The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-05-17
IpupLrsnrp by aronKsr. l

lPuDLIsHrD BY REQUEST
Speech deiirered Sy Col. \. q. MeRm,;,k. i
eMdr9eston, on Iae 2sh of March last, be
Jore Me Aemorial meeting of fthe Yaader
oW Benevotem Associatioa on Ie deah o,
IS Capt. F.sIY. Dawsoa.
The next speaker was Col. "a. NlcK;.
sick .sof Union, who issin the city attsndin
: thes Sunday-sc convention He was
s warm personal friend OF Capt. Dawson. and
ms teuching remarks were appropriate and
eloquent Himself a gallant Coufederats
soldier whose record is we'll known in
south Carolina, the tribute to the memprv
OF his lamented friend comes with e,peoial
mPhasis, and. tho tenderness with which
ne spoke last night evidenced that tho old
soldiers hesrt was sad and that hi. Gloon ont
words care from the bottom of his heart.
: Col. MoKissick said
Ladies aud Gentlemen: am Glad Oh =,
am present on this sad occasion. The
euioeles paid to our lnmented rrjond hereto-
lore ana tonight have met with a warm re.
spouse In this sorrowing heart. My long
acquaintance with Capt. Dawson and full
knowledge of his history had deeply impress
sea mo with his great worth, both of head
ana heart. To admire him you had but to
know him-~open, frank and social-his
friendship was as pure as the snowaakes ere
IL reaches our earth. Aud 1, for one. more
than admired Capt Dawson as gallant
confederate soldier; / loved him deyvtedIy
+. ns brother.
When tho American colonies were strup-,
Cling to.achievs their independence this.
bravo and generous stranger, Mlrauis de
Lafayette, left his home, its comforts and
pleas ures, and sailed across the broad At
iantio and shed his blood and spent his for.
ha otx
dependence, thereby insoribing his name on
the roll of fame and endearinS himself to
tho hearts of the American people Friends,
the American colonies had their brave and
generous Lafayette, and the Southern Con.
iederacy had its brave and generous Lafay-
ette In the person of the bold, daring young
Englishman, Francis w. Dawson. He too
ieit MS homo, its pleasures its comforts and
its haiiowed associations, and humbly worked
ms passage across the Atlantic, and imperil-
leu his life and shed his blood in tho cause
90 holy and SO dear to our hearts. His
distinguished bravery on many o battlefield
won the admiration of his officers, and the
reward for gallant meritorious conduct
promotion. His nntimely death deeply af-
tested his cid general, now Governor Fi,z-
,nugh Lee, of Virginia, who at once poured
iorth his grief in n touching eulogy of his |
Draye stan officer who had SO gallantly fought
- 80 D'o0 oh many u uurQ 10uqlt field. /
When the flag we loved so we'll was furl- |
Cd forever, and the Southern, .States were |
crushed beneath the heels of tho victor and |
the vandal, Capt Dawson, with his gigantic |
intellect profound learning and untirinp |
energy, could have chosen other folds and
nave gone 10 the North or West and achieved |
distinction in his chosen profession, but he
resolved to remain with the South, that her
people should bs his people and her
Il AZ oh l,a ~.
In your grand old city, he resolved
to cling to the PROSTATE State, to share her
iate, TO drink with her the bitter cup of
humiliation and misrule, preferring poverty
and humbleness to wealth and position pur.
chased at the sacrifice Of honor and principle.
No son of this grand old State struggled
harder for her redemption than Capt. Daw-
son, and until the last nc ment of his glori
Gus life the prayer of his great heart was
ior the happiness and prosperity of not only
South Carolina, but of the entire American
Union. And could his fond wishes avail ON
High sectionalism and strife would bs ban.
ished from the land, equal Justice to the
people OF every State would be meted out.
and the Uni;ed States would be what their
founders designed them taha--a--..-i---s~-11 to
hap9f% p9 s,sSxas, within my recollection some
ut the most eminent men OF this country
have passed over the river; among them that
brave old soldier, President Harrison; Presi
dent Jackson, the hero of New Orleans;
President Taylor. the hero of Beuna Vista,
aud that immortal trio of statesmen, john
G. Calhoun, Henry Cay aud Daniel Web
ster; but not enc of their deaths was more
universally deplored than that Of our own
chivalrous Capt Dawson. His acquaintances
North, South. East and West have deplored
his untimely' death with the highest eulogies
on his matchlesss mind aud heart. They
have been as spontaneous as they were true
aud beautiful. And it should be 8 ,urce of
melancholy pleasure 10 his afflicted family
to observe the encomiums from his friends
and former foes in all sections of our coun-
try; aud most especially from the clergy,
who were so intimately acquainted with. him
nnd know so well how great loss his death
has en,ailed upon US all.
Mr.. President, schools for mental and
moral training are indices of tho learning,
Intelligence and high-toned character Of AnY qJ}
ssSRlss dhts itt ,ssaacaifsa Of the people,
and he gave MIS-. best energies 10 accomplish
this. Ara,l iimes he was always ready with
his trenchant pen to work ceasclessly for
education. His STRONG advocacy Of Sabbath
schools is a sufficient proof of this, aud also
his noble heart yearned for the religious
eduoltion of the young. Charlestonians
have always houored themselves with the
establishm ent of institutions of learning.
A few months ago, while standing in
Meeting street, l saw q long procession Of
boys and girls clad in neat uniforms. Up
on making an inquiry L was informed that
the children belonged to an orphan school.
An old soldiers heart was touched, and the |
thought came TO my mind that some of these
boys and girls are the children and grand |
children Of the brave and gallant soldiers |
who, under the lead of the heroic Conner |
and others, gave their noble lives for the
Lost Cause. / had heard it said that Char
,llcssou was dead. That procession, however,
satisfied me that Charleston is alive, that
!. God himself is here, for nothing but His