Eatanswill Gazette and Independent, so well described in Pickwick, are passing away. The age of the Jefferson Bricks is fast disappearing in the dimness of the past. They still haunt some of the rural papers, but on the whole they are falling back like buffaloes before the advance of civilization.

And, if I am allowed to mention another great improvement, I must refer to the growing spirit of independence in the press of our country. The mere "organs" which have to do the bidding of parties and swear by the decision of its caucuses and the nominations of its conventions, in other words the organs that must "go it blind" whether they "like it or lump it," are growing encouragingly less every year. They are following in the wake of the Jefferson Bricks, without whom the regular party organ would be incomplete.

In one respect, however, the gentlemen of the pen are at a disadvantage when compared to the gentlemen of the sword. That lack that pleasant esprit de corps which binds soldiers together and make such reunions as the one to-night, not only pleasant and desirable, but such as can be treasured up among the bright reminiscences of the past. The gentlemen of the sword will fight the enemy. The gentlemen of the pen are doing a great deal of the fighting among themselves.

But I will not pursue the line of comparison. The press had many a sad duty to perform in those bloody days that tried men's souls. It had to carry many a heart-rending and sickening item of news into houses that had become desolate by the war. It had to record the blighting of so many a hope and the cruel termination of so many a noble life around which women and children used to twine like the ivy around the oak. It opened the bitter fountain of tears which it could not dry. For this crusl task which it had to perform there is but one partial compensation. It could herald, circulate and perpetuate your noble and heroic achievements. It had the proud task of being first to announce the record you have made for immortality.

MUSIC: "Hail Columbia."

FOURTEENTH TOAST:—“An upright judiciary—the safeguard of a country."

Response by Hon. A. TAFT.

MR. PRESIDENT:-Coming, as I do, from the quiet duties of the Court-house and standing, as I now do, in the midst of this bril

liant assembly of military gentlemen, I feel the force of the maxim: Leges inter arma silent. Nevertheless, I can not refuse to obey your call and speak a word on behalf of the judiciary.

It is our happy destiny to live under a government of written constitutions and laws. It has been well said that "tyrants sign no papers." Paper restrictions are not to their taste. But history has shown that the best written constitutions are waste paper, without an upright judiciary to administer them.

There are two ways known to history in which our constitution may be overthrown. One is by the coup d'Etat-that imperial plan which has so often been tried in France—unhappy France -God grant it may never again be tried with success. The other is by the perversion of fundamental law in the interests of tyranny, as Augustus, under all the forms of the Roman Republic, assumed the powers of a despot. Our free republic with all its irregularities encourages its judiciary to stand by the law and the constitution. Place a man upon the bench, whether it be of a State or of the United States, whether it be for life or for a shorter period, and you place before him every motive dear to the human heart to rise to the level of his position and discharge impartially his high duties toward the public and toward every litigant.

The judiciary of the United States, both State and Federal, has a conspicuous history in connection with constitutional liberty. How many times have we looked, and how many times have our fathers looked to the courts for the solution of dangerous questions? As one question after another, portending danger, has risen above the horizon, like a dark cloud charged with storm and thunderbolt, it has been disarmed of all its terrors by a judgment of the court.

Massachusetts and Connecticut, in the war of 1812, denied the power of the Federal Executive to call out their militia and require them to march beyond the limits of those States. This dangerous question was finally presented to the Supreme Court. of the United States and decided forever.

When Rhode Island, small as it is, was not satisfied with a single government, but in the strife of parties had established two, and civil war imminent, this question went to the same tribunal, and all the electricity was drawn from that fiery cloud by a single judicial decision.

Allow me to close by declaring my undoubted faith in the stability of our institutions, so long as our constitution and our

laws are interpreted by an upright judiciary, and upheld and defended by brave men who are civilians in peace and heroes in

war.

VOLUNTEER TOASTS.

This closed the programme of regular toasts of the banquet, and the chairman announced that volunteers would be in order. There was no disposition to terminate the happy experience of the evening and many volunteers were called, and for a time wit, song and enjoyment abounded. Many short speeches were made, among them the following by General A. H. Terry, in response to "The Bummers of the Army of the Tennessee."

He spoke happily of the "Bummers of the Army of the Tennessee," and denied the charge that he had been made a prisoner by them, which was greeted with shouts of laughter. He then told the funny story of the circumstances that led to the rumors of that capture. It was that of two bummers attempting, on horseback, to capture a locomotive and car, which carried the speaker past Magnolia station, under the supposition that said car and locomotive bore rebels.

