The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-09-18
A Noble Tribute 10 our Departed Heroes.

| ~ lne Lee Melhoflal hnpel, June 2Sttt
"Finally, we must bring over t.
The future patriotism that is born q
diversity and trial, more intense anc
"ure than in the prosperous aud joy.
full past.
| Love Of country is extinguishahlc
becauee it is filial. 1t rauks with
that we owe to the parents that be
gat US, and have given to us thci,
image and their name. But I plead
for it not upon the cold footing OF
duty, but as precious scnti.
ment of the heart. AS priuci.
pie, it strikes its root far duw,
into the consciousness, but its bloom
must expand into a holy passion,
and its fruit ripcn iuto acts of
enduring service for the public veal.
The beat affections of tho soul are
those which strengthen under trial.
The alloy of selfishness burns in the
crucible, and the pure love comes
forth with power of endurance
which nothing eau exhaust. 1t is
thus wo bear up each other under the
discipline Of life, not through the
cumpulsion Of necessity nor the cold
obligation of duty, ut with warm
devotion which inds its joys in the
ministries of love. A genuine patriu-
tism is not that which shouts itscl If
hoarso amid holiday celeb, atoms, but
when thu country gruaas 10 the an
guish Of great crisis, waits upon
its destiny, though it be that of the
tomb.
And this land of ours, furrowed by
so many graves and overshadowcd by
such solemn mem cries, calls for con,
secration of the heart which shall be
equal to its grief. The patriotism
which these days demand must refine
itself into martyrdom. 1t must suf-
fer as well as act. Strong in the con.
seriousness Of rectitudc, it must nerve
itself to endure contradiction aud
scorn. If need be, it must weep at
the burial of civil liberty, and wait
with the heroism of hope for its Ger
tain resurrection. Slch spirit will
wear out the longest tyranny and
assist at the coronation of a brighton
destiny.
Young gentlemen of the Univer>i-
ty, | have delivered the message with
which | telt myself charged. | have
not been able to address you with tie
frippe'ies of rhetoric; have done,
you the higher honor of suppo>ing
you capable Of synputhizlng With the
deep emotion of my own heart.
When your note Of invitati'.n reach.
ed me some mon, hs ago, it touched me
with the solemity of Il Gail from the
grave. felt, as turned my steps
hither, that | wa" making a Pilgrim
age to my oountiy'o >hri.e. | st. uld
be permitted to stand unoNercd at
the tolnb of the imrnur,al chef VITO
sleeps in such grand rcpuse tone: h
these acadcm;ck shat eH "be'e he
found rest af;cr heroic tolls. Should
| look upon it as 'he emblem ni NY
country's crath 7 o, should |
prophecy beside it lie birth OF Il
new career? Meuorirs as Lniy as
eat have been throw ns tn, ir >h ii
ows over my -pi'iJ aud have sp"k, n
III the iu.crc t Of country, duty aud OF
truth.
The dim foms of Warrington and
Leo twin names upon American
history az we'll as upon your own walls
-appcr hefol e me the Rhad IMAM hu,
and the M'nos, who shall pronounce
Judgment upon every sentlmcut |
uttered here. If aught said by me
should draw the frown Of their dis.
pleasure, may the Angel Of Pity drop
tear, and blot it our forever |
Standing upon the soil which gave
birth to Washington, Madison, a
Jefferson, Henry, a Randolph, a
Marshall, Jackson and Lee and
lifting the scroll which hangs around
tho ensign Of my native State the
names Of Pinckney, Laurens, Rut-
lodge, Lowndes, McDuffie, Hayne, Cal
! houn, summon thoir immortal
shades around his tomb whom nation
has so lately mourned.
In their dread presence I solemnly
declare that the principles of our
fathers arc our principles to day.
and that the stones upon which
the tomple Of American liberty
was irst built. are the only stones upon
which IL shall ever be able to stand.
And you, gentlemen, representing the
young thought and hope which must
shortly deal with these mighty issues,
I swear each Que Of you by an oath
| moro solemn than that of Uauibal
not that you will destroy Rome, but
that you will save Carthage. l charge
you, if this great Republic like gal.
liant ship must drive upon the breakers,
that you be upon tho deck, and
with suspended breath await the
shook.
porohance she will survive it, but
if she sink beneath the destiny which
has devourcd tho great Kingdoms Of
tho past, that you save from the
melancholy wreck our Ancestral Faiths
and work out yet upon this Continent