The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-11-16
Thls much, /, o former Union man
hen sometimes called submisaioniet-

S0AAAoc CtsAoO buOml6SlOn16c-
nave thought proper to cay to YOU on
that head, here, at what is Regarded no
the fountain-head of secession. in order
that we may understand each other. and
that you may know that, though we
travelled by routes somewhat divergent.
we arrived at the same goal at last. I
do not. however. wish to be understood
as Offering an apology for the course of
my native State. Her action was dictat-
ed by the purest and most patriotic mo.
tlves-was in accordance with her tradi-
tlonal policy, and was, in my opinion,
SUCH as became her ancient fame and
nigh career, though it did not succeed.
In the war OF invasion and cOnuuest-
with grim irony called the war for the
preservation of the Union-which was
most lnlquitously waged against us, the
soldiers OF South Carolina, along with
those OF all the Confederate States. bore
themselves as became tho free-born sons
OF a tree-born race, aud the cause to
which they had devoted their lives. II
was my fortune to meet Sin the tented
field. and amid the din of battle. many
OF the soldiers of your State-some T
meet here again. and take by the hand
with a mournfal pleasure: those who
fought on other fields, likewise regard
as my comrades and brethren in arms. to
whom feel bound by the kindred ties
OF common principles, O common struo.
gle, and common sufferings, though we
never met before. But ahi how MANY
OF both classes are absent-"dead upon
the field of honorr" Comrades, in com
mon with many others, I am very often
inclined to think that those who lost
their lives in battle, fighting for our
great cause, were far more; fortunate
than the survivors, who have lived to
see the destruction of oil the fair hopes
which oheered their comrades in the mo-
ments of q glorious death. The re-
lection has often come to nv mind.
after battle, when We were receiving
tidings of those who had. fallen. and
some familiar name was mentioned
among the slain-"he. at least. has been
spared the humiliation of seeing his
country enslaved, if that terrible Gala.
nifty is to befsll us!', .I.I.r'"'-.
You, my friends, have. done we'll In
forming this association. and trust to
see your example followed throughont
all tie late Confederate States. We owe
1t to our cause, to our fallen comrades.
and to ourselves. to keep in vivid recol-
lection the principles for which we
fought: to renew and strengthen the
friendships and associations engendered
by the war; to relieve. as far as We can.
the wants OF the families of the fallen
who were left destitute, and to see that
the materials for truthful history of
our struggle are furnished and preserved.
AT the time Of the meeting st Richmond.
last fall, for erecting monument to
General Lee, there was a large con-
course OF officers and soldiers of the
Army Of Northern Virginia. from Vir.
ginia and elsewhere. and an Association
OF the Army of Northern Virginia" was
formed. This association is intended to
embrace all those who served honorabIy
III that army at any time. whether before
or after, 1t bore that distinctive appella-
ton, and who have not, by their con-
duct since the war, forfeited all claim to
an honorable association with their for
mer comrades. The plan Is to have
divisions in all the State from which any
part OF that army came, which will in.
ciude al! the Confederate States anu
Maryland. a Vice President and two
assistants were appointed for each State,
ana trust that you will cooperate in
this movement l hope, also, to see
associations formed of all the other
- A1ASSS o'AN t1hV tuoTo may D0 Q6QGfAI
association of the whole, to include the
survivors OF our gallant little navy.
This will be tho means of bringing to.
gether, in one grand Confederate associ.
alton, all those who fought and suffered
for the same cause. whether by sea or
land. The ends to be accomplished by
these associations will be two-fold: First.
to bring into harmonious intercourse the
defenders of our cause from oil parts of
the country; and, second. to SECURE the
materials for history OF the whole
struggle, without the risk of it's being
dishgured by jealous chickering's or dis,
cordant views.
1t is necessary, my friends, that we
should take charge of the history of the
war on our side-we who have q greater
interest in it than all others living. On
the one side, our enemies are laboring
to falsify aud pervert that history, With
the view of casting odium on our people
and damning our cause in the estimation
OF the world and posterity. On the
other side, some mere literary tyros and
adv:ntnrers, who not only
Never sot squadron in the field,
Nor the divisions OF battle knew, )"
but never heard tie whistling Of bul.
let or the explosion of o slell, unless
when safely ensconccd in sumo bomb.
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