To "Sherman's Bummers," Colonel Joel seemed the natural inheritor. He commenced by saying: That he couldn't say anything in their favor, and, to tell the truth, he couldn't say much against them. The fact was, he had been a model for them himself. [Laughter.] The only thing they couldn't carry off was a branch railroad that wasn't down on the chart [laughter] that they found down in Georgia.

His sayings were not easily traced, nor can they be described; suffice to say they were Joel's.

To the "Springfield Musket" was the lot of General Dyer, loudly called for and cheeringly received.

He couldn't make a speech, he said, but as the toast was, "Where would the Springfield musket have been if Dyer had been dead?" he thanked God that Dyer was not dead. [Laughter.] He had not participated in battles, but he had labored in turning out a thousand Springfield muskets per day, and he trusted they had been found of good service.

The General made happy hits and many warm friends.

"Mother Bickerdyke, the faithful friend of the sick and wounded of the Army of the Tennessee," was handsomely responded to by Colonel O. J. Dodds, who told of her efficient work among the hospitals of the battle of Shiloh. He did not know whether she was living or dead, but he did know that no woman was more entitled to the honor and respect of the members of the Army of the Tennessee than Mother Bickerdyke.

General Sherman said Mother Bickerdyke was now keeping an eating station at Salina on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, and kept a good one, too. When he last saw her, in Washington, she was in trouble. Her property was about to be sold to satisfy a debt. He used his influence with the railroad authorities to give her more time, and he supposed they did it, for he had not heard from her since.

To "The Independent Press." Mr. Halstead responded briefly,

but with much satisfaction.

He did not speak at any great length about the press, but proceeded to give some illustrations, gleaned from experiences with the German army in the late war in Europe, of the respect paid to America and to Americans who happened to be with that army. In conclusion, he compared the grand German armies to that of General Sherman, as he had seen it in Washington after its march to and up from the sea.

To "The Loyal Clergy." The Rev. J. M. Reid responded very happily indeed. The quietness was complete, and he was listened to with marked attention throughout, and the many references he made were received with satisfaction to all.

The chairman now announced that it seemed to him the banquet was completed, and it was now a proper time to adjourn. He thanked all for their assistance in maintaining good order, which was, however, only the voluntary feeling of each member, and wished that each one present might be in attendance at the next reunion. Undoubtedly this had been the most successful of any, and this banquet the most complete of any he had attended. And wishing all good night, I can only now pronounce our gathering adjourned.

The Band played "Auld Lang Syne," while the party dispersed, singing in chorus.

MEMBERS

OF THE

SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.

Armstrong, W. F., Captain, Hillsborough, III.

Allen, Jr., David, Captain, St. Louis, Mo.

Andre, M., Captain, St. Louis, Mo.

Abbott, George, Major.

Audenried, J. C., Colonel, U. S. A., Washington, D. C.

Alexander, L. F., Captain, La Salle, Ill.

Andrews, C. C., General, St. Cloud, Minn.

Andel, C., Captain, Belleville, III.

Adam, A., Surgeon.

Allen, F. S., Lieutenant.

Adams, C. H., Lieutenant-Colonel, Chicago, Ill.

Arndt, A. F. R., Major, Detroit, Mich.

Arnold, J. A., Major, Joliet, Ill.

Allen, J. A., Captain.

Averill, John T., General.

Andrus, W. D. E., Captain, Rockford, Ill.

Alexander, J. T., Colonel, Terre Haute, Ind.

Adams, S. R.

Bonner, Frank, Lieutenant.

Buckland, R. P., General, Fremont, Ohio.

Belknap, W. W., General, Washington, D. C.

Bleitz, John, St. Louis, Mo.

Banks, J. C., Lieutenant, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Baldwin, W. H., General, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Bonner, S. P., Surgeon, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Bain, William, Chicago, Ill.

Buchanan, R., Colonel, Hannibal, Mo.

Bruce, John, Colonel, Keokuk, Iowa.

Brinck, W. F., Major, St. Louis, Mo.

Brookman, J. B., Lieutenant, St. Louis, Mo.

Baily, G. W., Captain, St. Louis, Mo.

Brewster, W. B., Captain, St. Louis, Mo.

Barrett, S. E., Major, Chicago, Ill.

Blair, F. P., General, St. Louis, Mo.

Baggs, James, Surgeon, Ontario, Ohio.