The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-11-15

welfare. Although he shrank from
public participation in political
discussions, he was an enthusiast
in his devotion to the union of the
states. He believed secession was
not remedy for any of the real or
fancied wrongs of his section; yet
none were more loyal than he to
his native and beloved south. He
thought her remedies were peace
full, and within the pale of the Un-
ion. He deplored the hazard OF
battle as the arbiter of differences,
each hour becoming more intense
In his confident hope that pacific
counsels would prevail, he did not
believe, as did the most distinguish.
ed of American journalists, that
"when fire opened upon Fort Stump
ter, notice was given to the world
that the era of diplomacy and com.
promise had ended" Even then be
continued to cherish the same faith
that inspired myriads of hearts un
der the leadership of Bell and 8
Breckenridge, in an undiminisheC
hope for the final preservation O
the Union, through concession anG
patriotic diplomacy, notwithstand
ing the initial of war in the strong
holds of Charleston Harbor. His
idolatrous love for the Union, anG
his faith in the second, sober, pa
triotic thought of those whe hello
her trembling destlnies in suspense
while millions of hearts agonizeo
for the result, ohscured his honest
vision to the existence of an affirma
tive purpose to hazard every hope
and every interest of this great era
die of liberty on the wager of battle
But the proclamation of the pres
dent of the United States, driving
Tennessee, as it did, from her de
lusive position of self-imposed
neutrality, was precipitated upon
the country, and dispelled the last
hope of that large class of people
who, admitting the wrongs and
grievances of the south, believed
they could be remedied without the
intervention of violence. Col
Clack being of this class, at once
joined with others in calling mass
meetings, to take deliberate counsel
in the great emergency. The peo-
pie came, and it was a peoples meet
ing. They were our fathers, ou1
brothers, our kindred, our friends
There were bronzed and SCARED
soldiers of all our wars since ou1
Independence. There were sons
and grand-sons of the men of the
Revolution. Brave men and pa
triots were there, and they were the
Sovereigns of this land. True, they
claimed no lineage from the
Heraldry of the Old World. They
boosted of TO time honored "family
tree" hereditary coats ofarms trans
mitted from the Parvenues of de-
PRAYED and doubtful aristocracy
across the seas. Theirs was an
ancestry Of Honor. Truth, Courage,
and tireless energy. They scaled
the mountains, felled the forests,
crossed the rivers, subdued the saw
age and the wild beasts, aud in the
dark forests and broad savannas OF
southern wilds, made castles of
their own humble cabins, and in
the aye inspiring stiffness of ma
lures solitudes ~ooRsecTated their
sons to God and their country.
The answer Of such an assem-
blage to the question twill you hon
or the call of the government by
sending your sons &c cQerce south
ern states into their former rela-
tions?" could not be doubtful. With
one voice the multitude declared
for resistance. In response to that
universal sentiment you and 1, and
our deceased friend, went to war.
The result belongs to history.
Whether we acted wisely will be
fairly and truthfully answered only
after we have Joined our comrade.
That we were inspired by an honest
sense of duty and yielded to the ap-
peals Of our manhood, none but the
fanatic will deny.
e it then an Offense to bury our
comrade with horors BETTING his
worth and as inspired by our afFec-
tions? The noble and the good will
applaud, and we can endure the
criticisms OF the heartless dem
agogue whose only office is to pan
der to sentiments as deprayed as
his own. When we shall prove I'M
true to the memory Of an honest,
bravessoldier, the defender of our
flag, then we shall deserve, as we
shall receive, the condemnation of
every heart inspired with a spark of
chivalry. We have buried foes on
the battlefield and have bedecked
with flowers the nude mounds I'M
der which their bones repose.
The serted ranks of contending
hosts who gave and resisted in turn
the shock of battle on hundreds of
bloody fields, were, as l verify be-
Iieve, animated according to their
Individual convictions by a common!
purpose to preserve and perpetuate
American liberty. Each added
new lustre to the record Of Ameri-
IAN endurance, genius and military
aroWess. And when the passions
If the hoSr shall have yielded to
candid and intelligent Judgment, IN
Ter the conservative councils anG
raternal emotions which have ever
the surviving combatants,
he faithful and impartial chronicler
# the causes which inspired their
ction will pronounce indiscrimi-
ate eulogies over the dead of both |
rmies.
OF them all it will be sounded in
ndying song:
They fell devoted, but undying;
he very gales their names seemed signing;
he meanest rill, the mightiest river,
oils mingling with their fame forever"
We are justified in believing that
ur comrade and those who shared
is fate did not die in vain. The
ontest in which they persisted was
5 inevitable as England's war of
ne Roses. Men in all ages and of
very nationality have resorted to
lie wager of battle, not only to de
,rmine issues of principle, but even
E sentiment and abstract ideas, I'M
| the present century, and even in
lie gray morning of its high civil
ltion, in countries older than ours,
lie sword was the litigant's legal
ption to adjudge his right to a