The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-11
FEARLESS & TRUTHFUL.
THos. n. BEECHER's ORATIOS At
GBTTYsBURG, JULY s, 1855.
a Northern Man Gives Both Sides Of the
Great War Issues, when Only One Was
Expeeted-Truth 10 Mighty.

Rev. Thomas X. Beecher, the protheF Vi
| Henry Ward Beecher, on the occasion OF
| the unwilling Of a monument TO the
Brooklyn Phalanx. at Gettysburg. July 3,
1888:
Veterans. comrades. citizens! We are
met to set monument-to dedicate
memorial stone.
In 1861 a thousand men took the soldier $
oath. Through years OF hardship they
did their duty. Their blood stained
twenty battle fields. Their dead lie buried
where their deeds were done. Their Nv
ing served to the end Of the war and
honorable discharge.
A handful that yet survives are mere
met, to set this monument to the memory
OF this thousand men-the Brooklyn
Phalanx-Long Island First-the New
York; 67th-the name has varied: the fact
remains, thousand men did their duty.
The whole thousand, l say. For.
strangely enough. we need reminding that
great battles, though fought by all, are
won by the survivors only. All victories
are due to the men who are not killed.
Yet we often glorify and belaud the dead
as the ones 10 whom we are chiefly In
debted.
To be a good soldier and die Is manly
feat To be a good soldier and live Is
manlier. To be a good citizen-upright
before God and downright with men-is
manifest OF all, because most complex,
difficult, and least rewarded.
A million men at call Of our chief magis-
trate. volunteered and became soldiers.
This was the worlds wonder.
They fought their battles, buried their
dead, went home with their wounded
and became citizens once more! This was
MI p
in surprised mankind. The muster-out
astounded them.
AS. after a tornado curious men pick
their way backward along the track OF II,
TO note the lay Of trees and beams and
even straws and by them learn the law
Of storms;-so, now that the war Is ended.
is II still too soon to 80 back along the
track OF It, and note whence II came and
why Il ragged? The wisdom Or unwisdom,
the reason or the folly illustrated? These
thousands In their graves have surely
died in vain. II standing among them we
can have no profitable speech together?
The facts rected shall be as colorless
as the items of book-keeper's balance
sheet
In f776 thirteen colonies, by their rep
resentatives in Congress or convention,
called God to witness the rectitude OF
our (their) intentions and declared
themselves free and independent States.
In 1857 these free and independent
States proposed more perfect union"
in the name OF the people. I'VE the peo-
pie" they said in their preamble to the
proposed constitution. But:
In the last article Of the same con-
sttution we read Of 'the States ratifying
the same" as establishing the constitution
between the States so ratifying
Tn hxr
fed the constitution; and in 1889 an order
ly constitutional government came into
power, George Washington Its executive.
In 1S60-'61 four of these very States that
had formed the union. with seven other
States that had been added, assumed TO
"retrace" their steps and cease to be
members of the union. They formed or
had come into the union freely. volun-
tarily; they proposed to go out by the
same door.
Their reasons for this step need not
be stated here and now. One thing at a
time.
a grave question OF law and duty arose,
deeper than the constitution itself. viz
Has a State that has once ratified the
Federal constitution. and formed or come
into the union. right TO retrace her steps
and so out and apart, and be. as she was
originally. free and independent?
Where shall, where could citizens look
or listen for an answer to this question,
conclusive. authoritative?
For more than thirty years political
doctrine and controversy had famed
around this question until the masses
Of population came unconsciously to a
welding heat. and a local unity OF senti-
ment upon one side and the other. Hot
and united, the people were ready TO act;
and they acted.
Eleven States, acting I'm orderly man
ner, by conventions lawfully called, re-
traced their steps with accuracy, and sup
posed themselves to have become once
more free and Independent.
Thy went on accordingly. The old
partnership dissolved they offered to
divide the effects by negotiation"
Now it happened that certain ports
custom-houses, postof1ices, and other real
estate lay within the bounds of these
States. that supposed themselves once
more free and independent. Real estate
cannot be moved off. The soil remains
in its place. 1t must be given over to
the State within whose bounds II lies
or stands. The United States officers
must cease from function, surrender Of
fee. title keys and cash.
This logical demand was made, refused
enforced by arms, resisted, and O. great
civil war began.
By the only voice authorized to speak
for the United States. and by speaking
bind them, proclamation had been made:
I'm your hands. my dissatisfied fellow
countrymen. and not in mine are the mo-
mentous issues Of civil war. The Govern
ment Will not assail you. You can have
no conflict without being yourselves the
aggressors. You have no oath registered
In heaven to destroy the Government
while l have the most solemn one to
preserve, protect and defend it."
Argument and entreaty cease when bat |
ties begin.
The question was, may a once free and |
Independent State retire from a union |
that she has helped to form, or has en- |
tered voluntarily?
Possibly this was one OF those MANY |
questions that arise in history that can |
not be answered unanimously by the in |
tellect or reason or conscience of erring. |
finite men. Appeal must be had to force. |
Ofenses must needs come
on scores. nay hundreds of battle-nelds |
great and small, this case was called for
argument and adjudication during the
years 1875.
Easily the greatest. bloodiest and most
nearly decisive Of them all was the bat
tie on this field where we now stand.
The rules of procedure for the trial OF
his grave question of organic law in these
courts OF last resort were simple and uni
form. The story OF one describes them
ALL
twenty-five years ago where we now
stand, 10000 picked men came thronging.
soldiers all, they deployed one-half over
against the other half; three days, with
little rest by night, they stroye together