Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-15

ktlcf 10 govern lLstll-
] shall not say that If success had
crowned the efforts of the South, such
language would have been as applicable
to the one revolution as the other; that
sacrifices as great, sufferiuEs as sad, en-
! durances as trying. and courage As glO-
] rious, marked the second as the hnst.
But l VIII say that if patriotism be 9. Geep
felt principle, PermeAtlDg communities
and states, and uniting them ana Lead
ing them through the battle storms OF
I years-if this be patriotism, triumphant
or defeated. patriotism still-then our
I fallen brethren were patriots. Such
pronounce them to-day. By that name
shall they ever be spoken Of by me.
] TEAITORsi Judas-Arnoid! TREASON
I the sucversiOn or invasion Of the inhe-
! rent right Of a sovereign monarch to rule
( his subject, of whom he is the born
master; 10 say they were guilty Of this
/ in law, and in morals, and in truth, Is a
I slandeT on the memories Of the patriot
dead mistaken they may have been,
! but traitors, never!
"T0 levy war against the United
! States, or adhere 10 their enemies is
I the only treason known TO the COustitu-
I ton But when thirteen Of these states
| severed their connection with the rest
! whether they had the legal right 10 DO so
not-and were united in a dc fNctO gov
/ ernment Of united States in a new con-
: federaev, regular beliiggrenCy was es-
tablisbed, and treason is out of the cues
ton. It is not for me, nor is this the oc-
casi0u 10 discuss this question; but Il Is
my solemn duty, and one i fear not TO
discharge, 10 yindicate the character Of
my brothers. Without any spirit Of Grim
inati0n or Of defiance, we deny before
4 4 - al. I'm HHgr|ae q
graves, OF fell in the preparation OF
treason or crime.
Nor viii those who met our brethren
as f0emeu on the fields Of Shiloh, Gettys-
burg or Franklin, indulge in Opprobrious
euilhets 20 cloud their memory. They
knox that they encountered men-nOt
trembling criminals. They know that
such courage and lofty bearing as con-
frouued them Al every step Of their pro
gres=. could be sustained by principle
alone. The heroes on the other side nave
felt and acknowledged this. Principle
recognizes principle. The brave honor
the brave. True patriots recognize
brothers, though mistaken OF ia error,
vet honest ana true. Epithets and In
suits are not the weapons Of the real
warriors who won the battles of the
Union. Tt is only from the lips Of men
soul that those insults TO the memory of
our honored dead so fippsRtly and con-
stantly fall-men who never met our
brethren in the living strife, but can
safely insult fallen foe.
Blame US not, then, for mourning the
loss Of our brethers and kinsmen; charge I
US not with folly for cherishing their
memory and hOnOriug their names as I
heroes and patriots.
We return O. the proposition at first I
snuounced-that her0ism is courage /
drawn forth and sustained by principle. I
We have declared and we know it-knOw /.
il by mingling i'm the councils Of the Con- 7.
feleracy and the ranks Ot her armies
that principle acUuated all classes through /
out those weary years Of des0lating war. I
And we ask. what endurances We're more I
heroic, and what courage was more 4
splendid Donaldson and shiloh, Get 1
tysburg and Franklin, and numerous /
other fields, whether of victory or defeat, /
record the matches courage Of the half !
clad, half-fed, tentiess, shOeless, soldiers |
of the South. Their bleeding feet stained I
the SHOWS on their wintry march to the 4
entrenchment OF Franklin, and green /
corn was their only food through many I
q campaign. Yet, against over-pOwering /
numbers, they maintained the unequa
struggle till the last hope was guenehed. Z
To tell Us that this was the mere pas
sive obedience Of ignorant and deceived /
masses, is equally untrue. Our brothers
were not " dumb driven cattle.' II was
not the sullen and brute-like endurance,
effected by the force OF discipline. They I.
