South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-09-09

When the militia from the NORTH
commanded by their regularly con
stituted officers invaded Virginia
as Virginia troops marching un
der her nag commanded by their
Virginia officers, 5hey repealed the
invaders. Was this the act of re.
bells ? Was there treason in obey.
ing their officers set over them by
law? They had no other. officers
and NO other orders. Hundreds oil
Southern soldiers were opposed to
the war and did not believe in the
constitutional right Of State to
secede from the Union, but as sol.
diers they could notstop'to discuss
political questions with their off.
GERS. When war came discussion
was out of order. No right of pri-
vate judgment can be allowed to
the soldier in military affairs.
"What though they knew
Some one had blundered,
Not theirs TO reason why
Not theirs 10 make reply,
Theirs TO do aud. die"
And when later Virginia became
a member of the Confederate States
and her Governor turned her troops
over to the Confederate army, the
soldiers had no choice but to obey
their superiors. They were not
consulted aud. still obedience was
an implicit duty. The Southern
soldier obeyed orders when he
fought ; the Northern soldier did
the same thing and one was no
more guilty of treason or rebellion
than the other. Both were right
in obeying the officers and the pow
ers set over them by law, and nei-
Their could have refused without
disloYalty to his State and disobe-
dince to his military superiora
This is the trne ground on which
the Southern soldier should boldly
plant himself, and it is' the only
ground on which the blue and the
gray can unite with feelings Of mu-
tual respect and perfect amity. 1t
comedies to the Southern soldier
his true place, not only an equality
Of courage, of honesty Of purpose.
but of right, of duty, AMI; Of pa
triotism. On no other ground
should any good Confederate SOL
der ever consent to mingle the blue
with the gray, on occaslonslike the
reunion at Gettysburg.
They admit we were brave; they
admit we fought for what we be-
lieved to be right, but we demand
more we demand that it shall be
conceded that we were right in obey
ing our laws and our officers. as they
were in obeying. theirs; that we
were as patriotic and as loyal as
they were. We do not ask them to
believe in the right of secession or
in any other political dogma of
States rights; but that they shall
receive us as equals. Not as re-
pentant rebels, not az misguided
and erriDg brothers, but as loyal
citizens, obedient soldiers who
fought for our country in strict
obedience to our laws aud. to- the
powers of the land.
When this is conceded, when we
can meet as equals, then let Us hold
reunions OF the blue and gray but
until that time we must decline
with thanks. Wea arc too proud to
mingle in any company except on
terms OF perfect equality. We
claim for the Confederate soldier
the right TO stand before the brav-
est, the noblest,. aud purest OF
earth's patriots as an equal.
We say that Robert e. Lee. Stone.
wall Jackson and Albert Sidney
Johnston are the peers of any names
on the roll of American history
For those who say they wer,
rebels we have pity for their ignor
anee, and charity for their want o.
charity.
But as brave and loyal as The
southern soldiers we're in war, the'
have achieved greater victories il
peace. The close Of the war founC
the southern states utterly pros
trated, Rnancislly and physical
w. The best and bravest Of he
sons had been slain OF manned il
battle, her lands were laid waste
her felds swept by FIRE and sword
millions Of property invested il
slaves wiped cut by proclamation
mere stroke CT Che pen. Re
banks and her currency gone
| Her railroads wrecked fnanciall
and physically, every species 0
personal property destroyed ; labo
disorganized, and even the com
mOnest articlos Of clothing and o
bousekeePf6 worn out.
To tbis helpless and imPoveTish
ed condition was superaddod tb
terrors Of military despotism, an,
the wrong, the injustice, and tn
/ tyranny Of the clusl policy Of re
construction, with its freedman
bureau and its carpet bag rule, o
corruption and plumber which viz