The Greenville times., 1891-01-24

=. - -'steA0u tue puuosOpul OF tne Roman
Republic.
But nothing ON this point can be
compared to what Edmund Burke said
III his speech on Taxation in America >
wherein he attributed the high spirit
Of liberty in the then Southern Colo
mes to the existence of slavery amongst
them This passage from Burke has
been so often quoted that it must be
familiar to most of our readers. But
1t Is so much to the point that we feel
compelled to repeat it:
"ln Virginia aud the Carolinas, they
have avast multitude of slaves. Where
this is the case in any part Of the
world, those who are free, are the most
proud and jealous of their freedom.
Freedom is to them, not only an enjoy
ment, but kind of rank and privilege.
-. Liberty looks among them like
something that is more noble and
liberal. The fact is so; and these
people of the Southern colonies are
much more strongly, aud with higher
aud more stubborn spirit, attached to
liberty, than those of the northward.
Such were the ancient commonwealth;
such were our Gothic ancestors, such
will be all masters of slaves, who are
not slaves themselves. In such
people the haughiiness Of domination
combines with the spirit of freedom,
fortifies ii, aud renders it invincible.'
But the fascination of the subject
has drawn us into a diversion. We
had it in our mind only to speak of
that grand old Mississippian TO whom
Judge Van Eaton paid SO beautiful
aud so just tribute in the oration just
before us, as one Of the highest types
of the old Southern planters aud slave
holders, whose spirit animated South
ern society, and constituted in our
opinion, the only real and lasting sup
port of free aud pure Republican in
stitutions.
Ofs.ately presence and lofty bearing,
we remember Gen. Brandon as one Of
the most courtly gentlemen we have
ever known. Inflexible IN his adhesion
to the right, and his sense Of justice,
scorning everything in humanity that
was mean, or selfish, or cowardly, he
yet possessed sweetness Of disposi-
tion, hand so generous, forbear-
ance for human infirmities so gentle,
that he was the beloved of both men
aud women, Of both the young and the
old. In our youth 1t was our pride to
enjoy bis friendship, as 1t was Of every
young man who gained It. And, in
later years, we treasure as amongst
tho most valuable of the commends-
tions we have had of Or course as a
journalist some kindly letters of cor
dial aud encouraging approval from this
venerable gentleman.
For upwards of ninety years he lived
amongst bis people, possessing through
all those years the unfailing esteem,
respect and affection, and in his old
age, the reverence Of the community !;
and dying he was lamented through
out the whole land. AT the age of
sixty he became a soldier Of the Con-
federacy. lie would not, though
growing old, bid the youth of the land
take up q cause he would not fight for
himself. At Malvern Hill, he lost
leg, leading bis troops In the charge
aud later, recovering from his fright.
full wound he resumed his command
and served to the end of the war.
II would be folly to say that there
are, or that there will be no more such
men as Gen. w. l.. Brandon to honor
our race. That would be sycophancy
he himself would scorn. But we do
believe that the lordly race Of which
he was one of the finest exemplars,
has passed away with our old institu-
tions, aud that with that race, one Of
the firmest foundations of our free in
stitutions has been overturned.
In concluding his splendid tribute to
the memory of this grand old gentle
man, Judge Van Eaton beautifully
said:
"As Tacitus said of Agricola, we
may truly say of him.
"Whatsoever of him we have loved
whatsoever of him we have admired,
remains and will remain in the eternity
of time aud the fame Of great events
The following Is taken from the
pathetic eulogy pronounced upon his
lifetime friend, by Judge ii. s. Van
Eaton:
The movement to-day Is a sponta-
neous one, Wilkinson county comes
here to do honor to the character aud
acknowledge the services of her most
illustrious citizen, General W. l..
Brandon.
There Is scarce dwelling In all our
county where his name is not known
and honored, and where there was not
mourning, when came the sad, though |
possibly not unexpected news of his
death, and 1t Is cminentIy meet, right
and proper that we, his fellow-cltizens,
should as best we may in all sincerity |
and with overfowiug hearts pay our
last sad tribute 10 the memory OF him
we admired and loved while living,
and whose character we esteem and
honor now that be has passed on be-
fore. To borrow the words of another,
ave best honor the dead aud most
benefit the living, when we form just
estimate Of their character and lives,
and accept and apply the instructive
and inspiriting lessons which they
teach"
1 first made bis acquaintance in 1851
though then stranger and in strange
land, his conduct and bearing to the
unknown young man entering on lifes
struggles were as kind and as courte-
Gus as in after years, whom that slight
acquaintance had ripened into friend
ship and intimate social relations. But
such was his character, kind, gentle,
courteous aud considerate, as much as
any man ever knew, he merited the
grand old name Of gentleman. His,
was for the most part plantation life,
with all that is implied in what Is now
to us, the "oIden time." The wealthy
planter was then veritable baron,
with bis broad acres, bis numerous
slaves, his mansion house and his lux
urlous surroundings no such life has
been known since the decadence OF
Rome's Imperial Power. Among all
these, Gen. Brandon was as a king
arnong nrincea