The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-15
POI TSMOUTHNEV YS

4
that ultimate, absolute sovereignty rest
| ca With each State separately, and that
tnlS was u doctrine, dear as the apple OF
J the eye that should be cherished by all
american citizens as the basis Of free
| government? Was he not inst r1,otcd st
| his mothers knee that tho Convention
! whlch framed the constitution was bv
| tne authority OF the several States: and
| mat they, IN their sovereign capacity.
| through appointed delegates, carved ont
ti'ae MoIderfnl instrument which he was
| taught to reverence and to love? That
| each State retained the absolute power
| ~ govern us own people in it's own way
IN all It's domestic relations, without any
| interference by the people OF the other
| states. or the Federal government cx
| ccpt III the specified cases set forth In
the constitution? III the schools and col
| ieSeS, al the iireSidc. and in the halls OF
legislation; from State papers and con-
| temporaneouS history; from the mouths
Oh living statesmen and from judicial
tribunals, adorned with the learning and
! wisdom Of such illustrfous names as
Marshall and fancy and Curtis-fro,n
| every conceivable source-this doctrine
was taught the people. 1t was as firmly
| fixed and as deeply inbedded in their
natures as was the other great prin-
ciDlc incorporated in the Bill of Rights
and the Declaration OF Independence
| which declared that all men were en-
lowed by their Creator with the inalien-
OF happiness Educated to believe that
this was the true theory of the govern
ment, and cherishing an ardent love for
the constitution, they regarded the at
tempt TO coerce sovereign State as q
| viola ton Of the compact entered into
win their fathers; as a blow at the
Liberties OF free people. and step to-
wards oppression which should meet
with resistance
II was to maintain great principles:
it was 70 uphold one OF the pillars in the
temple OF freedom; it was to preserve
the hres OF constitutional liberty that
you. . my comrades, who sleep under
the shade Of these wide-spreadlng trees,
| gave up your lives!
Your lives IN your hands. you stood by
Your lives for our lives you laid down
and died;
| And no grea,er love hath a man to give
Ihan lay down his life that his friends
may live"
Whatever may be the views at the
present day Of philosophers and states
men and philanthropiStS with regard To
me institution Of slavery as it existed on
thiS continent. the thoughtful and OBJ
servant student of history must be sat-
| isfied that while it was an exciting in
c!dent IT was not the cause of that un-
happy struggle. We must look further
ana deeper for the cause Our own
STUDY and reflections lead us to trace II
20 tne Inherent schools in which the two
sections or the country were educated
their different modes Of life, and habits
OF thought, and especially the views i'm
pressed upon the Northern mind by her
leading statesmen, who contended for
.hut strict construction Of the consti-
lu'ioil winch is fairly represented in the
writings and great speeches of Daniel
" eDStcr,. whose wisdom and learning
ana e!oquencc shed a .luStre upon his
country unequalled by any statesman of
ms Day and generation-unlcss indeed
we except his ilustrious rival. the noer-
less son of South Carolina
SSonewali Camp! The Army and
Navy! what n world OF memories
.hese names revive! Have you forgot
zen mat memorable morning In the
s Ell. Oh isb2 when few wooden YES
sells escorting the ironclad Virginia"
steamed out of this harbor to make bat
lie with the fleet Of the United States
lying at Hampton Roads? It was an en-
teFprise and an experiment as bold in
cohcepIion and as daring in execution as
ever adorned the annals Of naval war
lare in ancient or modern times Cant
Parker tells us that the result OF tho
DAY S operations was the total destruc
t!on OF the frigate Congress. the corvette
~ ui.neriahd and the partial Gripping Of
the lrgaie Minnesota. with q loss In the
Federal fleet OF nearly 400 men. This
battle and this new mode Of naval war
iare the conception of Confederate
genius and daring. rcvolutionized the
haVics OF the world. 1t was from this
CITY OF Portsmouth came the ironc,ad
vessel that, with her companions,
| wrought such destruction to the Fedo
rai ieet on that memora Bile day. When
ever :" sailor treadS the deck or q shin
or u nag ii0ats upon the high seas. Inc
dalIng exploits and proud achievements
o. lh!s arm of the service will be told
nE fathers TO sons, and handed down
from generation to generation
mai IS II, my countrymcn that most
c%cNeS the admirat ton Of manhood. and
10 "hich 4 state points as the chief or
Nailicnl and the highest jeWcls-in. hcr
! crown Is It the vaior and the courapc
anu nerolsln and the fortjtude of hor
ch!lnfen! II so, YOU need not cross the
! roillhE seas or liNger on the banks Of
lne yellow Fiber, or sit under the walls
Oh ancient Toy 10 find 1t. You need
not inafrh with Caesar at the head Of
ms SOLID nhalanX OF mailed warriors
pressing the lying columns Of Penney
from the plains Of Pharsala You need
hol recall the victorious legions OF Napo-
icon daShlnS over the blOodst Aimed fields
OF Jena or scaling the crimson heights
OF AuSteritZ but herein Your own
counlry-uEon the bosom Of Your cwn
state. see The deep scars and dreadful
wounds that speak. like tongues Of fire.
me Sod!lkc heroiSm OF your fathers. See
IS illustrated on a hundred battleficlds
IRON! tie classic waters Of the Potomac
70 me hio Grandc, from the restless
waves OF the Atlantic q tho p0Idcp cI,n,