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On motion of Col. McKaye, seconded by Col. Le Grand B. Cannon, the thank sof the Society were unanimously tendered to the President and Secretary, for the great care and fidelity with which they had performed their duties and looked to the interest of the Society during the past year.
On motion of Mr. Stevens, seconded by Colonel McKaye, the thanks of the Society were unanimously tendered to the Executive Committee, for their faithful attention to their duties, and especially to Mr. Wm. T. Blodgett, not only for his constant and assiduous care of the labor of distribution, but also for his personal efforts so successfully made to collect funds for the Society.
On motion of Mr. Blodgett, the thanks of the Society were unanimously tendered to the Publication Committee and its Chairman Col. McKaye, for their faithful performance of their arduous duties.
On motion of Mr. Putnam, the thanks of the Society were tendered to the Treasurer, Mr. Morris Ketchum, for his continued kind and faithful care of the funds of the Society.
The President Dr. Francis Lieber here addressed the Society:
Address of Dr. Lieber.
Gentlemen,—You are aware that by the rule adopted at the last general meeting of the Society, its officers and committees are annually elected or appointed. The Reports which have been submitted to you have alluded to the important labors of the Society during the season which has past. The importance of the Society was acknowledged last year, and has been since clearly established and confirmed in various ways, until now it is admitted to be a valuable element in the great movement—nor can it be said that its importance has been increased because of the election, although that election was more important than any which ever occurred in the history of the Republic, unless, perhaps, that of Washington; for who can say what would have been the fate of the infant Republic without his directing and sustaining hand. Indeed, there have been few national acts recorded in all history which can be compared in vastness or
