Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-08-15
HE JUSTIFlES THE SOUTH
JUDGE MERRIMON's SPEECH
TO THE VETERANS.

TO THE VETERANS.
The Force BiIl DenOuuI ed-COl.
Ray ArraIgnS the Public for In
difference 10 the South's De
fcudcrs--O,hcr Speeches.
Col. J.. NJ. Ray addressed the veterans
at Saturdays S meeting in tie grove on
Magnolia avenue praising them for their
bravery and achievements and sympa-
thizing with them i'll their hardships.
His speech was largely of the old days,
but he took occasion to give a rapat the
lack Of public interest shown in the re-
union Of those who fought for the South.
In this connection Col Ray said;
"Who save our immediate families and
friends have contributed aught to the
success of our rcunion' The United
States government refused to sell us
tents for this occasion; the state of
| North Carolina to loan them to us, and
our county and city have shown but lit
tie interest in the matter. The gala-day
soldier, he of tinsel and gaudy uniform
they treat not so; upon him they spend
with unstnted hand: we help to do it
and do it not grudgingly. Many of our
| public spirited citizens ESQ Callcd) will
chccrlully contribute from $5 to $50 to
assist in giving a champagne supper to
some rich nabob, while we old rebels are
left to furnish our own amuscments aud
loot the bills One man high in position
did open his heart and give ono of our
committee men fifty cents. Another,
who will he very soon soliciting your
votes for Il state office of considerable
Importance said mo-" though approach
cd more than once. Another holding
one of the best paying Offices in the coun-
ty, declined to contribute, saying he had
not been soldier. Our committee did
find a few liberal men outside our vet
eran band and such we will ever hold
in grateful remembrance. In this cold
indifference, however, we have our conso-
lation, that is, that after we are dead will
come a Jprcciation! In this, however.
presume none Of us will say speed the
day"
,,, =, ,,1 ,,:
lit spe'eh VI 'io"' J"''e' ~
mon was ono which appealed directly to
the hearts OF the veterans and they lis
tened to # with intense interest. Judge
a-,.,.., .,,... Lo,r >p.
Niei '''''o' sl'oNe 'eS' '''''" nan "" ',o"'
and not one of his hearers wanted him
| 4 4 4. 1. l.. ,,I
Tok;,o th, civil ,yo,. nc hrtcvt for he
,.. 49, .,,..
hrst part o' HIS u'Seo"'Sc '"e SPe"Ne'
made strong argument to SHOW that
the south was not at fault. He began with
the formation of the union OF states, lay-
ing particular stress on those provisions
of the constitution desi .ncd to protect
the rights of the individual states, and
followed this with a plain spoken ard
ringing declaration Of his views. He
agreed with the sentiment that the ma
ton is nothing more than a
partnership of states and that
when one violates the articles
of agreement it is but fair that the Others
should Withdraw. There was, he as
serted, no violation of the constitutional
rights of states till 1860 and even at
that time Abraham Lincoln wrote a let
ter maintaining that congress had no
right to interfere with them.
pu. }e,, eon,l';'eI uuSe '' la'.I. ,1,o'
that lincoln was n great man and one
of great force and intellectual power, but
yet there were men behind to tell nm mn
~nlt ~ ~ WIZ i".u n'l. po"' narno
the southern States. It was agreed at
fret to surrender Fort Sumter and no.
body At that time had the slightest
!, thoupbt of war. But the governors of
seven Nortbern States met in conference
and took action which caused the mill
tia to he called out and rendering the
war necessary Had thc Southern
States violated the copstitutiou2 ask.
Exnresslv no, Vet The Northern States
romneIlcd he south in self defence to
Withdraw The nowcrs tbev had delegated
to thr GENERAL rovernmcnt and sci M
for themsclves. The south had a pcrlect
r,rht to do This and / challenge any.
hndv I'm show othcrw;sc In the oriGi.
mi constitution il WAS declared that
and this was ocnin ratified in 1885,.
Tn. nv.s,,ov
or,.I..." 80 ..I. ,:.,.
lhe contest III looo' "ne' N'''eo''
was elected, was as to whether or not
slavery should 20 beyond what wa:
known os the Missouri compromisc line
r','''., '," ~ =, - a.,
oa'hoil l. Nhasc' 'nc ''oul"p'eee vi '"'