Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-02
Senator Gordon Oil Reconciliation.

Oa the occasion Of tho banquet given at At.
lanta to President Hayes, the Senator from
Georgia, in replying to 4 toast, 1.-THE Blue and
The Gray; blended once 10 the embrace of bat
tle-b'ended now in lasting peace" said -
am very glad that the time has at last come
when the North and South can discuss their
differences at shorter range and with less dan
gerous arguments than they used from 1861 to
1868 Laughtcr.l l do not know that | am
the proper person to respond to this toast. l
doubt whether any man, unless be be foreign
er, with no Partially or prejudice Tor or against
either section, could respond with Judicial fair
ness. A Northern or Southern man Oh occa
sions like this, is apt, from excess OF generosity
or hospitality, to say more in praise of the rival
section than is Just, or less Of his own than Is
due 10 it, on account cf excess Of modcsty; both
OF which might be forgiven very readily, how
ever | shall not attempt, OF course, in All after
dinner speech to review the war or the causes
that led 10 it. Suffice it 10 say that the North
and the South had !hcir peculiar education,
civilization and modes Of thought. Each
placed its peculiar construction upon The Con
stitutOn under which we 1--we. This conflict OF
theories Oulmiuacd 10 q conflict OF arms. !
think the whole question OF differences may b.
compromised by that one sentence" 10 !c"nSH q
these conflicting theories each WAS earnest, hon
est and brave. Alike they endured the hand
ships Of the march, the prlvatlhns at the camp
the loneliness Of The pickett watch. Alike they
heard the sulIcn tramp Of confronting baltailonS
and felt the chasrin Of defeat and the thrill Of
victory; aud when the long weary tight was over
and victory pelchod upon The Nrrthcn stand
ard; when the Southern cross ni battle went
down in defeat and WAS folded away forever;
when these weary hosts stood ior the last tln''
around monuments which patriotism had lalscd
from the bodies Of her dead, there WAS not one
brave breast, whether covered by the gray or
the blue that did not thrab with generous r.
speot for the manly foe that had controntnd hlm'
| echo tho sentiment Of the toast with Al MY
heart sir. Gen. Gordon here gave an anrc
dotc showing the generous lc"lIpg between l'rs
that occurred during the war at Petersburg
This fight is over and ii you etGrwant ANOTHER
fight, another due. let it BE- one OF Paddy Sthr;a-
corucrcd ducls where two OF the principals rut i
| third party to flight. Laughter propose III
future that We shall join our common arms
against some common enemy AyrIausH.
| And that reminds mo In It l wish TO sond cha
| longe, and l ask the distinguished ecntlcua ~"
| upon my left (Mr. Secretary EVsrts) - hos!
| il. He is too tl:YGlrOuS ID !tlu'' No. :.
want to challenge tho North t. compete
with tho South in devotion 20 tho Constitutions
and to the union of the States under the Const'"
tuition. As representative Of tho!c who w"T"
the gray l send chslenge to those who woe
the blue to out strip US if they can in d'v";''n
to the liberties Of tho people and to the gr"''
interests of this grea! country, in peace or III
war. (Applsuse) Sir, l think Lls!rnst has bn2'.
the adj le Of discord that has been rolled h".
tween the North and the South since tho WAX,
The North admitted tho Soulh's courage. bat
she forgot think thst iielity is the twin sister
of courage. Sir, honor is tho South's idol. i'e'
tho North reposo upon it. Let IL contond III
generous rivalry for the constitutional rights q!
sll the States. Let us soc who can DO tIla E!oii
TO protect the rights of tie States without RI
fringing upon tho Legitimate powers OF the gen
eral Government, and when this contest Ghsil h'
inaugurated all over the continent, and lho5'
passions Of the past forgotten then shall we
witness what my Dyes long to witne:s-H grHsi
country bound together in sympathy linked h'
memories Of a common ancestry and by cord
stronger and more enduring than the bonds 81
iron which stretch from ocean TO ocean ANA
now, Mr.. President, rs q representative Q! those
who wore tho gray. l extend TO you who wore
the blue, cordial support i'll all rlghLtul conall-
tutiona measures" Applause, prGlong'd UNI
| President Hayes arose and bowed his thanks