Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-11-25
The Southern Dead.
Grafton by General Jubal A. EARLY.

The annual Grafton before The Survivors
Association of South Carolina, delivered last
Friday evening at the Baptist Church in Column
bia, by lieutenant General Jubal A. Early,
has been published in full in the Columbia
'Phaaix by authority of the Survivors Associa-
ton, and is well worth perusal. After a review
Of .ho,principal events pofFBe war, General
Early said ...-. -.-.-
q, No man could look upon that scene at APP
pouattox Courthouse, aud fora moment, in his
heart, believe that the followers of Robert Z. Lee
were traitors or rebels. But, my comrades,
the victor on that occasion had not the re-
motest conception Of the, true meaning of the
word magnanimity, much less Of the senti-
ment Talk Of Grants magnanimity on that
occasion, in conceding the terms that be did to
General Lees demandsl scout the idea
General Lee went to that interview with the
firm resolve to cut his way out with the small
remnant left, if terms were not granted him
deemed honorable in war; Grant saw the blue
mountains not far off--he had sad experience
of what that little army was capable-he was
afraid General Lee might make his way into
those mountains, and then he would lose the
supreme glory Of terminating the war by the
surrender TO him of his great antagonist, and
he granted the terms without which he could
not have procured that surrender.
" Call you this magnanimityg But it is said
he prevented General Lee from being prose-
cuted for treason. He had, then, fortunately
for him, mentor who forced the idea into his
dull brain, that his own honor and glory were
in some way connected with that matter, in
maintaining invielate the parole granted Gen.
Lee and his soldiers, and he acted in accord
ance with the suggestions made to him. That
mentor has since gone, and what has been his
course, as the head of a powerful Government,
towards General Lee and his followers? Com
pared to what has been done TO opr people, it
would have been mercy to have hung all our
leaders, civil or military, and then granted
peace and amnesty to the masses. Jeffrys,
himself, could not have devised more exquisite
torture and cruelty than has been inflicted on
all our people"
The oration concluded as follows:
eve must and will preserve, green and
fresh, the memories Of our dead heroes, while
the noble and true women of the South will
continue, from year to year, to strew flowers on
their graves, and teach their fair daughters to
perpetuato the pious custom, and We will adj
here to the principles for which Lee, Sidney
johnson and jackson fought and died. To
show TO all ages, that we were not unworthy
to be the soldiers of our great leaders, let us
rear monument, or monuments, to them,
which shall tower towards the heavens, and
testify, for all time that the men who were
true to them in life did not abandon them in
death. Such monuments are not necessary to
perpetuate their fame, for that is as wide as tho
the bounds of civilization, and will be as en-
during as the mountains, and bids, and plains,
and valleys, and rivers of their own well be-
loved South. 1t is to ourselves that we owe
the duty Of furnishing an enduring witness of
our fidelity to our cause and the memory Of
our great leaders.
"My comrades, might and wrong cannot al
ways prevai-a inst and righteous God rules
above and over all aud however gloomy and
dark everything may now appear around us,
have firm and abiding faith that the time
is coming when it will be higher and more
honorable title for man to be able TO say:
My ancestor wore the gray, and fought in the
same great struggle for right to which Robert
f. Lee, Sidney Johnston and Stonewall jack
son devoted themselves than TO be able to
claim descent from one who fought at Ronces-
wales, or came over with William the Con-
Queror"