Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-08-26
: .T-.-l M. = NJ y I. LIT77 y -
THE SOUTHERN SOLDIER.
HI. Endura nee, HI. bravery ana
l., r a ii His patri0sisn,. '3'''

SPEECH OF CoL.LEROY b. VALIANT AT
sEDALIA, AUGUST 16, 1882. ~
Mr.. President and Members of the
Association OF .Ex .Conietierates in Re.
uni0n:s Aside from the business We
have met TO transact, and aside from
the qualification which we experience
in nesting our comrades again, there 10
an interest in the meet ing because OF the
great moral truth which it exemplifies,
the great moral upon which it trenches.
And that interest must be fclt, not only
by us and our people, but by every one
who considers the effect OF mans con-
duct on mans charac, er.p,,.4. 3us-
In looking upon this vast assembly OF
brave and noble men, who upon more,
than hundred battle fields have mani l
tested their patriotism and herOism,
and, who ;or The .ll.,veuui their country
endured suffering tpta degree incredi7
bl8 t. those who did not witness it. and
who at last alter four long Years OF toll
ing Starving lighting and bleeding. were
overwhelmed with defeat and yet who
to-day W ear rsuct icountrnances as we
see beiorey Us, cUuutenancesr that can
never be assumed, and .lbnt can be
worn o " by those who are ever ready
to have their conduct exposed to view.,
| and their hearts I:,lti bare before ~
THEIR GOD AND THEIR FELEOwsMEN;
in looking Isay upon this scene. We
have the highest exemplltication of the
truth that u, t.ithIul performance Of
duty brings to mars heart the highest
reward VIII ch any achi.vn,ent OF his
sOwn can attain, andr5 W hich' no adv vefsity
| can take aWay from him. ..t..-.-..
| These we're tue worus of our great
commander, Gen. Lee. in his farewell
address to his soldiels: "iou carry
with ou to your homes the conscious
ness OF duty faithfully performed"
They fell like a benediotion into the
hearts OF his soldiers, were q comfort to
them in their grief. and have, been =
moral strength to them ever since.
There is something in success which
attracts applause ana admiration. even
sometimes when there is nothing else
i IN the achieyment to command our APP
proval; aud there is solnetiug 10 failure
which brings condemnation. even some
times When there is nothing but the
failure to deserve condemnation. This
arises from one OF the meaner qualities
OF human natnre. which makes sycO-
pllants of men. But human nature is
not altogether sordid and mean. There
are efforts SO grand and noble spring.
ing from motives 50 pure. aspirations
so exalted. that they do not lose in the
sight OF men their glory and grandeur
even l.-.'..--,.'.-,.,, -..r % ,.s
AMID RUIN AND FAILURE.
OF such were the eft .rts OF the army o1
the confederacy in its struggle Tor In
dependence. Though every faithful
soldier OF that army has suffered tht
deep humiliation of defrat, yet never
has any man seen one oi them who wa!
ashamed ol what he had done, or who
i, even in the moment when his griet ant
humiliation were fresh and greatest
, regret. that he had offered the sub
., lime sacrifice of self Tor country in tina
. time, in which his best Judgment ant
conscience told him where his dui y lay
Aud the. time will come when tn
achieyments OF that army will be spoken
Of with p,tde as we'll at the north as a
}, the south. But that will be alter all o
US who stand here 10 day are dead an,
. gone. aud alter the passions enkindle'
by the war aud the fierce pnlitical con
!. test have died away. Thongh man,
changes must take place before it come
. vet that day will come. l.,
4 FAITHFUL HISTORY
y can not be written in the lifetime of th
) people W hose events it records ;passion
q prejudice and partiality u.urp the plac
. uf truth and justice. and these two las
I hide away until the storm 0i passion hi
: passed and the clouds that obscure
g mems Judgments have dissolved.
We are no more competent to sit i
), Judgment upon our own acts than thOs
y " hO we're on the other side OF the con
: fiict are competent to sit in judgmer
: upon us. But we owe il to our childre
I and our country to collect and pressrv
r tor the Use Of the future historian th
/. facts in relation to the great war wtic
C as II were. woke this nation up like
j. sleeping giant to realization of
q ITS OWN STRENGTH AND GREATNESS
C We sometimes meet men, who, wit
u IN air Of great. wisdom. tellus that the
h knew and realized from the start ho,
o utterly futile would the efforts of th
= south 10 establish an independent g0l
j. ernment prove, aud they refer to th
s immense armies and navies OF the unio
3. developed during the war rs il the
IS ceptions. Such men sometimes, Will
J. spe king VII b great charity Of our INC
al tives, do not hesitate to condemn as uI
J. mitigated folly our judgment. Tha
It there were men who'll \ vague manner
" did believe that in matt er 0t strengt
l. and means oi warfare the south was il
Al comparably weaker ,han the north,
e undoubtedly true; and it is believed b
III some that there are men who, as ii
y preparations Tor the war began, an
j, his superior strength became visibl
y changed their minds on tue politics
a. situation and forsook the weaker for th
I, stronger side; yet, iu The light Of II
ID ear, events of the war, it Is the shee
y eS! nonsense tor men now to preten
u III, !. they did have the sli lightest conce
IL csption OF the st, ,ength OF
y EITHER THE NORTH OR THE SOUTH.
a. When the confederate congress n,
r, at Montgomery, the committee on mil
~ tary affairs reported that the coniede
As ate states were capable OF putting in
Sc the field and maintaining an army
# 10000 men, If necessary. to maintain ii
IN independence oi the new born natiU
III Suppose that congress had beun TO
ID and made to believe that the Unite
10 States could and would maintain ,
e. army Of q million men and cnver II
3, the waters OF the SOU, h with an ironcl,
IL navyI
W Aud, upon the other hand. about tt
p; same time. after The imposing deleg
r. ton OF governors from northern stat
g. had visited Mr.. Lincoln aud impresse
'e upon HIM their strength AMI Zeal IN II
N cause OF the union, b Issued his prucl
1t ton for 10000 sci ieis f,r ninety da,
a. with whic,, tn crush the south INTO su
n mission. Suppose th.s delegation
I'd warl.ke governors, aud the preside
b. giving them audience, had been To
u and cnnvinc, i that to conquer the soul
lh would require he enlistment from tir
e. to last OF over 1000, 900 men and Il
ie expenditure of over 81 .OUO, ,OOO. 900
es am frank t" say that il
~ THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS
Of at Montgomery, when contriving wa
he and means Ia raise its army OF SO ,O
W men, had real .zed tue strength ut u
tr north. as it was afterwards develope
as tho efforts nt that congress would ha,
rs been paralyZc,l. Aud it Is JUST as ce
re tain that il Mr.. Lincsln and his advise
an when determining the call for the
is army oi 1000, had realized the streng
a OF the south. rs it was atterward deve
is Oped, the war OF coercion would new
he have been entered upon. One side r;
IL no deeper into the future than the othe
e. Those were days of high political teve
ne when the wisest men Of the nato
cr north and south, were unable 10 dete