The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-06-17

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Esq, Counsel for isaac Owens, Tried
before a Military Commission, II
Camden, 8. c., ON a Charge OF Mar.
der. j IA - 8 ~
Some one has favored us with q
copy of the above argument. 1t is
eminently worthy of the abilities Of
our esteemed friend. After an able
representation of the legal points in
volyed, Colonel Shannon thus elo-
quently closes his argument:
Gentlemen of the Commission, my
duty is done. We are about to part
to meet no more, perhaps, in the
walks of life. ,q.res.s., ), - -
line aIluring paths of public duty
call you onward, and, I sincerely
trust, upwards to positions of in
creased honor and usefulness. -
To me, in middle life, with every
capacity, energy, vigor and strength
with which nature may have endowed
me nnimpaired, the public duties of
life are shut book; for this T have
no word of complaint, no sigh of
regret, for though the position may
be humble, the duties and motives
are high enough for my ambition !;
but from my experience let me gather
for you an alternative prophecy,
which. from your positions, you may
use for the benefit of our common
country. Tell your brother soldiers
to spread the banner Of stars and
stripes over us of the South in venge-
full wrath; say to us, that those stars,
whether viewed as a mere constella-
ton Of glory, and placed there alike
by Northern and Southern gallantry
and heroism, or viewed as represen-
tatives of great States, gathered there
alike by Northern and Southern
statesmanship, are for you, while the
Stripes are for as, and my mystical
lore" prompts me to say, "Rome had
our grandeur and our extent of en-
pire when she oppressed her borders
and destroyed them," and I point
you to the fate of the South, to Hun
gary, Poland, Ireland, st. Domingo.
But tell them to plant that banner
deep in the soil; let its proud folds
spread in sheltering love over US.
Give us back our share in its diadems
of glory which our heroes and our
statesmen helped 60 wreathe. Re.
cognize that the South, in the recent
war, fought not against that flag, but
against a party, who. in their honest
judgment, perverted the Government,
and all will yet be well.
The million deep scars which ruth
less war has made, will heal again,
and the sun shall never set upon our
empire. Why should this not be e?
The sweet South wind that fans your
checks, blows over the spot where
stood the headquarters of our COM
mon .foes-Cornwallis, Rawdon,
Tarleton. It kisses the violets on
the grave OF the noble Cantey, who,
on the heights of Chapultepec. with
the victorious Palmetto flag and the
star-spangled banner floating over
him, gave his pure, young life for
our country: 1t waves the willow
over the grave of General John B.
Villepigue, who, in the winter of
1860 and 1861, from the for North
west, wrote to me: Gas the sunset
gun fired, I stood under the stars
and stripes, and, as the last rays of
the sun glanced upon its glorious
folds, I turned away from it forever.
Will you wonder that my chin sank
mournfully upon my breast, and that
the tears coursed down my cheeks US
1 bade farewell to the flag 1 love so
well ?" Who will believe, as his
heroic form flashed at Shiloh, ever at
the head of his brigade, he struck at
that flag? You may deem him mis-
taken, you may deem him in error,
but you cannot deem q pure, imma-
culate spirit like his traitor. The
soldier leaves such epithets for the
politician, whose fight commences
when the war is over-whose battle
deeds are words and whose battle
flag is one interminable coil of red
tape.
The same wind passes on, and
cools the spired marble over Dicken-
sons heroic mould-he who, at Che
rubusco's bloody field, under that
banner, and with the Palmetto flag
in his hand, fell, "near the flashing
of the guns" It sighs over the
grave of DeKalb. the noble stranger,
who gave his life for your liberty and
mine. l trills bright chorus amid
the heights of Hobkirk, where
Granpa frat COT bool, tl,o 4;Jo IS