The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1877-10-11

As members of the same family
oftentiines from real or imaginary
causes become estranged, and in
anger and bitterness wander away
from each other until some terrible
domestic calamity reunites them
around their fathers hearthstone
so the opposing armies of the great
Union, but little while since en-
gagged in fearful struggle, have
buried their past differences if they
have not forgotten them, and now
vie xith each other in restoring
that common heritage, the Consti-
tuition of our country, and the gov
eminent as our fathers bequeathed
it to us.
Tried as soldiers, and tried as
citizens; tried in war, and tried in
peace; tried in victory, and doubly
tried In defeat, they have in every
relation filed full the measure OF
their country's demands upon them.
For the first time since the close
of that memorable war we meet to-
day, not IN a spirit of national hos
Utility, not even in a martial spirit,
not to renew the differences of the
past, not to keep alive sectional
strife, not, as has been suggested
by malicious persons, to revive a
military organization for political
or domestic purposes, but for a
higher, holier, nobler, pnrer pur-
pose-to hallow the memories of
our illustrious dead and to reconse-
crate ourselves to the spirit of ma
tional independence and unity for
ever.
We have upon this occasion,
therefore, no words of bitterness
for any one, no terms of reproach,
but a welcome for every one who
reveres in his heart the memory of
the heroic dead, who loves his
country more than his party or sec
ton, and who is willing to co-ope-
rate with us in every effort to build
up our Government upon the basis
of our common constitution and
the patriotism of it's citizens.
Gen. j. B. Palmer, who succeeded
Gen. Brown in command of the old
brigade, next spoke, in highest
terms eulogizing the intrepidity of
the Bird while in action, congratula-
ting the survivors upon their record
aad landing in fitting terms the
memory of the slain. He congrstu-
lated the men that their first com
mander, Gen1 Brown, had risen to
such distinction in the nation.
Gen'I Brown next addressed his
comrades with mingled emotions of
pleasure and sadness-pleasure in
meeting again the survivors of the
brave men who never finched in
battle or shirked a sadness
and tears for the memory of the he
roes who gave their lives for prin
ciple. He said substantially:
My comrades in arms: This is
our first reunion since the memora-
BILE parting in the good old State of
North Carolina, when, in the face of
an overwhelming enemy, we trailed
our flags and grounded our onfed-
crate arms forever.
Gen. Lee, with his heroes Of an
hundred battles, surrounded by an
army greatly superior in numbers,
worn out and starving, submitted
to an inevitable fate and surren-
dered at Appomattox. The Capital
of the Confederacy had fallen. The
Cabinet and Congress
were flying for safety, with the ar
chiyes of the Government. Your
chief, Gen. Johnston, with only the
skeleton of an army at his command,
confronted by the combined forces
of Gems. Grant and Sherman, had
no alternative but to surrender.
Terms were obtained under which
you returned to your homes, with a
guarantee against molestation by
the United States authority, so
long as you should preserve your
paroles of honor and the laws in
your State in peace. With a moral
courage far surprising the bravery
that holds the soldier to his eolors,
midst the carnage of the field, you
have performed your part of the
compact. Your cause lost; fortunes
dissipated; comrades dead; your
country desolated; ruin written
upon every thing around you, and
worse than all, deprived, as you
were, of all the rights of citizens,
even of the ballot and its honors,
yet, cherishing your personal integ
rity, as your last and greatest treas
ure, you have kept, through all, un-
ga soldiers plighted word"
And to-day, l congratulate you,
that in peace, as in war, you have
the proud consciousness of having
done your duty to yourselves and
to your country. You did not in
the war. You are not re-
sponsible for its havoc. You we're
earnestly opposed to secession, but
could not submit to coercion.
When your State, through her rep
called for a Provi-
sioral Army to protect her borders,
while yet in the Union. you re-
sponded to her voice, and after
wards when she declared her sepa-
ration from the Federal Union by
an overwhelming popular majority,
you followed her fortunes under q
conviction of duty, so often exem-
plified and so well attested, that no
minds could doubt the
sincerity of your motives. Days of
toll and nights of vigilance evil
denced faith in the justice of your
cause SO sublime and answering
as to elicit the applause from a gen
erous foe.
But. soldiers, initiating the ex
ample of others, we must not forget
that tins is an era of good feeling
everywhere. While We cannot for
get the past, let us dwell upon Its
and the hallowed men,
cries, which, if kept alive, will Did
us in promoting in the highest de
gree the prosperity OF a reunited
country. The wise policy of the
present Administration has given
peace to the whole country. Let US
rejoice with the patriots of the
whole nation that the bayonet l. no
longer a factor in the domestic gov