South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-12-08
The Southern Dead.
GRAFTON BY GENERAL JUBAL EARLY

NNAAioN 81 uENEHAL JUBAL EARLY.
The annual grafton before the Survivors
Association Of South Carolina, delivered
last Friday evening at the Baptist Church
in Columbia, by Lieutenant General Jubal
A. Early, has been published in full in
the Columbia Phgnir by authority of the
Survivors Association, and is well worth
Perusal. After review of the principal
events of the war, General Early said
"No man could look upon that scene at
Appomattox Courthouse, and for moment
IN his heart, believe that the followers of
Robert II. Lee were traitors or rebels
But my comrades, the victor on that &C.
caslon had not the remotest conception
OF the true meaning of the word smagnani-
nifty, much less of the sentiment Talk
OF Grants maguanimity on that occasion
In coDcedng the terms that he did TO Cen
eral Lees demands scout the idea.
General Lee went to that interview with
the firm resolve to cut bis way out with the
small remnant left, if terms were not gram
ted him deemed honorable in war. Grant
saw The blue mountains not far of-he had
sad experience Of what that little armv
was capnble-he was afraid General Lee
might make his way into those mountains
aud then be would lose the supreme glory
oil 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 magnanimity ? But it ia
said he prevented General Lee from being
prosecuted for treason. He bad then, for
tunateIy for him, a mentor who forced the
idea into his dull brain, that his own hon
or and glory were in some way connected
win that matter, IN maintaining involate
the parole granted General Lee and his
soldiers, and be acted in accordance with
the suggestions made to him. That men
tor has since gone, and what has been his
course, as the head of powerful Govern
menf, towards General Lee and his follow
ers? Compared to what has been done to
our people, it would have been mercy to.
have hung all our leaders, civil and militia
~, and then granted peace and amnesty
to the masses JeHrys, himself, could
not have devised more exquisite torture
and cruelty than has been Inflicted on
all our people"
The Grafton concluded as follows:
Owe must and will preserve, green and
fresh, the memories of our dead heroes
while the noble aud true women Of the
South will continue, from year to year. to
strew flowers on their graves, and teach
their fair daughters to perpetuate the pious
custom and We will adhere to the priuei.
pies for which Lee, Sidney johnson and
Jackson fought and died. To show all A.
gos, that we we're cot unworthy TO be the
soldiers Of our great leaders, let us rear
monument, or monuments, to them, which
shall tower towards the heavens, and tosti-
~, for all time, that the men who were true
TO them IN lie did not abandon them in
death Such monuments are not uecessa-
~ to Perpetuate their fame, for that is as
vide as the bounds Of civilization, and will
be as enduring az the mountains, and hills.
and plains, and valleys, and rivers Of their
own we'll beloved South It's 10 ourselves
that We owe the duty Of furnishing an en-
during witness Of our fidelity 20 our cause
and the memory Of our great leaders.
MY comrades, might and wrong cannot
always prevail just and righteous God
rules above aud over all and however
gloomy add dark everything may nov ap-
pear around US, have a firm and abiding
faith that the time is coming when il will
be a higher and more honorable title for q
man TO be able to say My ancestor wore
the gray, and fought 10 the same great
struggle for right TO which Robert L. Ice,
Sidney johnson and Sronewall Jackson de-
voted themselves than 20 be able 10 claim
descent from one who fought at Ronces-
wales, or came over with William the Con-
quer0r."