Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-06-22


some of its Wlsest statesmen, John Quincy
Adams amongst the numberl there had not
been, at any time, anywhere, in all the land,
the expression of doubt, from any one, as to
the right of Revolution. They called to mind
the fact that, not only the people, but the U.
S. Government also, had invariably sympa-
thized with every effort IN every part Of the
world, to put In practice the great principles
of self government on which their own Re-
public had been built-how both government
and people had given aid aud comfort to the
Spanish American Provinces, when they se>
ceded from Spaiu-how they had succored
Greece when she fung eff the Turkish yoke
aud formed an independent government for
herself-how they had encouraged Hungary,
under k0ssuth; Italy, under Garibaldi poor
down trodden Ireland Eud ,:Glsaued Poland"
(whose funeral kneliis,y ringing IN our ears)
in all their efforts to establish for themselves
such governments US were better adapted to
their wants, aud more in accordance with their
wishes Nor did they forget how they had
encouraged Texas to secede from the Republic
of Mexico. Nor, by any means, fail to re-
member the thousand and one ut.erauces of
the representative men OF the country, which
constantly incuIcated the sacredness OF the
right of Revulution-as Ian inherent right
AN ''iualienable right"-a fright belonging
to every people, and to any portion OF every
people" Aud, especially, did they call to
mind a speech of Lincoln S himself, (mudei in
Congress, january II, lS49, aud to be found
in the Congressional Globe, No. 10, page "a,
from which pardon me for reading you au
extract or two. Tie first OF which is as follows:
"Any people aHytchere being inclined and
having the power, hare the right to rise up aud
shake off the existing government and form
new one that suits them better" Again, after
speaking of the right as "a most valuable aud
sacred right" he says: ''Nor is this right
confined to cases in which the whU'e people of
aa existing Government may choose to ex-
ercise it-dny portion of such people that can,
may revolutionlGe and make their own SO much
of the territory as they nhabit," and, further
on adding these words "A majority of any
portion of such people may revOlutionize,
putting down a minority intermiugled with or
near them who may oppose their movements
such minority being precisely the case CT
the Tories of our own Revolution"
Ifany Southern man ever claimed more than
that, Pm not aware cf the fact. And is it
strange then that the Southern soldiers, under
all the circumstances and in the crisis that
had come to pass-hUs encouraged to0, did
not hesitate to act in accordance with such
sentiments! Is it to be wondered at that they
conscienciously considered it their bounden
duty to obey their State authorities, and stand
forth as their fathers had done in the old time
before them-Pro aris ct tocis-to preserve
their rights-to protect their properly and to
defend their homes? So. whatever opinion
may exist in regard to the correctness of t.rvir
convictions, let there be no doubt in the minds
Of any as to their perfect sincerity, in beiev-
inc they were right, and let their sincerity,
at least be respected.
And in this belief how gloriously they
fought fought throughout those four event
full years fought at every possible disad-
vantage-under the most adverse circum-
stances, and always against the greatest odds !!
Fought as never men had fought before-with
galIautry and endurance unsurpassed in
modern times, or in remote antiquity. No
matter how poorly armed-no matter how
scantil5 clad-no matter how pinched by
hunger-how worn out with weary watches
or broken down by exhausting marches, when
ever the 8: long roll, !" the battle beat to arms,
resounded through their ranks, they never
faltered-never failed to follow their leaders
to the front, and with seh>sacrifcing alacrity,
to fling themselves if need be, into the very
| jaws Of Death utterly torgetful of everything
but their duty to their country and devotion
to its cause.
And could the laurel crowned heroes Of an
tiquity once more appear amongst US, answer
| ing their summons from the roll-call Of Fame,
they would, as the old world warriors of our
| day have done, recognize them as, in every
way worthy of everlasting remembrance
For the immortal three hundred who fell at
| Thermopolac-th Macedonian Phalanx of
| AIexander-the Tenth Legion Of C@sar-the
| Old Guard Of Napoleon-the death scorning
Light Brigade who charged with Cardigan at
Balaklava, when
"Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left Of them,
Cannon in front of them,
.- Yoieycd and thundered.''
who doubtless deserved all the reputation for
valor that history has ascribed to them, were
no braver or better soldiers than were to be
found in the armies of the South-especialiy
in the Army of Northern Virginin, aud more
particularly in that portion of it known and
honored throughout the world as the Stone
wall Brigade our own Incompatible Bri-
gade, whose name and fame will be cherished,
. here at least, by unborn generations, as long
as those Blue Mountains shall stand on their
firm foundations looking down on this fair,
this fertile and famous Valley, with which it
is SC gloriOusly associated, and where its first
and'7most illustrious leader rests
Aud can it be expected that we, for whom
those men fought-for whom our fallen braves
sacrificed their Iiyes-especiaIly those of US
who fought With Jackson from the frst, and
followed Lee to the last-who were associated
with those poor boys, who shared their suffer.
ings, who participated in their peril5, and
sympatl!zed in their cause, should be SO for
/ getful Of thcm-so faithless to ourselves and
to every uaauly sentiment, as to refrain from
testi!ying on all proper occasions and in every
appropriate way our undiminished and undy-
ing regard for their memories
Why, my friends, no truly brave soldier OF
1.-THE multitudinous hosts of those who fought
AGAINST US but would cry ont .. shame !" III on