Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-09-05
Anderson soldiers Aid Asso citation.
An immense meeting of the Soldiers of the
ate Confederate States. of Anderson District.

Anderson Soldiers Aid Association.
IAn immense meeting of the Soldiers of the
late Confederate States, of Anderson District
assembled at Anderson G. e., according tc
previous notice, on the 18th Aug, and pro
ceeded to business by calling Lieut.. Jas. A
Hoyt to the Chair, and the appointment o.
Messrs. w. W. Humphries and Jno. B. Moore
Secretaries.
Lieut.. Hoyt. upon taking the Chair. ex,
planned the, object of the meeting in a few
appropriate and .well-timed remarks.
A resolution was then adopted for the ap-
pointment of Committee Of twelve to pre-
pare business for the meeting. The Chair
made the appointments. and the Committee
retired.
1t having been ascertained that Gen. Wade
Hampton was in the village, upon motion, a
Committee of,three consisting Of Maj. Jno.
B. Moore, Col. Sam. Pickens and d. X.
Rreaseaie were appointed to wait upon and
invite him to attend and participate in the
meeting.
After an absence of few moments, the
Committee returned, escorting the General,
who was received with enthusiastic applause.
The Chairman having introduced him to
the assembly, before taking--his seat, Gen.
Hampton delivered q most appropriate and
beautiful speech. He said:
Brother Soldiers of Anderson: I deem my
self fortunate that accident has given me the
pleasure of meeting with you to-day, and OF
participating in the laudable objects contem-
plated by your meeting; and that pleasure is
orr SIu bou a1 lIrc ,p1
of the brave men whom it was my good for
tune to command during the war. These
mountain regions egaye to the armies of the
South some Of eur Best soldiers, and it is due
to them that should declare, what. ] do here
with infinite qualification, that had in my
ranks none better, brayer or more devoted
than the men Of this and the adjoining Dis
tricts. In your presence desire to tender to
them my heartfelt thanks for their conduct
as soldiers. They haye'thc proud conscious
ness Of having performed their duty to the
State, and this will be some compensation to
them for the result Of the war. And, brother
soldiers, whilst We acquiesce in the result, let
US not admit that the cause Of it was unjusti-
fable or wrong. accept the terms upon
which we laid down Our arms, in good faith,
and it is our duty to observe these terms faith
fully; but whilst !. do this, shall never say
that we had not right on our side-I Shall
never hold my State as'guilty or her sons as
traitors The cause is not to be judged by
success or failure. Success does not ine7ita
bly, make right or truth or justice, nor does
failure always imply evil, wrong or falsehood.
Ifthe Justice Of cause always insures success,
Poland, Hungary and Ireland would not now
groan under the heelof the oppressor, nor
would the South be reduced to the sad con-
dition in which she finds herself sc-day. But
sad as is the condiicna al our beloved land,
we must not fo7sake it. She has need OF all
her sons. You know that in years that are
just passed, you regarded it as your highest
duty to stand by your colors. So now it is
your duty to stand by your State, Her COL
ors are nailc to the mast, and letus stand
or fall with D-.'. Give her all the aid you
can, and if she sinks, at least let US go down
with her.
-. For these reasons, have discouraged en-
igration. believe it's our highest duty to
peace to help tie WfdoWs aad q 1aM g1osT
by the war, and to endeavor to raise our pros
trate and bleeding country. We may not be
able to do much towards alleyiating the suf-
fering and SORROWS Of our people, but we can
at least take Our share of them, ard thus ligh-
en- the general burden by distributing it
amongst US all. To the accomplishment. OF
these .obiects-the highest shat patriotism
can inspire-I invoke your earnest co-opera.
ton. it will require all your energy, all
your strength, all your endurance, 10 restore
hope to our people OR vitality to our State.
I'VE can expect nothing from the Govern
ment of the United States, whatever party
may be in power. The Convention at Phla-
dclphia-where the North and South, bury
ing the past, were to. re-establish liberty,
equality, fraternity-has declared. the plat
form upon which the conservatives propose
to enter the next canvass. In the declaration
of principles which compose that PLATFORM |
see it announced that the brave soldiers and
sailors who suppressed the rebellion are en-
titled to the thanks of the nation; that the
debt incurred in that holy crusade is 10. be
sacred, and that all Confederate debts are
null and void. We pension the men who
forged our fetters but the soldiers Of the
South-men with empty sleeVsa OF it Oh crutchcS
such as are seen around ME now-are to he
branded as outlaws, rebels and traitors. NO
fostering hand of patcrnal Government
soothcs or cares for their widows and Or
phans. -.
The country aud the government for which
they fought, like their hopes, arc dead, and
they are thrown on the cold Charity Of the
world. 1t is our duty to open Our hearts and
our hands 10 Our brave disabled soldiers, and
care for the families OF those who fell in our
defense. Whatever MAY have been the result
of the cause in which they fell, remember
that they died for US, fighting, as they hon
estly believed, to make us free. They oi'er-
ed up their lives wiling sacrifice ior thei;
country, and shame upon the man who would
not hclp those who have lost their all in oul
behalf shall never turn my back upon any
brave soldier. who stood by his banner to the
last, though chat glorious banner may be for
ever furled though now
"Thcre's not mar to wavei it,
And there's Rot'G soul to save It, =
And there's not onolcft to lave it
In the blood which heroes gaze it"
'T;s true that we have but little left to US
thai we are impoverished; but we can a
least share our pittancc with those who have
lost oil. -, ;.
:. To rscord the names Of those who fought
for us ). to perpetuate the history of The gal
liant troops given by our State to the com
mon cause; to extend aid TO those who are
disabled, and to those, wh"seprotectors fell II
the war, are the noble purposes Of. your pro
posed Association: l wish you .Godzspeed II
this good work. / congratulate myself tha !a
1 have been permitted to participate in these
holy objects, and 1 pray that God may bles!
them to the fullest extent of your wishes.
thank you, gentlemen, for the courtesy yo'
have extended tonne, and for the kindness
with which you have received me.