Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-05-06

not my purpose either to discuss the politi-
cal questions on which my views have else
where and in other times been freely eX-
pressed, or to review the past except in vim
dication of the character and conduct Of
those to whom it is proposed to do honor on
this occasion. That we may not be misun-
derstood by such as are not wilfully blind,
it may be proper to state in the foreground
that we have no desire to feed the fires of
sectional hate, while we do not seek to
avoid whatever responsibility attaches to
the belief in the righteousness of our cause,
and the virtue of those who risked their
lives to defend it.
Revenge is not the sentiment Of chival-
rous people, and the %apothegm that forgive
ness is more easily to the injured than to
those who infict an injury has never had a
more powerful illustration than in the pres
ent attitude of the two sections towards one
another. Policy, in the absence of mag
nanimity, would have indicated that in the
restored union Of the States there should
have been a full restoration of equality,
privileges and benefits as they had pre-ex-
listed. Though this has not been the case,
yet you have faithfully kept your resumed
obligations as citizens, and in your impov-
erishment have borne equal burdens with
out equal benefits. 1 am proud of you, my
countrymen, for this additional proof of
your fidelity, and pray God to give you
grace to suffer and be strong. When your
children's children shall ask what means
fh;c y,,onrroopt tbara will no tho nn1nrinr
answer. 1t commentaries the deeds of AL
abama's sons who died that you and your
descendants should be what your fathers in
the wal Of independence left you. Ala
bama asserted the right proclaimed in the
declaration of independence as belonging to
every people she found that the compact
of union had been broken on one side and
was therefore annulled, that the government
of the United States did not answer the
ends for which it was instituted, and with
others of like mind proceeded to form a
new confederacy, organizing its powers in
the language of the declaration of indepen-
dence in such a form as seemed to them
most likely to effect their safety and happi-
ness.
1llS "uo lOl ICfoluliohS oSSouSS wiz
State government, having charge Of all do
nestle affairs, both of person and of prop
erty, remained unchanged. TO call it rev.
olution is gross solecism. AS sovereigns
never rebel, and as only sovereigns can
form a national league, if the States had not
been sovereign there could not have been a
compact of union. That the South did not
anticipate, much less desire war, is shown
by the absence of preparation for it, as we'll
as by the efforts made to secure a peaceful
separation. The successful party always
holds the defeated responsible for the war,
but when passion shall have subsidized and
reason shall have resumed her dominion,
it must be decided that the general gov,
erment has no constitutional power to Co
cree the State, and that the State had a
| right to repel invasion. 1t was a national
and constitutional right. From the early
part of the century there had been prepa'
rations and threats Of dissolution of the
Union.
These began at the North OF the question
of preserving the balance Of power and cul-
minated during the wal of 1872, or the de-
cline of their trade, though the war was
waged for the protection of sailors rights,
In the course of years the balance of power
passed to the North, and that power was sc
used that the South, despairing of the peace
full enjoyment eff their constitutional right:
in the Union, decided to withdraw from it
this without injury to their late associates
The right to withdraw was denied and the
North made ready for war. The distant
mutterings of the storm were readily un'
derstood by the people Of Alabama. Gray
haired sires and beardless boys, all unpre'
pared as they were, went forth to NEE
the storm ere it burst upon their homes and
their affairs. 1t required 10 Demosthene:
to arouse them to the duty Of resisting in
vaders no Patrick Henry to prepare them
for the alternative of liberty or death. II
was the people, not the leaders, who were
resolved and acted. One sentiment inspir'
ed all classes. Yet / believe there were
very few who did not regret the necessity
which left them no alternative between
fighting for their State or against it. Moth
ers, wives and daughters, choking back
their sobs, cheered them on to their path OF
honor and duty. With fearless tread these
patriots, unframed to war, advanced on
many battlefelds to look death in the face.
This monument will rest upon the land
for which they died, and point upward to
the father who knows the motives as we'll
as the deeds of his children, and at last rest
ing in the land where justice may be rend-
cred, which may have been denied them
here. In conclusion, permit me to say,
though the memory of our glorious past
must ever be dear to us, duty points to the
present and future. Alabama, having re-
sumed her place in the union, be it yours to
fulfil all the obligations devolving upon all
good citizens seeking to restore the general
government to its pristine purity, and as
best they may to promote the welfare and
happiness of your common country.
HNA