The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-05-16

rejeot the one is to accept the other.
Secession, az remedy for Federal op.
preston is gone, perhaps forever; for
us it is dead beyond the possibility Of
q resurrection. But in some form the
sagacious statesmen of the future will
so hedge around the rights of the
States by peaceful memories as to se.
cure true liberty, aud render oppres.
sion impossible. When that day comes,
the English.speaking States of the
world may find protection. liberty.
harmony ana prosperity, beneath the
starry banner OF our country. upon
whose azure fold of union each stur
will shine with separate and equ.
lustre. Yes. that day will come when
your braves and martyrs will be great
and honored names in the history of q
happy and united America, because
their valor maintained aud their blood
consecrated principles Of liberty.
equally dear TO the hearts Of oil. Al.
ready the people bow with reyercntiai
pride at the tombs Of the great Amnri.
cans, Robert L. Lee aud Stonewa!I
Jackson, and soldiers. generous as
brave, lay garlands of pure aud peace.
making lilies upon the tombs of those
whom erst they mot in deadly combat,
'foemcu worthy Of their steel" Th..
heroic aud faithful followers cf Lee
and his lieutenants will not long await
the honors Justly due frum all to the
memory OF Til. v!rtuous nn,l the brave.
Meanwhile, we shall honor and chrr;sl,
then with n fond devotion, all our
own. Bn: though ro hand Of man or
woman tended their forgotten graves,
no stone marked the spot where they
lay, aad the plowshares Of stranger
husbandmcn cilaced a.l vcstige Of their
resting place, their fame will blaze
With uudimmed !ustrc on the pages Of
history, embulmed III the Immortal
words Of their great chiefsain. the las,
~ his Iiterances nS eolsiisr. his ever
memorable aud inimitabie farewell adj
dress:
HEADQUns ARMY NORTHERN VA.
APPoMArToX &. L., Ap.i! 10, 1867.
Genera! Orders No o.
After four gears of arduous service.
marked by unsurpassed courage and
fortltude, the Army OF Northern Ftr-
ginia has been compelled to yield to
overwhelming numbers aud resources
l need not tell the brave survivors Of
80 many hard fought battles, who
have reuaiued steadfast to the last,
that 1 have consented to this r, suit
from no Gistrnst Of them, but, feeling
that va;or aud devotion could accom-
plish nothing that would compensate
for the loss that must have attended u
continuance of the contest, I deter.
mined to avoid the useless sacrifi,e Of
those whose past services have en-
deared them to their countrymen.
BY the terms Of agreement. officers
and men can return to their homes
aud remain until exchanged. You
will take with you the satisfaction that
proceeds from the consciousness Of
duty faithfully performed. and 1 ear.
nestly pray that merc:ful God will
extend to you His blessing and protec-
ton. With an unceasing admiration
OF your constunoy aud devotion to
your country, and a grateful remem-
brance OF your kind aud generous con-
sideration for myself, I bid you all an
affeotionate farewell. II. E. LEE.
For such an epitaph. who would not
be content to die? For him Of whose
life may be written the record OF duty
faithfully done, sweet, indeed. ia tho
sleep Of death.
'How peaceful their grave-its silence is
deep;
Its zsphyrs breathe calmly. and sweet is
it's sleep.
Ah! light be the brcezes that play round
their tomb,
And sweet with the violets waited per-
fume;
No trumpots be there, hut let mocking
birds come
And sing their swee! chorus Of bliss"