Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-26
Mr.. BAYARD AND THE SOUTH.
A Stirring Speech Before the New
York Southern Society.
He Entered Congress with the One OBJ
ject of Bringing the South Back to Her
just Place in the Union.


He Entered Congress with the One OBJ
ject of Bringing the South Back to Her
just Place in the Union.
Ex-Secretary Bayard was guest of
the New York Southern Society, at its
fifth annual dinner on Saturday night
and upon being called upon for an
impromptu address made one of the
most eloquent speeches of the evening.
Il was a friend of the south, said he,
"when the south had not so many
friends as it has now. When | went
into Congress twenty-five years ago
went unwillinGly. | was concerned, as
| desired to be, in perfectly congenial
occupation, but ] went with the one
object in view of bringing the south
back to her just place in the union. 1t
was not for southern favor nor
northern faycr; it was for the whole
country. ] sought to see The usefulness
or my southern brethren restored to
themselves and to their country. /
their forefathers | knew that they had
no tradition which vas unfaithful to
the cause of constitutional liberty.
Long after the passion and froth of par
ties shall subside the cause OF constitu-
/
be the man that shall lift aloft the cause
Of constitutional liberty above the strife
| of parties or sections. Therefore when
passion had wrought its work, when
| desoation had prevailed over large
section of my country, ] looked for that
which would restore health and union
to all parties. Where was il to be
found? Where is it to be found Where
| ii. "a 49,. ~, tbr.I ,pn efr
and consciences of the men of the United
States And therefore when they said
to me, how will you deal with the men
of the south? | said trust them, call
them to power. Put upon their con-
science great responsibilities to their
country, and they will not fail you.
4 Applause and cheers.
"It was with that simple thought
left my home and went into the public
| counsels, and have been true to it as
long as remained there. There was no
| personal object, no personal ambition. !
had no fayors to ask then, nor do ask
them now. wanted to make the men
of the south the bulwark of the union
in which | was horn and under which,
! please God, | shall die. There is no
post, political, military, naval or social
in which we cannot trust southern men
as quick as men from the north. They
cannot turn back their past. They can
not write the words and the name and
fame Of Washington and Lee backward.
Therefore, gentlemen, having seen the
south in her days of adversely | was
! glad tonight TO come to see her in the
days of prosperity. / was glad to see
my Judgment fulfilled. ! am happy to
see in the great emporium of the coun-
try southern men forming so powerful
an element in the community in which
they have made their homes, | was
panied tonight to hear somebody refer
to this as their adopted home. That is
a misnomer. This is our own home, my
brethren. There is not man before me
who was not citizen of the United
States at the earliest moment he was q
citizen of any state in the union"
Mr.. Bayard was given three hearty
cheers, which were repeated several
times. Clifton r. Breckenridge followed
with an impromptu speech, which was
also enthusiastically received.
The banquet wound up with singing
of "'rhe Suanee River" "Dixie," and
other southern songs, concluding with
MY Country, It's of Thee!n
Mr.. Bayard attended the banquet as
the guest of Hugh w. Garden.