The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-11-20

which, though it could not have aycrtc,
what seems 10 have been prcdrstinc,
failure, might yet have diminished Tia
evils Of defeat.
But whilst he was thus sensitive fO
southern honor and southern rights-thu
ready to resort to extremes in defense o
the Constitution rs he understood ii, whcI
the conflict was over, and the cause hi
loved was lost forever, he had the Sagacitl
to perceive the fun extent of the reVOlU
llon and the irrevcrSability Of its results
and the manlincSs to aCknOWlegr accom-
plishcd facts. Since Southern Iudcpcnd.
encc was unaltainablc, he was for a fun
ircc, manly and honest acceptance OF the
new order of things. He saw indeed that
the North and the South were indeed to be
one people, inhaditing one country, and lac
| was therefore for reconciliation and ha'-
! mOnN--fUr making the lately hostile camps
one in sentiment ant one in ircling--Onc
| in devotion to the great wOrl, Of advancing
the people TO the highest degree Of pros
pcrty and happiness.
| But he did not deem that he and his pcO-
| pie were sinners in what they had done
He did not regard, that the Nag Of the
Contcdcrary had been upheld by rebrliOus
hands inspired by traitOriOus hearts. Re-
cOgnilin@ fully that there had been two
diverse theories of the Constitution at the
beginning of the war, and that both Of
these theories had been sanctioned by
great and patriotic names from the c>tab-
lishment Of the Union. he was willing to
concedc to the North the same honest con-
VictiOns in the truth Of their views a. he
claimed for himself. He asked no apology.
no explanation: nor was he willing to
aDasc himself or his people 10y an aVOWcd
repentance for an imputed sin. not felt
10 the victor he was willing to yield the
legitimate fruits Of success in the cstab-
liShmcnt of his theory Of the Constitution
and IN the taking Of proper guarantees for
It's maintenance. But here he deemed
the right of the victor to end. He felt that
there was no forfeiture by war of the
rights Of the Sothcrm people t" >clt-goN-
ernment, and to protection for life liberty
and property. For if the rOnqII"rOr for
any cause can adjudgc that the defeated
have forfeited their Just political and civil
rights-the weak hold their liberties only
At the will Of the strong. In any just view
of government these ri@ht~ must be in !
alicnable. :.
Whilst entering on the new era with the
conviction that the South should conform
its future action to accomplished facts, he
did not cOncede that the victor had Suhlu- .
gated to his will the soul and the scnti- |
ment Of the defeated.
He cherished the remembrance of the
glorious and gallant deeds Of the southern
people in the war, which overthrow their
Each little mound that mark
I'd the grave of Southern soldier. who had
fallen in defense of his country, was to him
| more precious spot than the mausoleums
II which were inurncd the ashes of kings
md cOnquerOrs 1t marked to him a shrine
n which was cntOmbed the result of the
'icheSt gift which man can make to man
ife surrcndcd for common cause. The
ocmn judgment Of history may, after the
vent pronounce on the abstract justice of
his cause. But be that judgment what il
nay. 1t cant destroy, or even lessen the
Iobleness and grandeur Of the sacrifice.
In private life our friend was no less cs-
ecmcd. As son. brother, husband,
lthcr. neighbor, he discharged fully all the
utcs incumbent ON him. He was loved =
y all who knew him; by those who knew !
i'm intimately and well, he was more than
)ycd-almost idoliZed. His own nature
vas ailcctionatc in the last degree lie had
lore personal friends than any man | ever
new. He attached me to hm by the noble
of his character, and his read ,
lcss to aid and advance all who needed
is assistance. He never forgot nor de- .
artCd a friend: and he was rewarded for
is fidelity by like devotion to himself He
'as ambitious: but there was nothing low
l. mean or selfish in his desire for distinc
on ana TtHUNn. ne Hdu llliI NONE anu
igh ambition which seeks places of public
only as opportunities for rem |
.ring great services to his country. He 4
as magnanimOus he climbed the ladder !,
promotion with justice and fairness TO- l.
ards his competitors. The contest being =,
yer he retained no bitterness and cherish y
| no rcscntments.
He has run his career. His mission in G
fe is ended. His example, and the memo e
of his many great virtues, and of his v
any brilliant and useful services, remain q
teach and inspire us. They teach us this :.
eat lesson for guidance in political ac- .
IN. In all we think, in all we do, in all u
e hope for, let our country be first. u
Patriotism is an essential element of II
odncss and greatness. No man can be n
tircly good or great if the niche in his n
art in which should be placed the image %
his country is without an idol. We n
Ist, therefore, distinguish between our "
Intry and corrupt and oppressive ad- d,
nistratiOn of the government. our II
untry always needs the unseltsh service It
her children. Now more than ever is this ii
ryice the imperiOus duty of true patri- 81
ism. Like our departed friend, for whom r
mourn to-day, whilst remembering that hi
are citizens of Mississippi and bound to a.
+ all the more faithfully and lovingly for III
deSOlatiOn and woe in her borders al
Iscd by war, and the terrible agencies OF 81
abnormal period which succeeded ac- it
e hostIitics. let us also remember that c9
are citizens of Il renewed Union; lett w
.e care that no sense of wrong inflicted, ,,o
feeling of disappointment, shall prevent -
from discharging the high duties OF Ill
lerican citizenship. ca