The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-05-07

land, whose self denial was conspicuous
through all the trials and sufferings of
war, whose gentle ministra,ions in the
hospitals, and at way-side refrectorics, so
largely contributed to relieve the sick
and the wounded, and whose unfalter-
ing devotion to their country's cause in
the darkest hours of our struggle illus
trated the fidelity of the sez which was
last at the cross aud first at the sepul-
chre.
am profoundly thankful to them for
nviting me to represent thcm, as their
orator. on the approaching occasion
Had it been practicable 10 accept their
request would have been. to me. COM
mand, obeyed with no other reluctance
than the consciousness Of inability to do
justice to the theme. Thanks to tho
merits of our Confederate dead, they
need neither orator nor bard to commend
their deeds to the present generation of
their counirymen. Many fill far from
home and kindred, and sleep in unmarked
graves but all are gathered iu the love
of those for whom they died, and their
memories are hallowed in the hearts Of
all trne Confedcrates.
By the pious efforts Of our people,
many humble cemeteries, such as, in
their impoverishment, were possible,
have been prepared, and the Confederate
dead have been collected in them from
neighboring battle fields. There an
nualy. with reyerential affection, the
graves. alike Of the known and the un-
known, are decked with vernal flowers.
expressive of gratitude renewable for
ever, and typical Of the hope of resur.
rcction and reunion where the wicked
cease from troubling and the weary are
at rest.
To be remembered, honored, beloved
by their people is tho reward bestowed
on our Confederate dead. II is the
highest which a good and purely pariot,c
man could desire. Should it be asked,
why then build this monument ? the an.
swer is, they do not need it, but poster.
ity may. It. is not their reward, but
our debt. IF tho greatest gift ahero
gives his race is to have been hero, in
order that this gift may be utilized to
coming generations, its appreciation by
contemporaries should be rendered as
visible and enduring as possible Let
the monument, rising from earth toward
heaven, lift the minds Of those who come
after us to a higher standard than the
common test of success. Let it teach
that man is born for duty, not Tor expe-
diency that when an attack is made on
the community to which he belongs, by
which be is protected, and to which his
allegiance is due, his first obligation is
to defend that community; and that
under such conditions it is better to have
"fought and lost than never to have
f"ueht at ALL" Let posterity learn BY
this monument that you commemorate
mrn who died in q defensive war that
they did not, as has been idly stated,
submit to the arbitrament Of arms the
qnesti6n at issue-questions which in.
volved the inalicnable rights inherited
from their ancestors and held in trust
for their posterity--but that they strove
to maintain the State sovereignty which
their fathers left them, and which it
was their duty If possible to transmit
to their children. >T
Away. then. with such feeble excuse
for the abandonment Of principles
which may be crushed for awhile, but
which, possessing the eternal vitality
Of truth. must in its own good time pre-
vail over perishable error.
Let this monument teach that hero
ism derives its lustre from the justice Of
the cause in which it is displayed, and
let it mark the difference bcrwecn n
war waged for the robber-likc purpose
Of conquest and one to repel invasion
to defend peoples hearths and altars
and to maintain their laws and Liberties.
Such was the war in which our heroes
fell, and there is the crown which spark
les with the gems Of patriotism and
righteousness, with glory uniinmed
by any motive of aggraniisement or in
tent to iunict ruin On others. We pres
cnt them to posteriiy az examples to be
followed, and wait securely for the YER
dict of mankind. when knowledge shall
have dispclled Misrepresentation and
delusion. Is it unreasonable to hope
that mature reflection and closer study
Of the political history of the Union may
yet restore the rights rrostrated by the
passions DEVELOPED in our long and
bloody war; If, however. it should be
otherwise, then from our heroes graves
shall come in mournlul torres the
"Auswer fit
And if our children must obey,