The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-22

It gave nearly half tho world to Mnho.
met. It allowed the Turks to trample
out the civilization OF Greece. It's keen
edge has diamembered Poland. Is has
left Hungary bleeding at the feet OF the
'oppressors. 1t has turned over Spain
and Portugal to the tender mercies Of
the Saracen, land on this continent and
in our day, directed by unscrupulous
power against the throats OF PROSTATE
States, reeking with fratricidal blood, it
enforoes the laws which it alone has
made Tell me not, then, that tho sword
can rightfully turn the scales of Justice.
1t is the exponent of tyranny, not the
arbitrator of truth-the badge of the
tyrant and the executioner, not the SYM
Dol of justice. It is not Mt all inconsist-
ent with these views that we. rs q con-
quered people, should observe scrupu-
lously the terms dictated by the sword
and accepted by us. We can do this,
and should do it, in perfect good faith;
but we shonld claim and exercise the
God-given right of freedom of opinion.
We acknowledge that the cause for
which these men died is lost, but we
should be false to them, false to 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 memo
ry. II they we're right, time will vindi-
cate the action and record their fame. If
wrong,
ut WAS griovous fault
And grievously have they answered it."
We, comrades of the Washington Light
Infantry, we who give 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 US rebels, posterity will,
we hope and believe, give to them the
more appropriate name of patriots. Be-
lleving this, we fear not to accept from
the conQueror the epithet of rebel. Our
ancestors had once the same term applied
to them, and [ accept as complete re-
futation OF all dishonor attached to the
word the noble language used in regard
to 1t by great statesman and patriot of
England. s'The term REBEL" said Chas.
Fox, els no certain mark of disgrace.
For all the great apostles of liberty, the
saviors of their country, the benefactors
of mankind, in all ages have been called
rebels, and we even owe the constitution
which enables us to sit in this house to q
rebellion"
Nor are there wanting men at tho
North who, rising high above the preju-
dlces OF their section, and the trammels
of popular opinion, daro to assert in
language as lofty, sentiments rs noble as
those so eloquently expressed by this
great orator. It 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 rs Northern men.
In touching the great issues which had
so lately arrayed the two sections in war,
he drew glowing picture of patriotism.
He told us how this virtue, beginning
with ones family, spreads in ever-widen-
ing waves till it embraced all we have as
country; and then turning to the South
erners who were present, he brought
tenrs of gratifed pride to their eyes by
exclaiming: "And, gentlemen, the only
reason why you will not hereafter be re-
garded as the noblest patriots who ever
lived, is simply because it has happened
that George Washington fought in the
same cause before you did"
You, my friends, of the Light Infnn-
try, 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 alongside of Washington.
YoI bear his name, and you have proved
yourselves worthy to do 80. 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 revo-
lutionary heroes who illustrated by their
deeds in the great rebellion of '76. in the
history of South Carolina, no name is
held in higher esteem than that of VIM.
Washington, the worthy kinsman and
follower Of his illustrious name-sake.
On the bloody fields of Cowpens and
Eutaw, his glorious banner-the precious
gift of devoted woman-swept through
carnage to victory. That same banner
of Washington, which had been conse-
Grated by the prayers of woman-bap-
tized in the best blood of Carolina
sanctified by the cause of freedom in
which it had waved-veaerated by our
whole people as the symbol of victory,
the ensign of liberty-was committed by
Washington's widow to the Washington
Light Infantry, and her own honored
hands presented it. When she give this
fac which har ootr;ot b,,oIopI hod m