were not mere machines. If ever " bay I
onets think they thought in the ranks
Of our Southern armies. The men who I
D
charged by mothers, wives and sisters TO 4
die for the right-lhe men who marched I
through these towns and villages, bear
ing the banners presented by their cOun-
and followed by their tears
and blessiugs-the men who started al
the first sound of war, and fell in Don 4
ald.uu aud ManAssas-the men Who I
waited for no conscriptlOn, and who /
ciung 10 their standards, refusing all I
aunestiaS, ard an temptations 70 desert, 4
steady and erect through all the storm,
until Lee bowed his head, and Johnston I
gave up the struggle, and the sun went I
men were not " DUMB /
driven cattle, were not machines, We're
not hireliuEs or slaves to self-cOnstituIed 4
leaders or usurpers, They were soldiers
in the true sense Of that wOrd-patriOt /
soldiers who have illustrated the highest 4
memories halos snail ever kncle.
In recounting the many who fell on I
Shilshis battle-field-one Of the darkest I
dyed Of tie whole war; and ope deeply 4
impressed on the speaker and hearers
from its vicinity, and the fact that many 1
of Us beheld the dread struggle, we can
not refrain from . wOfu OF JrlDutU ID the I
memory Of citizen Of this State, s
member OF this fraternity-the true, the
great. The gallant Albert Sydney john
son. ActuaIed by principle, he len
position Of eminence on the shores OF The
Pacific, and pushed his ardUous and dam
gerous way overland, and almost alone,
10 participate vita bis eountrymen IN
The struggle On that terriole day az
shiloh, iu the thickest Of the storm, the
shouts Of victory ringing around him bis
well laid plans almost eonsummatedi his
hopes almost realized, the opposing army
broken and retreatingi itG capture almost
within his grasp-a triumph which night
have decided the contest fOreYer-hc felL
.0rercd sgith glory. What might have
resulted had he lived few days longer
What. had he been spared throughout
rhe WARP His experience as soldier,
nfs influence with the head Of the Con-
his military abilities, the clear
ness Of his intellect, and the power OF hls
viii. which would have made him sooner
lr later, the most renowned OF al our
.eadels-what these might have eiiectec
had his life been spared, can not now be
even coniectured. But in success
Oh defeat in independence or s1h-
mission, he would have been a power
Tor good But voice from on
high called him away ere he could grasp
the first wreath OF victory -cailed MIN
from earth's stormy struggles. Death
found him al his post with ms hsr-
ness on. ana % him, GIfiend and brother,
! may bePermitted to apply the words OF
scott:
d. II sdst thou bat lived, ,thoagh sirpl'd Of power,
Waterman ON thy lonely tower,
Ihy thIillug trump had Toused the land.
y ben fraud or danger were 70 hand;
Isl ihec, a. ty the beacon light
orr pilots Lad Eept celrse arlghIs
A. some proud column though alone,
t'-y strength lad propp. e TIE tol-esing throne.
The beacon l5stt ls quenctHu la smoke
Tie irumpets silver sound ls stiu,
The warder silent on the Aih
When death, just towering, claimed his prev
With Palintrsa iiEaLtarad mood
Ffru al his dangerous posi- he stood
Each call for needfui rest repeild,
WIN dylne hand the rudder haid,
sTiii iu his fall with fateful sway.
i'be sfeefsqs OF the realm gave way
Nor can ] pass IN silence one other l
name one Who occupied a very different I
POSITION. but illustrating the same great /
traits of heroic character. lie was a |
youth Of promise and Of piety. Early in I
life he eonsecrated bis talents to the ser 1
vice OF his God, end the spiritual welfare (
Of his fellow man. he was the youthful
pastor of the Protestant Episcopal con-
gnegation in this town. He was chosen
chaplain Of the first company that went
forth. Ever at his post, he was IN the
thick Of the battle. the last act he was
seen to perform was to assist with WOv
manly Tenderness two wounded Federal
soldiers, left bleeding on the field As their
army wss driven back. A few moments
after the missile Of death called him 10
bis rest, He expired without a groan,