George A. Smith

“ We are at the present time the only people in the United States that are willing to be governed by the Constitution, and to grant to all men the same liberties that we ourselves enjoy—the same privileges and protection which are in accordance with the guarantees in the Constitution and the laws of the United States made in accordance therewith. To be sure, there are a great many who pretend to honour the Constitution; but they are determined in the North and the South that they will fight each other, Constitution or no Constitution. ”

“ While almost all the inhabitants of every portion of our common country from north to south, from the Rio Grande to the St. John's, are engaged in fratricidal strife, and almost every city, town, village, and hamlet to-day echoes with the sound of fife and drum, calling men to war, we are all enjoying peace. ”

“ The procession to-day was a display of mechanical skill, of agricultural industry, a display of tools and ingenuity of almost every kind, and men at work with them. What little powder we burn is simply in honour of our country's flag—not to destroy our fellow-countrymen. ”