The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-28

went into citation of various precedents fur
nished by the action of the United States in
the war of 1776 and 1872 He said the Ala
bama had done nothing more than the naval
authorities of the United States had directed
in innumerable instances. There were grave
charges against him, one was that he burned
captured ships without authority of law; also,
that he had violated his parole, and that he
had foreigners on his ship. He refuted all
these charges by indisputable, facts and argu-
ments. He said he was imprisoned to make
an example, and was confined four months
while the United States authorities were hunt
ing up the evidence to convict him. He said
that while the Alabama was built in England
she was American all over. What our sires
had done in their day, their sons had done in
their day. The war is ended. If the nation
exists we have but one history. England has
but one history. She had no history of the
Red and the White Roses. Our Confederate
history will live for generation or more. In
five hundred years there will be no history OF
the Confederate States, but of the whole coun.
try. Let US, then, preserve our. records and
archives. Our Society must not be sectarlan.
If our government is to be government, OF
the majority, without constitutional restric-
tfons. our days are numbered and when that
day comes we will be vindicated and honored
for cur struggle for constitutional liberty, and
if we come back to the old form of constitu-
tional government our course will commend
itself unto all men. We are destifed to be-
come people with one history. Let US show
magnanimity. If fame has been gained on
either side, let us perpetuate it. Let US pursue
that moderate course and give credit where
credit is DUE By the standard OF truth ne
was willing to be judged. The conclusion OF
his address was eloquent and touching. he
said the Alabama sleeps in the bosom OF the
British channel that sleep of death which her
commander will sleep in short time at most,
as he trusts, in the bosom OF his native SOIL;
If history embalms the struggle of the old
thirteen colonies, so it will embalm. our own
immortal struggle. His address greatly i'm
pressed the large and appreciative audience
There was no bitterness but an able, temper
ate. conclusive Yindication of the truth OF
history.
Hon. Jefferson Davis addressed the Southern
|. Historical Convention, in session at Montgom-
cry White Sulphur Springs, to-day. He was
introduced by Gov. Letcher, and received
standing, amid great applause. He returned
thanks for this hearty welcome to Virginia,
where he has always felt welcome, and whose
brave men were only excelled in their deeds by
the bravery and devotion of their women, whose
zeal and heroism throughout the war he highly
praised. He spoke of the objects of the His
torical Society; and said that to write true
history it must be done by Southern men who
know the facts, and that all the material must
be gathered for the purpose in the South, that
the action of the South in the war and the
causes that brought it on might be fairly laid
before mankind. He spoke of old Jnbal Early
as one who was ever faithful throughout the
war, and as being the proper man to carry out
this great object. He said we had been more
cheated than conquered by the declarations of
the Federal President, Congress and Generals,
for there never could have been surrender
had we anticipated what followed, and we
would to-day have been free. He still had
hope of the South, and because, whatever
might happen, he never yet had seen recon
strIcted woman, and while the men of to-day
we're mightief than the principles for which
they had struggled, he hoped the children who
were to succeed them would grow up to main
tain and perpetuate them, and redeem all that
we had lost. His remarks contained no senti-
ments of hostility to the Federal Government
but evinced an earnest devotion to constitu-
tional liberty, for which the South had strug-
gled. He was listened to with deep interest
and frequently applauded.
A resolution, offered by Admiral Semmes,
that his Excellency President Grant be request
ed to permit the secretary of this society to
examine all papers in the archives OF the gov
ernment, captured by the Federal forces s from rom
copies of such of them as he may think fit, was
adopted. The Convention then adjourned, and
the Historical Society met.
A resolution was adopted admitting ladies
who had lost relatives in the war to member
ship. The Society then adjourned, to meet in
Richmond at the call of the President.