The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-07-13


people, should observe sorupulousiy the
terms dictated by the sword, and 40
cepted by US. We can do this, aut
should do it, in perfect good faith bu
we should claim and exercise the God
given right OF freedom of opinion. We
acknowledge that the causes for which
these men died is lost, but we should be
false to them, false % that cause, were
we to admit that they were, because Of
failure, necessarily wrong. We believe
that they were right, and we therefore
honor and respect their memory. If
they were right time will vindioate the
action and record their fame. IF wrong.
"It was greyious fault.
And previously have they answered it,"
We comrades of the Washington
Light Infaptry-we, who gave our all
to the same cause in which our brothers
fell-can entertain no doubt as to the
place which will be accorded them by
history. Stigmatized now al rebels,
prosperity, will, we hope and believe
give to them the more appropriate
names of patriots. believing this, we
fear not to accept from the conqueror
the epithet of rebel. Our ancestors
had once the same term applied to
them, and I except as complete re-
futation of all hishonor attached to
the word, the noble language
used in regard to it by a great states
man and patriot of england. "The
term REBEL" said Charles Fox, "is no
certain mark Of disgrace. For all the
great apostles of liberty, the saviors Of
their country, the benefactors of man.
kind, in all ages have been called rebels;
and we owe the Constitution which en-.
ables Us to sit in this house to O rebel
lion."
Nor are there wanting men at the
North who, rising high above the pre-
judioes Oft their actions and tho trammels
of popular opinion, dare to assert in
language as lofty, sentiments noble as
those SO eloquontly expressed by this
great orator. 1t was my good fortune,
on recent occasion in New York, = to
hear one who would be an honor to any
country, address an audience composed
of Southern as we'll as Nnorther men.
In touching the great issues which had
so lately arrayed the two sections in
war, he drew glowing picture of pa
triotism. He told US how this virtue,
beginning with ones family, speads in
overwhelming waves till it embraced
all we have as country; and then turn.
ing to the southerners who were pre-
sent, he brought tears Of grati6ed pride
to their eyes by exclaiming: "And
gentlemen, the only reason why you
will not hereafter be regarded as the
noblest patriots who ever lived, is sim
ply because it has happened that George
Washington fought in tho same
cause before you did"
You,' my friends Of the Light In
fantry, who bear the name the Father
Of his Country has made immortal, must
feel your hearts swell with patriotic
pride when you know that the great
and good of other lands deem you not
unworthy to be placed along gside Of
Washington. You bear his name,
and you have proved yourselves worthy
to do so.
There are other historic associations
of peculiar and proud interest which
connects your organization closely with
the great name it bears. Amid that
grand group Of revolutionary heroes
who illustrated by their deeds in tho
great rebellion of rs tho history of
South Carolina, no name is held in
higher esteem than that of VIM. Wash
ington, the worthy kinsman and followe'
Of his illustrious namcsake. On the
bloody fields of Cowpens and Eutaw his
glorious banner-the precious gift Of
devoted woman-swept through carnage
to victory. That samo banner of
Washington which had been consecra-
ted by the prayers of woman baptized
in the best blood of Carolina -saucitified
by the cause of freedom in which it had
waved-venerated by our whole people
as the symbol of victory, the ensign of
liberty--was committed by Washington's
widow to the Washington Light Jnfan.
try, and her..own honorcd hands present.
ed it. When she gave this flag which
her patriot husband had so nobly born
the war Of independence, she
solemnly adjured your Company to
defend it, if need be, with their lives
and to maintain its honor unsullied, and
to be forever true to the great cause
the cause offreedom-in which it had
first been unfurled. Men of the Wash-
ington Light Infantry, sons of tho men
who fought by the side of Marion, Of
Sumter, of Moultrie, Of Pickens, of
of Hugcr, and Of Washing
ton, how have you kept that solemn
charge Let Manassas, and Scce. sion.
Vile, and Seven Pines, and Sharps
burg, and Cold Harbor, and Gaines
Mill, and Malvern Hill, and Drury's
Bluff, and Fort Sumter, and Peters.
burg, and Battery Wagner, aud Bon
louisville, and Chickamauga, and Fred
ericksburg, and score ofother glorious
battle fields inscribed in imperishable
letters on that immortal bannor of yours,
answer. You, the mon who stand here
to day, and those whose names are
written on yonder slab, have fought
under the same flag, in tho same cause
your fathers did and fought with a pas
triotism as lofty, courage as high, q
devofion aa nnhla aa ever animoted tho