Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-12-04
Col. Thomas' Address to the Palmetto
s.l.. sr,4z, . Sabre Club. S.- H.

y Col. .Thom5s' Address to the Paimett
+ "a. rs4., Sabre Club. - ta-l.
+ :a.Nntt Z. s,E3 7.+>-------r9.l.,i eo'a yo-.
!. correspondence eof Charlotte Democrat
One of theinteresting incidents connect
! ed with the recent State Fair. at Colum
bia, S. C., was the appearance on Til
grounds Of the Edgefeld Sabre Club,
body of young men who had visited tn
Fair for the epurpose Of a. public tourna
meht: They had ridden from Edgehel'
on their horses, andtheir appearance il
the streets of the Capital, with drawn sa
Ebres, and a banner bearing the wore
Res,xganas," excited no little interest
The Sabre'trs, under the command Q
| Pres't. Gary, having been drawn up IL
front of the balcony of the main building
Major Woodward, President Of the Fair
addressed them briefly but spiritedly, anc
ended by requesting Col. J. P. Thomas, a:
! member of the Executive Committee
to add more formal address Of welcome
Colonel Thomas spoke in substance as fol-
lows: =,
| .GenAen,en of tile EdgefcM Sabre C2tb
Fello,g- Citizens and FslloD-So1aiers :,
Whilst deem it scarcely necessary to add !
ANYTHING to what has already been said
by the President of the State Agricultural
and Mechanical Society, yet it becomes
my duty to make my contribution to the
welcome with which you are greeted on
this occasion.
1t has been said that the fame Of the
soldier is high and holy fame. Founded
on self-sacriice and achieved throug b sui
fering, it shines hom mountain to sea
shore with protecting effulgence and lights
up every hearthstone in the land with
the solemn radiance Of national feeling.
Again, it may be remarked that there are
times when the eloqucnce of the orator is
necessary to the safety Of the Common
wealth. Allow me, however, to suggest
that can make on this occasion no spe-
cal appeal to you in behalf either OF the
fame Of the soldier or the orators elo-
quence. I invite you to another thought.
Standing, as we do, on these grounds de-
voted to the industries of the State, and
surrounded as we are by the insignia Of
material development rather let me call
to your attention the real methods by
which our State is to be redeemed, and
our broken fortunes restored.
1t was said by Richelieu, the patriotic
statesman of France, Bring me the pep,
Take a,cay the sword, States can be sared
wihoM H." 1t is true that there are cir
cumstances surrounding US calculated to
stir a fever even in the blood of age. 1t
is true that were / to follow the sugges-
tions of an impetuons nature and tiery
temper, I might stir you TO- mutlny and
rage, might point you 10 the bleeding
wounds Of your stricken State and urge
you to whet your sabres. by the morning
star and mount your steeds before the
rising sun. But ! may not and shall not
give YOU counsel like this God has 9TH
erwise ordered our destiny, and notin this
way can we save the State. Hence, ! sug-
gest this modification of Cardinal Riche-,
iieu's proposition, "Iake d,cay The s,pora,
Jrip,q 10 as and 10 oatr aid lhe plough, the
loom end tie anvil" Let US on the field
of material development seek to accom-
plish the restoration of the State to its
former peace and dprosperity. let ns sum
mon to our assistance the subtle forces Of
nature, the weapons Of science and mar
shal in ourbehalf, under peaceful banners,
that sturdy army made upof The heroes
of the workshops and the monarchs Of the
SOIL And here, gentlemen of the Edge
field Sabre Club, let me tell You that it is
quite possible BY wise use of tho agen-
cies at our command to rear again the
fallen column OF South Cardinals former
renown. Although the State is now pros
trated, and rude hands are laid upon her
recumbent form, yet have faith, maintain
integrity, keep the whiteness ofyour souls,
work on with your stout hands, and South
Carolina will rise again; will once more
place upon her shoulders her former robes
and wear again upon her brow the diadem
of her ancient beauty And let me bid
you, men of Edgefeld, when you leave
these grounds, and have exhibited your
skill and horsemansLip in your coming
tourney, to carry. back with you to your
homes the resolution never to surrender
your Just part and parcel in this blood
bought Commonwealth, bequeathed to us
bv a noble ancestry Let this resolve:
be as firm in your souls as the everlasting
hills.
This land, we from our fathers had in
trust, and to our chldren..it is cur duty to
transmit it. To this sentiment we are I'M
PEELED by the rich memories OF the past
by the urgent duties Of the present, and
all the hopes of the future.
We feel it in all the crimson of our
blood. We read our duty in our genial
climate and fertile SOIL and in all the ma
tural riches that surround US. We sec ii
in the deep carnation that tinges the Gle ks
O: beauty as well as on the wrinkled front
of age. We see it in the infants eye, in
the wife's smile, and in the placid sky and
at our feet amid the silent dust OF them
that were before us.
And now, gentlemen, allow me to in
vite you to engage with us in the festivl-
ties OF this occasion. May lieayen save
the State, and may the sun, as it rises in
the East and sets in the West, soon send
its cheering beams over homes happy and
prosperous, and over a people redeemed,
regencrated and disenthralled.
To this Pres't. Gary, on behalf of his
command, responded in stirring and SOL
dierly address. and thus terminated an
Incident which contributed in no little de-
gree 10 the eclat OF the late State Fair In
our sister State.
-------O,-.---
Some few may be able 10 pay their
taxes, but the farmers, already ruined
by the disastrous result of the cotton