Our little army, the last reliance of the country, was cooped up at West Point, almost the last refuge of liberty remaining. Had that army, with its illustrious commander, been treacherously surrendered, and that strong-hold given up to the enemy, the communication between Canada and New York, then in his possession, would have been open -- the North and the South could no longer have cooperated with each other -- the spirit of our people had been broken -- the last stay of freedom destroyed, and the last ray of hope perhaps extinguished. What the final issue might have been, God only knows ; but we all know, the consequences would have shaken our good cause to its foundation. A plan for this purpose was agitated-- matured -- almost consummated by the treason of Arnold. To you it is not necessary to detail the particulars of this infamous and dangerous project, so familiar to the memory and hearts of our people. I see among you many venerable and aged men who bore a part in the struggle, and shared in the hardships, anxieties, dangers and sufferings of those dismal times. I see at the head of these, a faithful and gallant officer, still happily and honorably surviving to enjoy that invaluable freedom which his own efforts contributed to secure.*1 I see, too, among them one who was himself a companion and sharer in the virtuous act by which these imminent dangers were averted.6

If you wish for the story of this high achievement of honest, unpretending