Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-21

l history viii Ihil down AND worship int
| god like proportions of Lee.
But the historian will dwell with moro
than loving lingering on the feats and
deeds of arms Of the private soldier
Here the true glory Of the war for consti
tutional liberty blazes forth. Here was
to be found the highest chivalry, with
the noblest self-denial-here deeds oil
greatest daring, with privations the most
trying, where he that left his native rocks
and hills, with 'nought behind him but
the loved ones at home-fought side by
side with equal, If not superior srdor, to
the representative of sf1uence and
princely msgnifcence. The world will
look to the future for the parallel of the
great and glorious deeds Of the rank and
| file Of the four years war. Let us lay up
industrieusly the material for history,
recording, as the mighty stones record,
the traces of our heroic dead. Let us
write their privations and other tolls |;
their deeds in field, in camp, in prison.
While the partial record-mskers of the
North lay up against us the terrors of
Andersonville, let us show how, with no
excuses of made quate means or scarcity,
the prisoners in Northern prisons of war
were wantonly starved to the limit Of
human endurance. Of this, am as near
an eyewitness as a man can be, not to
have seen. Five years since, this day,
was captured by Federal party, and
found myself in the following spring in
Camp Chase, having spent portion of
the intermediate time at Nashville in
daily converse with my friend, VIM. H..
Moore, now of this city. At Camp
Chase the prisoners we're con-
graduating themselves on the end
of reign of privatioH and want, which
had during the winter reduced them to
the verge of starvation, aud many q
hearty wish / there heard uttered as we
met over plentiful meal for the keen
and biting hunger which had in the pre-
ceeding winter been felt as a curse.
Captain English, of the appeal, will well
remember these scenes, and ! believe his
memory will record portion of the bitter
experiences of that unhappy time.
But let US return from the demesne of
history to the present, with the pleasures
of this enchanting scene. Now, for the
first time since this lamentable war has
closed. do feel that there is q time to
dance aud to be merry. When the sirug-
gle Of this Southern people for separate
existence was afoot, and hope was buoy
ant that pluck and principle and manly
valor and craftsmanship and devotion
to the cause of constitutional liberty
would touch at length the hearts of the
nations, and bring us aid, it was not an
improper time to dance. When the brave
courted the smiles of the fair in hours
stolen from rest, amid alarms of battle
and daily tolls, then might the dance 90
round. But when the desolations of death
had fallen upon the land, when the noblest
soldier and chivalier of the South was
yielding his sword to him whose mighty
name now swsys the destiny of States
when the soldier, in tears Of bitterness
over the loss of his cause and of his
country, laid down his arms at Apo
msttox and Greensboro, then q gloom
settled on this Southern land. From that
until recent hour we have sorrowed as
those who have no hope. When military
commissions could murder Mrs. Surratt
and Writ, and condemn Milligan to i'm
prisonment; when Governor, with con-
stitutional authority to sign grant or
ssn eo% y is LAsgrRsd 'hs power 70
tia, and our city was filled with refugees
when Virginia lay bound, bleeding and
dismembered, OF the foot of power; when
Tennessee was trodden under foot of a
hideous spectre, at whose bidding came
hosts Of myrmidoDs to violate the laws,
tbeif very Texistense violation Of the |
spirit OF all law when corruption reigned |
in ell the Offices the State, and the taxes
we're multiplied beyond ell precedent |
when ell hope of relief seemed far dis
tant, !. was a time for sadness. Min
Cling with these have been some sparks
of light shining in the darkness. The
deeiSiep sf the sqpFeMp CoHr. St TIE
United States, that ssHsn coHld not De
deprived of their privilege to preach or
teach or practice law for crime by er post
facto law, aud that military commanders
10 time Of peace were against the Con-
stitutisn, enjoyed that the Judiciary vas
ready. rs OF all times, to stand By the Law
and the Constitution. Still military
power stalks abroad and disregards these
decleratious Of supreme judicial power,
and the President either NholiY bad and
determined to uphold tyranny by power,
aud wholly TO subvsrt tho Institutions OF
The country, or. wholly in the hands of
bad men, permits or commands these
violations.
But we have at last rift in the cloud,
and pan, ready 10 hops When he May-
cooking out for 0 ray, q CLEAN of hope
i nds 10 the recent course Of things in
Virginia EVIDENCE that people cannot
be ruled by corruption, and oppression,
md military power. Many days Of sad
ness may be in store for us yet 1t may
De long before we see military satrapies
abolished in these Southern States, hAt
be time will surely come when constitl
ional liberty shall be re-established on
irmer basis than ever, and then the gates
Il bell sball not prevail against it,
We must learn Q Lesson from the cleo
ion that has just passed BY. For once
be whole people we're aroused, and men
Who for years eo.id not be induced to
.ct have taken hold, and the result is a
'loodless revolution, by which in one day
complete and sweeping reform has been I
pade practicable. Let US remember this
esslt sad the Lesson. Let us feel that !
be recovered privilege OF sharing in the
is a sacred trpst, handed
own to us, which we hold not for our.
elves alone, but for our wives, our chill t
rem, end or fell9g men; and that when r
re, through snIipepess end neglect or
isgHst, suffer others to usprp our privi-
eye and abuse 1t, we are traitors to our
rust and derelict in duty; that when we, b
y omission or by commission, place men h
. power unfit TO perform the Offices con.
ded 70 them, We deserve to be robbed
nd aeeced sld oBkrsssed, sHd We will
? beyond DOUBT When eEery man b