Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-08-03

Loutsiauns % SOIoe6agneteo, oiS
Mississippi, "a -
Total. ,5,004
At l2 O'Clock. m, large number Of the citi-
zens Qf the county and surrounding counties gath
cred together in grove adjoining the monument,
where a stand had been erected for the accommo-
dation Of the speakers.
Capt. FORREST president Of the Board of Trus-
tees) said Ladies and gentlemen, it is due that
! should stats to you that invited the Rev "
W. Walker, Of Richmond, Va, to be hereto open
the proceedings to-day with prayer. He was si-
sen: at Niagara, and was consequently unable to
be present with US, and received his answer too
late to enable me TO make other arrangements.
have now the honor of introducing to you the
Hon. CHARLES E. HooKER, Of Miss, who will ad-
dress you on this occasion.
Mr.. HOOKER. Mr.. President, and gentlemen
OF the Board Of Trustees ladies and gentlemen
have accepted the invitation which has been 50
kindly extended to NE by your citizens and those
who represent Won to be with Won to-day and as-
sist in the ceremonies OF this OCCASION But said
10 your distinguished and faithful Representative
in Congress (Mr. Henkle) when consented to
accept the invitation of your Board Of Trustees,
that could not be expected to prepare anything
like written address, but that did not feel al
liberty To decline invitation to meet the citi-
zens of the good old State of MARYLAND on an oc-
casion probably more memorable than any that
has occurred in her history during the last CEN
turv. II has teen the custom from the time when
the lsraelites piled up the rough aud unhewn
stones in the wilderness commemorative cs the
great events in their history down TO more mod
ern periods when solid granite shaft or polished
Parian marble lift their columns 10 the skv: in
some form or other il has been the custom Of all
nations, both savage and civilized, to commem-
orate the great events in their history, and most
usually those monuments have been erected TO il
lustrate the valor of some one man whose sword
has flashed
''O'er the perilious ridge of victory
against the enemies of his country, some man
who has barred his breast TO the shcck of battle
and bestowed distinction on the people of the
country he led and twined his brow with the un-
fading laurel. But to-day you witness a scene
individual and extraordinary in It's character
The men whom you meet TO honor to-day were
not successful warriors. They did not fall amidst
the clash OF arms and the roar Of battle, but they
were engaged IL cause which they believed 10
be just, and thcv perished in the prison or the
hosi ital for the sake of that cause They did not
fall upon the ensanguned battle field, surround
cd by all . the pride and pomp spd glorious cir
cumstance ofw2r."
casion. In many portions Of the country
an attempt is made to keep alive the animosites
OF the war; in the national legislative halls
men who never shouldered musket or unsheath-
ed a sword, have endearored to enact laws inten-
ded to reconstruct the Southern States and to
smooth over the difficulties that were cngendered
during the late war. These laws were in fact
aud in truth futile because they sought to recon-
struct the States by leaving the people out from
the reconstruction. The effort Of reconstruction
as asserted by the Republican party was an ef-
| fort 70 build up party in 'he reconstructed
States and not really 10 reconstruS. them. There
could he no reconstruction in the Southern States
without including the element known as the "re-
bel element because il is conceded that thst par,
Of our popul lation constitutes its best portion. II
| the terms of arbltraoon and surrender had been
carried out after the close Of the war at Appoma-
tox Court House, we should have had ten years
Of peace, and the prosperity which attends state
| Of national peace. Had the men who carried the
| sword and banner been permitted TO settle the
question as their arbitraiors settled it. peace would
have blessed the Southern country; but the terms
OF the surrender had been violated by the effort tc
reconstruct the States by leaving ont the grea,
mass OF the people. Those who have erected thi.
beautiful monument, and am told that Il had
It's origin in the thoughts and hearts of the wo-
| nen of Mar Land, at time that these acts wers
being passed by the national legislature and wheu
men oflike character had crept into the legisla-
lures Of the Southern States; AZ that time the
State OF Maryland presented the singular attitude
in their legislature of doing justice TO those who
| had fallen in a cause which they believed to b
| just. say that il was an extraordinary exhibi.
tion Of heroisui, and shows that the people Of Ma
| ryland in this Centennial year are able 70 dat
back in their lineage and blood to the great mer
Of the Revolution who founded the principles of ou,
| Government which were intended to establish
nr.l,- H..x>h IT. IL
world over (Appianse. say itdoes honor se
the State thai she does justice 10 those who per.
ished in this cause. They had gone into this oop-
Hict with spirit and tenpcr as ardent and pa
trio6c as anv men ever did. They periled 4,
save honor. They endured sacrifices; they bor,
the hardshps Of the war.
: These men did not part with life on the battle
| field, bat they surrendered II silent martyrs &c
the cause they espoused, and N their pale hip.
! froze in death their last syilab.ed ut;erxnces
| perrhance murmurei our names, and we should
| ~ something more or less than men and
women coald we fUeget them. We hav,
on IN occasion like, this, when we hare. nier
70 do homer 10 iho<e who died in the Con
fstierate cause, to follow the example Of others
fer Won have sen the MIN soldier snd the cit;-
zen perform the same crs monies Of honor 70 thei,
dead. am glad to say that the caihalic E,isi
i Of the people has brought US % period Of TINS
when the snimosities engendered BY the var mus
snhside. when the great spirit Of the people ris
ing assert tor isscf Over theheads ofpoliti<ian:
the spirit Of the Centennial. demands 1hss tn
bitterness, the feads and strife which exiss.
ed during the war and which have been kept
alive in the halls Of the national iegislsfrfs
aud in the State legislatures shall suhsaae, and
that the citizens Of ihis eoun;ry shall onoe Hors
become a Homogeneous people sud tkst the di
visions that once existed amongst rs shall exis.
no longer. g. .....rr
Nr. President isay hat am gr~tifei 70 see ,hi.
spirisexhibited ali over tim land with one or tus
exceptions, and il is striking illustration OF ths
. fact that we shorid do justice 20 these who eel
upon the feld of conflict Ii Is 6t that We should