Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-05-11
1Goge6eh abbtrtiser. J.
DR.. Paimer,s speech.

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We publish below the very glowing aud
eloquent speech of that,irspired patriot, the
Rev. sP1LaEs, who was appointed to vel
come the Soldiers Of the Hampton Legion.
and of the lst and I'd Regiments S. G. Cav
airy, to the; grand entertainment. recently
given them by the Ladies Of Columbia. We
know. our readers viii peruse it with eight.
Want of space forbid US to publish the ad-
mirable speeches of Gen. HAMPTON and Col.
GAnY, delivered on the same occasion.
Solp1rRs OF THE LrcIos AND GENTLE.EN
OF THEARaY: The graceful and delicate Office
is assigned to me by the ladies OF. South Gar,
olina to bid you, after . long separation, a
welcome to your native State.
Ever since the commencement Of this hero
ic struggle, you have. been in the presence OF
the foe. To-day, these tables are spread to
remind yo,. thai you are ia ,he presence OF
those whoses hearts beat towards yoa only
with kipdness, gratitude and love. On your
lonely and fatisuing marches, when Tou have
been bivouacked by the side OF your camp
fires; when as ssntirels pickesinS iIetii& pres
ence of . trcacherous foe, ana stili more IN
the awful shock ind rage Of battle, though
yon may not have known it, many an eye has
be IN moistened with tears of sympathy 'for
vour priyations-many heart accustomed to
hold communion with. Heaven has invoked,
the watchful providence of Almighty God TO
throw around you the shield of protection;
and to-day, in your glad return to your ma
tive State, aud to the scenes 80 familiar to
you, we find, in part, tke answer to our
prayers.
Thrse years ago, a venerable mother may
hsye laid her hand in beuediction upon your
head, never expecting to greet you again. e1
cept in the land of the blessed many
loving vile sobbed her last farewell upon your.
breast as you tore from her embrace; affec-
tionate sisters may have girded onyour sabres,
smiling amid their tears, as you have seen
the sheen of Heavens own bright sun dane
ing among the drops Of dew; and your little
ones may have grouped around you, and won.
dered as they gazed upon their fond and gen
tile father to see you transformed into the
grim visaged and dasermined soldier. The
necessities of war may not permit you to re-
new, at present, these associations Ola happy
past; but here, all around you, are mother,
aad sisters, who with one Voice and with one
heart, claim you as their sons and brothers,
and stand here as the representatives, of your
homes. Welcome, soldiers welcome to our
hearts; and gallant General, turning to Maj
Gen. Hampton, who was seated on the plat
form, thrice welcome to you and your com
rades, among those who bear in grateful re.
membrance your noble deeds in defence of
South Carolina and her Confederate sister
hood. (Applause.l
Soldiers I'VE, are too 5ear the greet events
which stir the age in which we live to be.
hold the grandeur of their proportions Jus.
as when we stand at the base of an over hang
ing mountain snd lif. our eyes to the prec-
pices that are bce,ling above, we are unpre-
pared to scan the proportions which are thrown
in such gigantic outlines upon the canvass of
the sky, so must we, with the philosophic
historian of future years, look: back upon
thcse human events before We can behold
them in their grandeur or have our hearts
stirred by their sublimity.
1t is not long since, when you and indulg
ed the grand dream of an American Empire
which should spread its power from ocean to
ocean. The generation now living have saen
the tide of emigration rolling from the Allan
tic board until it lay in the lap of the broad
valley Of the Mississippi; and then, over-leap-
ing that barrier, sweeping onward in its fow,
until breaking itself across the mountains, it
rested on the edge Of the Pacific sea, aud tho
voice of California echoed to the voice OF tAs tAs,
Atlantic States. There we're not wanting
proud dreamers among. us then, who looked-
even beyond this gigantic swell OF growing
humanity to the lime when the entire con-
tinent should be absorbed, from the waters
Of the Southern sea to the Northern pole,
when
mNo pent up CLics should contract our powers,
But the whole boundlcss continent be onrs,'
But that fond delusion has been dIspelled.
The bascless fabric of vision has faded from
cur sight. The stern decree OF God came
down; that proud nation was cloven N twain,
and now we see what We recked not before
liza. we had become too great !or our good.
Alas the day mad passed By when the noble
statesmen Of the country we're too pure TO
become the hacks Of party; end the time az
rived VIXEN placenen WELD The baton of pow
or. Thus the Generalization OF our country
stood forth embodied in the last election. But
when the coarse Jester Of the West occupied
;he seat once lis!!owed ny Washington, Jeiler-
son and Madison, and the crafty politician Oh
New Yorl. stood before the world showing
that coarseuess and cunning were to be ruling
eenii of the land-allnost too late-just when
the finger of the clock upon the dialplate
pointed to the very hour and moment OF our
destiny, South Carolina in the van, but fol,
lowed shortly after by other sisters of equal
courage and magnanimity, dissolved the bonds
of that which had become q profane alliance;
and these banners, to-day, wave over a land
sthat is resolved to be free, and over q people
, who have sworn to pass through the most
fearful baptism Of blood to secure the rights
ted from our grasp. Fellow-citizens, thst
event is an epoch of our history, for it separa,,
ted us from q section of our country that had
become bioated in party corruption, and was
destined soon to fall into premature decay.
And upon an issue ordered by Almighty Prov
iaence, the confederate South and the North
measured arms in the sight Of he,nations OF
the earth. We may not see the end OF 1t,
but when the work of dislntegrstion shall have
- Ill ho fonnd that. therein