The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-24
WHO hu. Kept tho Faith pe.t,


subscriber has sent us tho ublo argument Of
Mr. MERRIcK, ono Of the counsel for tho defence in
tho sunn&Tr case, recently tried in Washington,
requesting uH to copy portion " it, which is per
.rent to tho present situation. In compliance
with this request, wo make tho following extract.
Mr.. MERRICK said
Gentlemen Of the jury, was no seccssionist. l
desired tho presrrv tion OF this Union. desired
its preservation with MI tho States unnpnircd in
Constitution OF tho United States uniInpnired and
untorn by tho earnings Of demagogues, North or
South. I feared tho suppression OF tho rebellion.
l desired neaco and union, but fearod poace. l
feared the destruction OF tho power of the South,
md tho utter and entiro giving over to tho Union
OF that, because saw moving abroad in tho coun.
money, and ran this war like great manufactur-
ing machine, gaining funds from tho blood that
Was shed from the hearts Of brothers; and COW q
spirit in tho dominant triumphant military power
which power had boon achieved under tn pretonce
Of defending tho American Constitution, which /
believed would turn round on that Constitution
tclpations have not boon disappointed Tho spirit
pillars Of your capitol Whilst the Executive oi
Of the United States, and endeavors to uphold aud
maintain 1t, that spirit socks to destroy him. in or
der that it may get ut that Constitution and do
which still lives, in tho course OF the gen-
tlemnn, in attempting now, after tho war is
over, to discredit n man, because ho follow
e1 in that war his lSnest conviction. Sir, thcro
were aB honorable men in the service Of the South
as tlero were in tsat OF tho North-mon whose
hearts were as bold, whose characters wcro
pure, and whose record Us uneullied before the
world and God ns that Of mon north OF tho fatal
line. 1defend not tho act OF TINT high treason.
I defcnd not the iniquty that stained the lnnd in
blood. Now that the war Is ovor, arraign and
condemn the spirit that would keop aliyo the pre-
iudiccs and tho hatreds OF tho war. II you como
to the re- ve55aelty and d, to Questions Of truth
two sdcs, would ask who has kept tho fnith tho
best between tho two contending foes OF The ob-
CATIONS that wero entered into Mt Apponatto1
ourtHouac, when Loo Eave up his sword to
Grant2 Who has kept best that faith2 Has the
acquiescent and submissive Southerner, keeping
to the pledge he then gave Of submission to the
supreme law Of tho lnndl or hns tho dominant
spirit Of incendiary fanaticiBm, seeking vengeance
in the North, and botting out niro States OF tho
South. and establishing military dospotism whoro
Of constitutional liberty? Who has kept tho faith
best, again ask? Oh, gentlemen, wcpt for my
country IN tho war. ! wopt for her when her sons
stood arrayed in battle against eaci, other and
now thct peace has come, and SEQ treason, not
IN nrms, but treason sapping the foundation Of the
republic in security and peace, without arms, and
OF one-balf Of my people, and destroying the
sacred obligations pledged by Congross that
this wi war wa, was for the Union. and nothing
moro than 'wcpt in TINT war, although
then s0rrowed deeply over tho distrosses OF my
country. But neither they nor you can prevent
tho result which is to follow. II is inevitable. Tho
same Almighty Power that has watched this ma
ton in its coureo watches II STILL and when for its
iniquities its chnstisenont has been sufficient
perfect peaco and Constitutional liberty will be re-
stored; and though you nnl l, gentlemen, in our
day and generation, mny Buffor grief aud be pain
e1, our children viii inhort country as piond us
that which we Inherited, and which wo may re.
iice TO know they will 1.-Two in and honor. Bad
men cannot have permanent triumph; but, in Or
der that their d fcat may bo hastened, lot us abAn-
den this i1oa OF crimination and recrimination
w.ch would havo us believe that Southern men
can not tell the truth; that man with Southern
sympathies must DO presumed to lie. Such opin
and unfoundod