Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-01

~ - AAl
is a blessed heritage for our children
and quite a profitable lesson 10 polili.
clans as well. | believe in patriotism,
10 intense devotion to eoun try. Every
American mother should teach her
boy that, in emergency, the coun-
try's flag is worth his life. The senti.
ment that prompts our reunion to-day,
therefore, should be encouraged.
But vi have not met, really, for
speech-making, nor to be lectured on
political duty. We meet 10 shake hands.
to look each other once more in the face
and make friendly inquiry after mutual
welfare. OF course, however, this fes-
tivity Of the living does not shut off
remembrance Of the dead. We bear
that in our hearts. Their bodies sleep
in earth where glory keeps her watch;
but their spirits are away where a right
eous God rewards the Just. No one
would recall them. or our glorious
commander who lies stretched on a bed
OF sickness, | wish simply to say that
our solicitude is too grea. for common
speech. All our hearts are with him;
oil our prayers.
Mr.. Bond then closed with q wish for
many more happy reunions and re.
tired amid loud cheers. His speech was
all along received with appreciative ap.
plause.
He was followed by General Pillow in
the following address:
GENERAL PILLOWS SPEECH.
Gentlemen of the Seventh Regiment of Ten
nessee Cavalry;
By your invitation l attend your re-
union.
come not to discuss the measures or
events which led to the great war be.
tween the States, nor to revive the bit.
terness Of the fraternal strife. come
not TO censure the acts OF the Govern
ment in the reconstruction of the State
governments at the close Of the war, nor
TO denounce the carpet bag government
which followed. Eut | come to cougrat.
ulate you on the restoration Of Pace. of
traternal relations and of home rule in
all the States.
Waen the Confederate forces surren.
dered, and gave their paroles, we all
thought the end Of the national strife
had come. As paroled soldiers we were
IN houor bound to obey the laws and TO
submit to the national authorities. This
we all did. Not an instance has ever
come to the knowledge OF your speaker
OF a paroled soldiers violating the terms
of bis parol.
While we kept the terms Of our parole.
we did not cheerlully accept the amend.
to the Federal Constitution which
we're adopted by Congress after the W. 7.
The failure to adopt these amendments
by some Of the States led to reconstruc.
ton OF those State governments.
Reconstruction was followed by the
'carpet-b bag governments.
These reconstructions set aside the
State governments established by the
people-and substituted in their pla, e
"carpet-bAg" rule.
All these measures we're restrictive OF
popular rights and repressive of the
rights Of the States under the Federal
Constitution.
This system of measures on the part of
Congress created great discomfort and
disorder, and in some OF the States the
Federal army was used to uphold the
carpet'bag monstrosities. The use of
such a force for such a purpose was the
exercise Of arbitrary power, in violation
OF popular liberty and the rights of the
We are now happily rid of these gre
which grew out Of tn, war.
1t was lett for President Hayes to r..
store the last Of the States to their proper
positions under the Federal Constitution
lie IS now engaged in the patriotic #.
forts OF reforming the abuses and cor
ruptionS which, during the war and since,
have crept into almost every department
the Government
If he shall reform these abuse,--if he
shall be just to the South in his admiuis.
trstion-If he shall favor those measures
essential to the restoration of prosperity
TO the Southern States-ifh he shall recog.
nize in all the States an equality OF rights
under the constitutional he shall take
10 his confidence the true representative
men OF the South, and not ostracise them
If he does all these things, and by SO
doing restores fraternal relations among
The people OF all sections, then, indeed.
will we have cause for rejoicing in a
restored nationality"
Is 1t not the duty Of every patriotic
to uphold the hands Of the Presi.
lent while be is engaged in these good
Patriotism is a high virtue-higher
han devotion to party. True patriotism
should shape and control mems attach.
nent to party organizations.
Devotion to party is 10 be commended
'nly so far as party organizations are in.
in shaping the measures of
government in the interest of the people.
When corruption becomes general in
government officials, it will soon eat oct
virtue. With the loss of public
lrtue, liberty itself will not long survive, I
When liberty perishes, despotism will
AXE its place.
No President could have a higher and
more important duty to perform than has
resident Hayes in the efforts to reform
hese abuses and corruptions. Upon his
depends all that is of value TO
american citizens. The Government
MI continue to exist cannot be over. !
but upon the reform of its abuses
nd corruptions. its existence as a great
'onfederacy OF Free States depends.
Liberty Of the citizen cannot long co !
xlst with corruptions in governments.
The means OF reform and the checks
gainst the usurpations by the Federal c
Government are to be found in the pa
OF the people and in the preser- q
alton o! the local State governments in :
their rights and powers under the ;
'ederal Constitution. O
All Intelligent men must see the ten O
ency towards consolidation, aud that r
tendency was greatly accelerated BY !.
late civil war. .
You took arms, gentlemen Of the gal. !
Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, because '
on thought you saw dangers to popular :
berty and to the rights of the States in ,
no abuses of the powers of the Federal l
MON. After a long and bloody strug-
lie, you were forced to surrender to the 9
nperior numbers Of the Federal arms. q
1stained by the great resources of the :
I%stional Government. !
Daring this great civil war sorrow and
REF was brought to every household {
he wealth and prosperity Of the South. ,
people was swept away. The coun ,
~ was scourged by FIRE and tina sword.