultra wing of the Democratic party. In this memorable election Athol gave the Republican presidential electors 347 votes, and all others 55. The vote for governor was John A. Andrew 338. Erasmus D. Beach 31, Amos A. Lawrence 13 and Benjamin F. Butler 10.
Seldom have political campaigns been fought that created such excitement and interest as always attended the State campaigns when Gen. Benjamin F. Butler was a candidate for Governor of Massachusetts. The very air seemed surcharged with political electricity, and it was said regarding Athol in those days, "that the politics of each child can be ascertained, even before the time of teething is gone by, for men, women and children talk politics." The vote of Athol for Governor in those mem- orable campaigns. was as follows: In 1878, Thomas Tal- bot 419, Benjamin F. Butler 407, Alonzo A. Miner 9. 1879. John D. Long 431. Benjamin F. Butler 428, John Q. Adams 4, Daniel C. Eddy 1. 1882, Benjamin F. Butler 422. Robert R. Bishop 409, Charles Almy 1. 1883. Geo. D. Robinson 549, Benjamin F. Butler 537, John F. Arnold 4, Charles Almy 4, John Q. Adams 1.
Some of the caucus gatherings held here, have at- tracted more than local interest. When Butler made his first attempt to secure the republican nomination for Gov- ernor in 1871, the Athol republicans engaged in a most exciting contest for the election of delegates to the State Convention. The caucus that was called to meet at the
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
Town Hall organized, and immediately after, the Wash- burn men, fearing that the caucus might be carried for Butler, adjourned to the High school building, where the officers of the caucus, with many others repaired. Dele- gates to the State Convention at Worcester were chosen at both places, the school house delegates being for Wm. B. Washburn, and the town hall delegates for Butler. Both delegations went to Worcester, and the Butler dele- gates were admitted to the convention, on the ground that they met at the place at which the caucus was called. The Butler delegates were Col. George H. Hoyt, A. M. Sawyer and Rev. C. L. McCurdy, then pastor of the Meth- odist church. The unsuccessful delegates were Dr. J. P. Lynde, Ozi Kendall and Hon. Charles Field.
Representatives. Athol was represented in the vari- ous Provincial Congresses as follows : William Bigelow was chosen to attend the Congress, to be holden at Con- cord, on the second Tuesday of October, 1774, and was also chosen as delegate to the Congress held at Cambridge Nov. 23, 1774. John Haven was chosen to represent the town in a Provincial Congress held at Watertown, May 31, 1775.
The first mention of a Representative to the Great and General Court, is in 1775, when Capt. John Haven is elected. The following are the Representatives since that time: Josiah Goddard, 1792, '95, '96, '98, '99, 1800; Lieut. Eleazer Graves, 1802, '04, '05, '17; James Humphrey, 1806, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13, '16, '21, '23, '25 ; Samuel Young, 1808; James Oliver, 1814, '15 ; Joseph Proctor, 1819 ; Dr. Ebenezer Chaplin, 1827, '29; Col. Sam-
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POLITICAL HISTORY.
uel Sweetzer, 1830, '44, '46; Eliphalet Thorpe, 1832; Col. Nathan Nickerson, 1833 ; Benjamin Estabrook, 1835, "36, '52. In 1837, two representatives were sent, Benja- min Estabrook and James Young, and in 1838, Benjamin Estabrook and Abner Young ; Theodore Jones, 1840, '43, '45; John W. Humphrey, 1841, '42 ; Nathaniel Richardson, 1847 ; Lysander Fay, 1848 ; Stillman Simonds, 1850; Ne- hemiak Ward. 1851 ; Josiah Haven, 1,854 ; Laban Morse, 1855 ; James I. Goulding, 1856 ; Charles Field, 1857. In 1857, Athol and Royalston were constituted as the Sec- ond Representative District of Worcester County, and re- mained so until 1877, being represented as follows: 1
Isaac Stevens of Athol, 1858, George Whitney of Royalston, 1859, Nathaniel Richardson of Athol, 1860, Elisha F. Brown of Royalston, 1861, Farwell F. Fay of Athol, 1862, Alpheus Harding, Jr., of Athol, 1863, Ebe- nezer W. Bullard of Royalston, 1864, Calvin Kelton of Athol, 1865, Wm. W. Clement of Royalston, 1866, Al- pheus Harding, Jr., of Athol, 1867, Jeremiah A. Rich of Royalston, 1868, Thomas H. Goodspeed of Athol 1869, Benjamin H. Brown of Royalston, 1870, Ozi Kendall of Athol, 1871, Geo. H. Hoyt of Athol, 1872, '73, Jeremiah A. Rich of Royalston, 1874, Edwin Ellis of Athol, 1875, Wm. W. Fish of Athol, 1876.
Under the apportionment of 1876, Athol and Roy- alston constituted the Eighth Worcester District, and were represented as follows : Joseph Walker of Royalston, 1877, J. Sumner Parmenter of Athol 1878, Leander B. Morse of Athol 1879, Russell S. Horton of Athol, 1880, Ira Y. Kendall of Athol, 1881, Henry M. Humphrey of
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
Athol, 1882, Dr. Frank W. Adams of Royalston, 1883, C. Frederick Richardson of Athol, 1884, Washington H. Amsden of Athol, 1885, Benjamin W. Rich of Royalston, 1886.
Under the apportionment of 1886, based on the cen- sus of 1885, the towns of Athol, Royalston and Phillipston, were constituted the First Representative District of Wor- cester County, and have been represented as follows : Sidney P. Smith of Athol, 1887, '88, John D. Holbrook of Athol, 1889, C. Waldo Bates of Phillipston, 1890, Lucien Lord of Athol, 1891, Charles A. Crosman of Athol, 1892, Col. Geo. Whitney of Royalston, 1893, C. Waldo Bates of Phillipston, 1894, Harding R. Barber of Athol, 1895, '96
Athol has been represented in the Senate by James Humphrey in 1817 and '18, Benjamin Estabrook, 1843, Charles Field, 1858, '59, Alpheus Harding, 1879, '80, and Sidney P. Smith, 1891, '92. Lyman W. Hapgood was elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1853. Those who have been honored by their political parties as national delegates and electors are: Hon. Chas. Field, who was one of the Republican Presidential electors in 1860, Hon. Alpheus Harding, delegate to the National Republican Convention at Chicago in 1880, and Leander B. Morse, delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Chicago in 1884.
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CHAPTER VIII.
ATHOL IN THE REBELLION.
"But these are deeds which should not pass away, And names that must not wither."
HE NEWS of the thrilling * events that were transpir- ing in the South, during the opening days of the Rebellion, as it came to the people of Athol, filled them with amazement and indignation.
When the telegraph wires flashed over the country the startling news that the brave sons of Massachusetts had been shot down in the streets of Baltimore, the excite- ment was intense, and the patriotic spirit of the days of the Revolution burned fresh and bright in the sons of Athol, as with enthusiasm they hoisted the stars and stripes from the buildings and over the streets, and gathered at the spirited meetings that were held in both villages.
On the evening of April 20th, 1861, at an immense meeting held in the Town Hall, stirring speeches were
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
made by the Orthodox and Unitarian clergymen, Isaac Stevens, Esq., Dr. J. P. Lynde, Principal Lathrop of the High School, Hon. Charles Field and others, councilling prompt and energetic action in support of the government, and to stand by the flag through all dangers and under all circumstances ; sentiments which were received with deep and tumultuous applause. A general illumination fol- lowed, of all the dwellings in both villages, making the night lighter than the day, while the streets were traversed by long processions, headed by the band playing national airs, until a late hour, and patriotism reigned supreme.
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