The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-05

who inf1ict an injury, has never had moro
powerful illustration tnan in The present Httl
tuttc OF the two sections towards one another
Policy, in the eabScncc of masnanmlty, would
have Indicated that III Il restored union or The
States there should have been Il full rc>tolt
ton of equality, privileges and benefits aS they
had prc-cX!Strd. Although this has not been
the case, yet you have faithfully Kept youl
resumed obligations as citizens, and IN Eoul
mpoveri>hment have borne equal burdens
without rqual benefits. l am proud Oi YOU
my counNlrmen, for this additional PROOF o
your tidclity, and pray God to give YOU grace
children shall ask what means this nonu
ment, there will bc an enduring answer III
commentaries the deeds of Aahanas sons
who died that YOU ana your dcStci'uinlS
should be what your fathers in the war OF IN
dependence lett you. A:ab:tIna asserted the
right proclaimed in the Declaration OF lndc
psndcncc as belonging to every people. she
lOund that the compact OF union hau peci'
broken on one side and WAS therefore annull
ed: that the Government OF the United
States uld not answer the ends for which II
Was instituted, and with others OF like mind
proceeded to form Il new confederation. organ
iZing its powers in the language OF the De
cl;lratiOn of Independence, III Sucn form a.
seemed to them most likely to effect thell
safely and happiness. This was not IL rcvo!u
tiOn, because the State Government, btVlng
charge Of all domestic affairs, both OF person
and property, remained unchanged. TO cal
it revolution Is /; gross Socialism. Applause.
AS sovcrelgns never rcpei, and as only sover
ciGnS can form Il national league, u the states
had not been sovcreigns there could rot % NAYS
been Il compact of union. [Appause.] That
the South did not anticipate. much less desire
war, is shown by the absence Of preparation
for it, as well as by the efforts made to secure
peaceful separation. The successful party al
ways holds the defeated responsible for war
but when passion shall have Subsidcd and
reason shall have resumed her dominion, il
must be decided that the General Govern
mcnt had no constitutional power to coercc &
Stale, and that Il State had tile right 10 rGpc
invasion. II was Il national and constitutions
al right. [ApplauSe. From the early part Vi
the century there had been prophecies anC
threats OF dissolution OF the Union. Ihrse
began at the North on the question of pre-
serving the balance Of power, and culminal
cd during the war of 1872, on the decline q
their trade, though che war waved for the pro
lection of sailors rights. In the course o
years the balance of power driftcd to the
North, and that power was suck that 1ht
South deSparing of the peaceful enjoyment
of their constitutional rights IN the Union
decided to withdraw from it, This without
injury to their late associates. These denieC
the right to Withdraw, and the North made
ready for war. The distant muttcrings OF tho
storm were readily understood by the people
of Alabama. GMy-haired Sircs and beard
less toy$, all unprcpared as they were, went
forth to meet the storm ere it burst upon
their homes and their altars 1t required ne
DcmoSthencS to arouse them to the duty q
resisting invaders, no Patrick Henry, to pre-
pare them for the alternative OF liberty ol
death. 1t was the people, not the leaders
who resolved and acted. One sentiment III
spircd all classes. Yet l believe there were
very few who did not regret the necessity
which left them no alterr ative between light
ing for their State or against il. Mothers
wives and daughters, choking back their sobs
cheercd them on the path OF honor and duty
With fearless tread these patriots. untnlncd
to war, advanced on many hlttlehclds to look
death in the face. Though Alabama, like
Niobe, must mourn her hidrcn In death, ye1
is her woe tempered by the glorious hale
which surrounds their memory. For more
than century after his death, 1t IS said, PM
ip Devalogne'S name was borne on the roll o
the grenalicrs to whom he belonged, and
when his name was called it was answered
from the ranks: Mort smr lc champ d'honncur.
Long-very long-would be the list which
would contain the names OF AlabamlS sons
whose valor and tideIity would justify tho
same response. To name few would bc un
just to the many. They are all therefore lcf
where they securely rcpOSc in the hearts OF 4
grateful people. This monument will rest up.
on the land for which they died and point up
ward to the Father who knows the motives as
well as the deeds OF his children, and to tho
last resting in - land where Justice may bn
rendered which may have been denied them
here.
In conclusion permit me to say that, though
TIE memory of our glorious past must ever be
dear to us, duty points to the present and fu'
ture. Alabama having resumed her place IN
the Union. be it yours to fulfil all the obliga
tons dcvo!ving upon all good citizens seek
ing to restore tne General Government to its
pristine purity. and as best yOu may to pro-
mote the welfare and happiness of your com.
mon country. Hong applausc.J !.
Citizens ot Alabama and ladies, (acing tho
ladies on the stlnd) for to whatever side you
may belong it, is your sex that has been true
always in war and tlcSOatiOn, We hear OF the
Spartan mothers. bEt tell me where in all the
history of nations was ever such a spectacle
seen as was witnessed in the valley of the
Shenandoah: How the tide OF war cbbcd
and flowed d! Sometimes COnteGeratrS retreat.
ed and sometimes they pursued. Those reo
pie vino claimed to be our brethren had burn.
ed everything except fences EX'Govcrnol
Watts iuterrupting: "And they would have
burned them had they not been stone Mr.
Davis turned and, SlEilingly, continued
And why 40 Sou suppose they ala not Nurll
fences, because they were stone? Loud APP
plause. and yet there never was a time when
Il Confederate body OF troops marched down
that valley that the ladies did not hhEc out
little confederate flags from their windows
and give bread to hungry soldiers. tTremen:
douS applause. / have promised chat
would not speak mpOraneously, and
shall not do II. God bless you. one and all.
love you all from The bottom "fmy heart, and
give you thanks now for your kindness.
Tremendous long continued applause and
cheers.
Governor Watts then turned over the rest
OF the proceedings 10 the Nranu IouSc o.
MaSnnS, who were to lay the cOrucr- stone ac
cordin$ to tn" Masonic rules. The beautiful
ritual was literally carried out ny Grand
Master ]. g. Harris, assisted by ether grand
Officers and MasonS. A great many things
were del osied in the vault. The first Was
put in by Miss Davis. 1t was the Confcdcr.
ate battle flag of Gen. w. w. AEcu's com
mand. used during the whole war. Mr.. Da-
Wis placed in it some OF the articles, as did va
ri0ns other prominent gentlemen and ladies.
The stone was lowered into its place and the
proceedings Gec,Hrcda ut an end.
The crowd began to diSperse. and after a re-
ceptiOn in the Executive Chamber by Mr.. Dl.
Wis, limited to veterans who were in line, thc
procession rcturncd to the Exchange whence
it started and the ceremonies were over.
The crowd was not SO large as yesterday,
still it ran Up into thousands. To-day WAS
Memorial Day, when the graves Of the Con-
federaic dead are decorated with flowers
having been postponed from Monday on ac-
count Of the heavy rain. There was the usual
ceremony of oraticn, poem and planting OF
flowers, the only feature different from other
occasions being the presence of MIR. Davis,
Gen. Gordon and other distinguished visit
Ors.
\ choice line, best quality black gros grain
silks. Trimmings to match at IIaddGuS I.ol