Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-15

In kichmond a few days ago Henry A
Wise delivered an address in beAaif Of the
orphans Of Confedeszte soldiers. We auose
few passages, which show thaE the ysner-
able word monger has not iofrotsen his Gun
ming. He said:
Oh! ashes Of men, and ashes Of houses Of
Richmond People Of Boston and New
York, unsolicited, have contributed faite.
ct least, to feed orphans Of your sons who
/ fell in your defense, and these orphans nave.
for months, been drawing their daily bread
from the crnfnissnriat Of your invaders and
conquerors Canlotyou Do something more
than you have done for orphan children. the
fathers Of some Of whom bled and dice for
you and yous--your laws, your rights, your
liberties, and what seems most precious now
a-daysl yoer property" your gold. which
you hold 50 fast yet spend so vainly.
Sir, Wise TINS discoursed Of the bravery
OF Confederate soldiers:
The most honest bands os men who ever
fought, or who sver-sell in the annals oil war.
whose glorious deeds history even took pen to
record, were, fexuatingly claim, she private
soldiers in the great Confederate cat1se.
Whether right or wrong in the earse which
they tspoused they were earnest and honest
patriots in their convictions who thought
they were right 10 defend their own. their
native land, It's soil, It's affairs, and is honor.
They felt that they were no rebels and no
traitors IN oiseying their State sovereignties,
and that they thought il was lawful g take
up arms under their mandates, authosizctl
expressly BY the Federal Consolation, t.
repel invasion or to suppress insurrection,
when there was such imminent danger as
not to admit Of delay
The only reason for the delay which
could have been demanded Of them was 70
have appealed to the invaders themselves
for defence against their own invasion and
whether there was imminent danger or not,
events have proved. They have been IN
yaded until every blade Of grass has been
trodden down, until every sanctuary Of tenn
pie, and fame, and altar, and home has been
profanee. The most OF these men had no
stately mansions for their homes no slaves
to pillow and plant any broad fields Of theirs;
no stocks or investments in interest-bearing
bonds. They were poor, but proudly
patriotic end indomitahly brave. Their
country was their only heritage.
The mothers and wives and daughters
buckled on the belts, and sent husbands and
sons and brothers forth, and women toiled
for the bread and spun the raiment Of . lit
tie ones" Of shanty" homes in country, on
Of shops in town, while their champions Of
defence were in their counfry's camps. or
marches, or trenches, or battlesl They
faithfully followed leaders whom they trts-
ted and honored. Nor C@-binets eor Con-
gress, nor Conmissariat, nor Quartermas-
ter's Department, nor spectators nor spies,
nor renegades, nor enemy's emissaries, nor
sickness, nor poverty, nor prfvatien, nor
heat, nor cold, nor suherings, nor toll, nor
danger, nor wounds nor death could impair
their constancy. They fought with devcut
confidence and courage which was uncon-
querable save by starvation, blockade, over
whelming numbers, foreign dupes and msr.
cenaries, Yankedom, negrodcm, and death
Prodigies Of valor, miracles Of victories,
undoubted, and .indoubting devotion, ami
endurance to the last, entitled them to hon
ors Of surrender, which gilded the armsof
their victors and extorted from them even
cheers on the battle fields where at last thev
yielded for peacal Alas how many thon-
sand had fallen before their few surviving
comrades laid down their arms OF these
men Of the ranks their beloved leader, Gen.
X. f. Lee, said to me during the last winter
on the line: Sir, the men Of this war Who
will deserve the most honor and gratitude
ere not the men Of rank, but the men ofthe
privates %
After telling what he had seen them do in
battle, he added:
And have seen them FIRE their last Vol
lies al Appomattox; and often in marchcs.
IN picket, in the trenches, in camps and IN
:harges, / have seen them sad and almost
ink, but never saw their tsars until their
beloved commander-in-ckief ordered them
o surrender their arms. Then they wept
md many Of them broke their irusty YEA
IONS The blessed and ever glorious dead
Fere not there 70 surrender, and they are
lot here to defend their memories nom tha
amt Of the reproach Of rebellion and trea-
on. Alas / am alive and here, and am
'ound at every hazard, TO declare that those
men were no rebela and no traitors. Let
whoever will swear that they were rebels
nd traitors l will contradict the oath. and
ppeal to God on the Holy Of HOLES r.
Ugh as Heavens throne, and swear that
hey were pare patriots, lcgai eifirels. x<H
RED and true soldiers, bruss ke,sesf deuokd
zen, who proved their faith in their princi-
lie by the deaths which canonszed the inn
Mortal heroes and martyrsl
No one shall inscribe the epitaphs rebel
ION and treason upon the tomb Of their
cad, without my burning protest being ut-
cred against the foul and false proclamation.
Ind II any wounds Of the living are.labslIcd
nth rebellion and treason, I would tear
WY the infamy, though the wounds should
iced unto DEATH II I suffer their names %
Q dishonored and their glory to Be farnish-
J, and don't gainsay the reproach, may my
'ngue cieave 70 the roof Of nay mouth anf
suffer the orphans 10 be oiitcasfs for tie
ant of sympathy, warmly outspoken End
ost warmly felt, may my right hand forget
J cunning. Alas in these times IL has ne
inning, for il has no coin. i, too ami
.ggar. | can beg for them, and DO beg ike
Belisarius, for them. F1saac give them
le obefusf Have you crumb 70 spare7
wide IL with themf Have you comfort,
We Il 10 them implore you. give them
me Of your abundance Their enemies
no slew theis fathers honor them enough
feed their poor orphans They won't
Irt you for daring 10 DO deeds Of charity.
any Of thaia are brave men, and the
ave are always generous 10 the brave.