The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-05-25
Burying the Hatchet.

Not long ago, Gen. R. B. Vance, a
member of Congress from North Carroll
ma, made most patriotic and conciliato-
nv speech. In the course of his remarks,
he was interrupted by Mr.. Kelly, of
Pennsylvania, who spoke as follows:
Happened to be, on last Decoration
Day, in one of the towns of South Caro-
lima, when I saw lady decorating as I
had never seen grave decorated, franz
ing it in sprays of arbor vitae and letter
ing it beautifully, "as the grave of some
body's loved one." On returning to my
hotel I inquired who the soldier was, and
learned from Northern gentleman, who
has passed many winters there, that it
was struggling Union soldier who had
died of his wounds in that town-Aiken,
South Carolina. He also told me that
the lady whom had seen decorating that
grave with such care was, to use his
phraseology, a rebels wife, who prayed
that somebody might decorate her sons
unknown grave.
From Augusta, Georgia, my son and
his companions, eight in number, re-
turned in the evening; they had gone
thither in the morning in registering spir-
its, as is the wont of youth, to see the fes-
tivities of the day, a procession and the
unwilling of monument to Confederate
soldiers, and they tell with emotion of the
tenderness with which they had seen the
ladies of that city decorating the graves
of the boys who had worn the blue. |
would heal the wounds of the war; and
want to say to the gentleman from North
Carolina and others from the South that
they must not Judge the spirit of us of
the North by votes we may give on par
ticular bills or special clauses.
And, in conclusion, I now say to him
as have said to my own people and to
those of Georgia and through him to the
people of the entire South, treasure every
tattered flag under which you fought; j.;
treasure every broken flagstaff as sacred
relics; but attach to each, if you can, its
whole story let it tell all who may be-
hold it how many hopeful youths, how
many stalwart men marched forth under
it; let it tell where they died, where
they were MANNED, what widows and or
phans were made by the gallantry with
which that tattered flag or broken staff
was borne. I say to those who wore the
grey and to those who wore the blue pre-
serve every memento of your valor and
your sacrifices, for the day will come
when all the people will treasure every
memento of American courage and sac
ri6ce made in that great war. Ap-
plause. The day will come when those
trophies, blending together as the dyes OF
yonder flag blend, will be cherished as
among the richest heritages of a united
and unbroken American people, and will
warn our countrymen through h all time
CT the terrible cost that would attend an
attempt from any quarter to dismember
the American Union. Applause.
1t is said that, upon the conclusion OF
Mr.. Kelly's speech, Hon. Ben Hill
walked over to the speaker and heartily
congratulated him. Just about that
time, Senator Morton, at the other end OF
the capitol, was reviving the memories
of his glorious exploits during the war,
and waving the bloody shirt, which he
had had freshly sprinkled for the occa-
sion.