The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-12-15

Mr.: PRRsfDFNr, EAD1Es AND GEsr1,s.
MEN, AND COMRADES IN-ARMs: I shall
make no apology for my shortcomings
as an orator; you we'll know public speak
ing has never been within my province.
must rely upon the good will of those
with whomsI have shared so many trinIs
IN camp and battle to bear with ma
whist 1 assume the difficult yet pleasing
TASK OF addressing them. Tam not un-
mindful that there are those amid this
CHOSEN assemblage who have been, I may
say. nureured upon that rare eloquence
waion mes been the gift of 80 many sons
OF tneir 1ustly proud and noble State. I
WILL however, IN my own simple man
the principal causes Of failure in the re-
volution OF 1861, refer at the same time
to the difference in method and praotice
Tof tue two sections in utilizing the re-
sources at their disposal for the proseou-
tion OF the war, and conclude with what
L regard the true philosophy which
snooid govern those of us who are left
as monitors OF the naet, whose mission
! should be to guide and teach the young
now In the future to achieve greatness
rs people surprising that Of our day.
and thereby add still greater renown to
our much loved country Of the South:
coupling the whole with snoh facts, and
furnishing copies Of such records as NAV
be OF interest to you as gatherers of ma
terlal for the historian. I assume that
tne war was unavoidable on our part;
that aside from all questions which did
ana must continue to arise with people
occupying 30 vast territory as that of
tae y nlted States-a territory possessing
BOIL and climate more varied than that
OF any united dominion on the globe:
us mineral resources, although as yet
put partially developed, excelling those
o! the Oid World; the hills and valleys
abundance. fruits, vegetables, cereals.
and almost every product to be found
from the tropics to the frigid zone; thus
giving unusual activity aud energy to
her merchants on land aud water; arous.
:GG =: the 5ea:os8:cs 60 be found in the
Dusy world OF commerce, and causing
each section to stand with out-stretched
arms, ready and anxious to reap adyan-
tages not enjoyed by the other-I say,
regardless OF all other causes of differ
ence, slavery, for which we are not ac-
countable, was the secret motor. the
main spring Of the war. The people of
the North, thoroughly imbued with the
teachings of New and Old England. de.
termined to force the issue, aud to armsl
was sounded from tho shores of Maine
TO the Rio Grande. In their struggle to
bring freedom to the bondman, they en-
slaved the white man; and from that
nour passed away that liberty, "whose
influence is more benign than zephyrs.
covers the rugged rock with soil, and
clothes tho brown heath in verdure.
dresses the laborer's face with smiles.
and makes him behold his increasing
famil y with delightand exultation;" that
Liberty which once brought to us these
blessings, but which dwells no longer in
our land
The North began it's crusade against
the south with all that energy aud tena-
city Of purpose which have ever been
characteristic of that section in ali its
undertakings. At an early period the
Federal Government was invested with
an extraordinary power, almost equal TO
that OF the Gar of Russia. It was sun.
ported by q Congress eager to make
every appropriation, and to enact every
law necessary to sustain the policy of the
Administration. Governors of different
States We'd with one another as to who
would prove most cooperative, md sup.
ply the greatest number of men and the
largest amount OF money. With defeat
alter defeat, again and again they has
tened to Washington to learn what moro
they should do to crush the mighty re-
bellion. Deserters found no security at
home, and fed to Canada to escape ar
rest by the civil officers of State, to say
nothing of the military. Volumes were
searched for information rs to the best
rules to be observed in the practice of
war; officers were despatched to foreign
countries to examine and report upon
the Improvements in the art. Drill and
discipline, the foundation of we'll or.
ganlzed armies, were strictly adhered to,
and from these concentrated efforts,
united with our blindness and neglect.
resulted, at the close of the war, not only
success, but from raw recruits and
mobs had arison woll equipped and dis
ciplined armies. And now, my comrades
and conntryman, let us turn from this
well-built structure homeward. I will
hTst venture the assertion that, if you
were 80 unfortunate as to be forced into
revolution tomorrow, you would at once
secure the service of all officers who
knew somewhat of the organization and
drill Of companies and regiments; i. g.,
you would secure men who had passed.
through the last war, instead of those
who wara tnkalIv u IN