The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-05-29
ADDRESS OFCOL. w. II. LUSE.
70 the Survivors of Humphreys
-BnrksdaIe Brigade.

COMRADES: We have met to-day Tor the
first time since more than fifteen years have
passed.
Not since we were chief actors in historic
scenes have we responded to the same call
and come together to exchange greetings
and look on each others faces, some sadly
changed, and alas! how many missing.
We meet too, my comrades, let us hope,
near the end of the most momcntous era
that has been crowded into the same brief
period in the history OF any modern people.
Occupying as we do, Il peculiar and some
what distinctive position amid the great
rushing scenes of this brief startling histo-
ry, know of nothing which could more
appropriately claim our thoughts than the
duties which devolve on us as veteran sur
vivors of our great revolution. 1t seems
peculiarly fit for an occasion like this when
after years of weary toll and manly forti-
tude, we have come together to commence
rate our cause and our fallen comrades.
1t is probably the first duty of the suryi
yor of a revolution, after Il calm and intel
ligent retrospect of his late struggle, to
consider its causes, conduct and cOnse-
quences, that he may at least vindicate
his rectitude, even where he has no victO-
nv to celebrate, or conquest to utilize. And
| Just here let me observe, that whatever
thoughts may be presented in the consider
alton of our great struggle, should not be
| taken i'll any present, restricted, political
sense; the occasion is one which should be
kept sacred from political preferences and
partisan differences; nor would | do injus-
| a 1,I ttttN.A 10 l,A lt.ntF
men who met us on many well-fOught
field, believing as they did, their country
called them to duty there.
While the ablest of American statesmen
have ardently discussed the State and fed
eral relations of this great republic, and
while that discussion embraced the whole
cause of our late war, and eliminated in
such great disasters to our country and to
US, there is much of truth, calumny and
falsehOOd vet to be eliminated from the
history of our cause, and much to show
that there was neither crime nor treachery
in the part performed by lis in manly re-
sistence to what we believed intOlerably
wrong.
There is also much to be said, and much
to be done by us i'll restraining wild passion
where truth and reason should prevail, so
that reconciliation, like Il great moving
spirit, may aid us in reOrganizing the shat |
tered elements of government and society; |
so the reflections brought forward by this |
occasion, are to be considered from the |
standpoint of 1861, and not in any present |
political sense.
Superficial observers and powerful usurp-
ers, both civil and military, it is true, have
concluded that inasmuch as the war and all |
its consequences, grew out of an effort on
our part to sever our connection with the
federal government, and, inasmuch as we
were defeated, that we are forever silenced
and without an argument to yindicate our
rectitude. But such people must not con-
found the end with the means; they must
remember there is vast difference be-
tween the wisdom of union and the means
of preserving it; and we may yet see them
convinced that a just appreciation of union,
the lO1tiest patriotism and devotion to our
constitution, and the cherished memories
of proud nationality, are all consistent
with resistance to wrongs and the manly
yindicatiOn of peoples right, even at the
sacrifice of nationality itself Otherwise
our English ancestors would never have
preserved the sacred principles of En-
glish liberty, nor would the fathers of this
ever have established them i'm Il written con-
stitutiOn.
And it is upon these grounds, my COM
rades, that our vindicatiOn may be made so
clear 1t is in the righteousness of our
resistance to wrongs more intOlerable in
the union, than the blessings which the
/
There is not Il man in this broad land to-
day, who has penetrated this subject I
beyond the yapOurings of a fanatical poll
tician, who Will deny the danger in which
the Southern States stood in 1860, as CO.
equals in the great confederation of
American States. We had laid before our
Northern brethren our grievances, through
every organ of an intelligent and forbear-
ing people. Mastery craftsmanship and {
lofty elOquence had been exhausted, TO
maintain the sacred guarantees i'm the q
of our fathers, we had poured {
lur gold ungrudged into the common ,
treasury, we had given TO her service
statesmen and soldier :, who We're foremost {
N the pages of her history: we gave our =.
lest and brayest on every battle field where
Ter flag had waved Us on to duty: we had /
our rights in the Territories :
We had helped to conquer; wehad seen our
ectiOn invaded by fanatics i'm armed rebel q
ion against the laws for our protection: we I,
lad seen State after State by statute. nulli-
wing the laws Of Congress, and the Consti-
utiOn of the United States, in their eager C
less to destroy or deprive us Of s., 900. OOO.- \
90 Of dollars worth Of our property. And
o subordinate us where we should .tand h
Ind yet, when in 1861. we refused to share Z,
With them in the work Of our own ,lestruc- u
ion. or participate in the work Of our own
egradatiOn, we must be put to the bayo-
ct. aud denounced as a race Of traitors
there were power in truth to seal tbe Z
ps and wither the arm, ] would invoke n
er righteous Judgment now, and deDounce
bat charge as false.
We are aware that we have been nlaeed
ndeT the ban Ofthe federal government. and In