The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-07-01
Mr. Bristow's Views Of the War and its
Recruits

Mr.. Bristow's address at Cave Hill Cemetery
embodied more than is usually to be heard on
such occasions, and was too significant to pc
allowed to fade from the memory. Mr.. Bris-
tow spoke in his native State to an audience
chiefly composed of the people OF Kentucky;
and he took the opportunity of expressing his
views upon the war and its results; and upon
the new conditions and duties imposed upon
the South. He appears to have adopted that
course from two motives both actively pronil-
nent and both working tremendously, namely
First he felt that he was an American citizen
proud of the country of his birth and loving it
better than life. Aud secondly: He felt the
value OF the teachings OF experience and the
advantages it give to public man. His eXpe-
rience in public affairs had been great. and he
was able to take wider range. and even look
beneath the surface Of which the world knew
nothing, save from hearsay. For he was OF the
men whose daily lives make history, and who
have to deal with great questions, not only as
patriots but as statesmen-statesnen whose
utterapce sway the public mind and direct it
to secure andpreserve Che blessings purchased
through the pain and suffering OF the past.
.ns Although ten years have passed said Mr..
Bristow. sssince the conflict ended = 1t is even
now too soon to know and appreciate, to tieif
fullest extent. its bencficent results, OF It's M
tluence npon the destiny Of q great people,
The object and conduct of the war was not left
to the fortuitolls combinations and strategy Of
men in civil life or in the field. but was infiu-
enced by power which, while unseen by NOR
tai eye governs and slstains the heart OF man.
AS there was no malice in the conflict Of the
mighty armies of the Union and their
illHstrious chiefs, so, there a con-
trolling influence which made them yearn that
that Union should be unbroken, and all that
wrought the mischief in the South should be
moved out of the Nations pathway in the re-
storation of the future. 'Fhe war. dreadful as
it was was rendered absolutely inevitable, in
order to give completeness to the work of the
fathers, and to place the Republic ON a sure
foundation Mr. Bristow said that '.the Gov
eminent for which the soldiers of the Federal
armies went forth to battle has not only been
saved from overthrow, but its foundations are
made deeper and broarder. The fundamental
idea upon which the great founders builded
has been carried to its logical result. The po-
litical axiom of our fathers, that all men are
created equal, and that they are endowed BY
their Creator with certain inalienable rights;
that among these are life. liberty, and the per-
suit Of happiness. has found fuller illustration
and broader application"
Until the end of the war, it was clear that
every blow struck at wrong was to open an
avenue for the establishment of human right
and justice. And if may be said that the echo
Of those blows on this continent was heard
throughout Christendom; and their echo will
be heard throughout the coming ages, until
the rights Of humanity are everywhere recog-
nzed drought the world. The eloquent
words of Mr.. BristoW Oh the subject Of the
destruction Of slavery will find q. ready
response from thoughtful and patriotic men.
He says:
II but declare q truth, which will not be
contros erted or questioned by any consdera-
BILE nnmber of intelligent persons, when [ as
sert that great blight has been removed from
the South by abolition of slavery. 1t requires
no prophet to foretel that sooner, or later, The
South must enter upon Il career of unexam-
pied prosperity under the intlence OF free
inst tntions. Her resources are, practically,
boundless. Her fertile soil, her rich mineral
deposits, her propitous climate, all point to
future wealth and power. Free labor must
and will develop these as it has already done
in the less favored regions Of the North. The
causes which have operated since the close of
the civil war to ratard the onward movement
and check the prosperity OF the South might
be easily traced"
The noble sentiment OF Mr.. Lincoln at
Gettysburg that the soldiers who had fallen on
that celebrated battlefield gave their lives that
Il government of the people, should not per-
ish from the earth, was referred to by All.
Bristow, who declared that nobler sentiment
in filter words was NeNel uttered. Mr.. Brls-
tow bore testimony to the courage and endl-
raEce of the men OF the South-that they
fought for what they believed right, however,
they had been misled ~ false theories of
government. or deluded by the artful teachings
Of cunning and ambitious leaders. But Our
troops too fought for principles, and the prn-
ciples they fought for are the principles which
must prevail in the accomplishment of our
National reunion. The two grand results Of
the war which says Mr.. Brstow, more than
compensate for all the heTeavenents and
vast expenditures and waste of money, are the
extinction of slavery and recognised indissolu-
bility CT Our National Ui.ion; and, the time is
not far distant when these will be admitted
and accepted as blessings by the people OF
every section. We have right to insist upon
practical loyalty to the country and cheerful
obedience to its constitution and laws. With
such loyalty and obedience, sectional anmosi-
ties woultl die out, an the the bitter discussion
OF controversies over the war, give way to a
more generous and genial occupation. The
revolution in England in the seventeenth CEN
fury produced similar loyalty among the
leaders and people. over whom Cromwell rul-
ed as Protector-and England lonrshetl. And
holding the South to the exhibition Of sucl,
loyalty, Mr.. Bristow concluded With the fol
lowing earnest appeal:
''May we NOT, then, look forward with as
sured confidence to the time in near future
when all intelligent men, North and South,
will not only accept the results of the late con-
tlict, but will recognize the blessings that flow
fren it and admit that amy other issue would
have been all irreparable calamity to both sec
tons of the country. While we must differ
from those who sought to dissolve the UnioI.,
and look from a different standpoint upon the
history of the struggle that ensued we may
safely concede to them the light to hold such
opinions as they like iii respect of the past,
and claim from them only a cheerful and hear.
tY loyalty to the present and future. And
why should this not be so? Are we not bound
together by ties OF consanGunity and commu-
uty of material interests? Whatever pro-
notes discard, or weakens our common Gov
ernmcnt, threutens danger and disaster to all
alike; and whatever gi1es strength and per-
petulty to our free institutions promises bless
ings to the people in every part OF the country.
and to their posterity. God speed the time
when the men of the North and OF the South
shall vie with each other in efforts to rebuild
the waste places, to promote the general wei
fare, and to advance by all proper means the
greatness and prosperity OF 'our common
country"'- Republic.
Mr.. New had consultation O.. Monday with
Secretary Bristow and assistant Secretary Co
liant relative to the count Of the money in the
Treasury. The first count, it is said, will be
made by commission of Washington Bank
ers, and tse second by committee OF treasury
clerks. to be selected by Mr.. New. The inn
preston prevails that manly removals and APP
pointlnents will be made in the T.eas;:rer's
office and the Internal Revenue Bureau after
the LIST proxmo and considerable anxiety is
felt at the department with regard to the pro
posed changes.