The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-02-14
A Speech Of Henry A. Wise.

A. Wise delivered au address iu behalf
OF the orphans OF Confederate soldiers,
and it is proof that he has 20. forgotten
how to talk. lie spoke thus:
"Oh ashes Of men, and ashes Of hous
es of Richmond People Of Boston and
New Yoik, unsolicited, have contributed
mite, at least, to feed tue orphans of
your sons who fell in your defeuce,' ssd
these orphans have, fef months, Been
drawing their only bread from the cont
missbrist Of your invaders aud conquer
ors |! Cannot you do something more
than you have done for orphan children,
the fathers Of some Of whom bIed aud
died 70, you aud yours-your laws, your
rights, your liberties, aud (~hst seems
most precious now n dnyD your "proper
ty," your gold" which you hold so fast,
.e, spend So vainly.
Mr.. Wise thus dscoursed ofthe bravery
Of Confederate soldiers:
The nob!est bands of men who ever
fought or who ever fell in the annals OF
war, whose glor,ous deeds history ever
took pen 10 record, were, | exultingly
claim, the private soldiers in tho armies
Of the great Confederate cause. Whs,h.
er right Or wrong. in tho cause which
they espoused, they were earnest aud
honest IN their convictions, who thought
that they were righ, to defend their own,
their native Land, its soil, i,s al.ars and lis
donor. They felt that they were NJ re
bells and no traitors in obeyiug their
Stale sovereign,ics, and they though, it
was lawful to take UP arms under their
mandates, Authorized expressly by the
+ Federal Constitution, TO repel invasion or
10 suppress insurrec,ronJ when there was
such Imminent danger as not to admit
OF delay"
Prodigies Of valor, miracles of vc,or rfes,
undOubled and uudoubting devotion, and
endurance to the last, en,illel them TO
honors of surrender, which gilded the
arms OF their victors and ex,orlsI from
them even cheers on the battle field
where at last they yielded for peace.
Alas how many thousands have fallen
before their few surviving comrades laid
down their arms. OF .hese men Of the
ranks their beloved leader, Cen. t. T.
Lee, said to me. during the las: winter
on the lines. "Sir, the men Of this war
who will deserve the most honor and
| gratitude, are no, tbs mea Of rank, bu,
the men Of the rank.-ths p,rstes!"
And have seen .her, fire their last
volles al Appoma,,o1 and ofIea 10 the
marches, on picket, in the trenches, in
camps and in charge have seen them
sad and a!nos, sink, bu, never saw
their tears until their beloved Co,nman.
dsr.in Chief ordered them 10 surrender
their arms Then they wep,. and many
Of .hsm 5roks their trus,y weapons ! The
blessed and ever glorious dead were no.
there to surrender, and they are not here
to defend their memories from the taint
OF the reprosch of rebellion and treason.
! Alas / am alive aud here, and Am
bound, at every hnzud. 10 declare that
those men we:e no rebels and no traitor.
Let whoever will swear that they were
rebels and traitors. ! will contradict tho
oath, and appeal to God on the Holy Of
llSies as high As Heavens throne, and
swear that they we're pure pa,r!o's. loyal
citizens, we'll tried and true sodisn,
brave, honest, devoted men, who proved
their faith in their principles by the
deaths which c,nnonized them immortal
heroes and mar,yn!
No one shall inscribs the epitaphs OF
rebellion and treason upon the tornbs OF
their dead, without my burning pro,ss,
being uttered against the foul and false
Profanation. And il any wound. of the
living are laselled with rebellion and
treason, ! would isn' away the infamy,
though the wounds should bleed unto
death. II ! suffer their names TO he
dIshonored and their glory to lie .:sni,h.
ed, and don't gsinssy the rsprosch, may