The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-02-10
SILENT
RECORDS,
Or Gleanings From South
ern History.
BY Haskell H. DYER.


President Jefferson, from France, car
rying with itall the remaining territory
to the geographical point where the
tide in the Northwestern flows to the
Pacific Ocean. Then Florida, with
certain rights in Oregon, was purchased
by President Monroe. President Tyler
signed the treaty with Texas. Presi.
dent Polk with Mexico for California,
New Mexico and Arizona. Then in
the face of these historical facts, is not
the South allowed to share in the ma
tion's great and admirable name? Has
not the South then the privilege to
proudly point to the flag of the Repub-
lie, declaring that the blood of her
soldier martyrs was shed to paint the
bars of people that span the bosom of
nations emblem? The purity and 10y
atty of her sons were propitiated upon
the shrouded affairs of patriotism to
stain the folds of white and blue inter
spersed with the twinkling stars OF
statehood. Is it not honorable then,
ON the days of reunion gatherings, to
speak of the glories and blood bought
victories achieved for the royal banner
through the tolls OF Southern heroes?
Summarily, has not the South an
honorable history; history of un-
parelleled merits in the formation and
defense of this country? Though these
periods Of darkness for the South were
many and bitter; yet the hour of sad
ness-the destruction of home and
family affairs of the South, had never
received the commission which had
departed through the gateway of morn
ing on its mission of unmerciful cruel
ty. Greece in her history as nation
of intelligence had her internal dis
sensions. Rome was visited in the lat
ter days of her history as an Empire by
the spirit and feeling of civil strife.
Later we find England aroused by the
clanking sounds of Cromwell's arms,
born by eager and anxious soldiers into
the heat of battle, known among Eng
lands many encounters, as the civil
war. In 1861 this country became i'm
merged into civil war. This was brought
about by the construction and general
privileges; set cut in the constitution
of the United States and concerning
these constructions placed upon the
legal document, the South was right, il
appears to me, en- her position SO taken
These questions soon gave hasty birth
to fields of battle, which were to flow
with lifes blood for four years. AS the
states each seeded, they withdrew il
peace and silence; President Davis
"asksd to be let alone' and to depar
peacefully, which they did. The ar
senals situated in the South, and of
the Southern coasts, were erected by
the revenues collected by Southern
citizens and duties from southrn ports
This being the case, then certainly tn,
South had an equal share in occupying
them, and the arms Though few and o
the oldest and most useless make whel
the period of secession arrived. Again
the Supreme Court Of the United State
held at this time that any state had tn
right to sOcede from the Union and tn
Government was powerless to coerce o
constrain any seeding state, yet in tn
face Of the decision Of Chief Justic
Taney and the ratification of nationa
bodies, the government issued procla
nation calling soldiers to do that whicl
the highest tribunal of the nation de
cided contrary. Then it was that tn
South sought arms to defend the right
and immunities provided by the con
stitution, and save the honor and spot
less name of the South Before til
war was in progress the government G
the South sent peace commissioners
Washington to confer with Presider
Lincoln in order to settle the affair
peace, but failed to receive the conser
of the Union leaders. Again they sci
men to agree upon honorable means b
which to terminate the struggle, but
vain, Seeing no hope of settling IL
war on friendly terms, they march fort
into the arena of deadly conflict Ov,
powered in forces and by mOdel
/ equipage of battle. No bands of chivalr
) knights since the middle ages, ever e.
.. tered more devotingly and honest
: into the din of conquest, no spirit
? bouyant at heart ever faced the storm
. of death and the thunder of musketr
as the Soldier OF the Confederaoy. \
|, star that sweetly sang in the cosmos
n cellestrial planets, hid its palid face
: hope from the defender of the "Lo
Q Cause" No shades Of evening DIRE
I their sable folds over the bosom of t
! great deep, without the angels of mig
catching the soft and simple strains
Dixie borne aloft on the wings of dar
ness. From the opening hours of Ms
assas to the final at sppomattox, t
tireless confederate fought with I
principle in his breast he cherished a
believed as just. They fought for t
--L-...L.-... Il n II,tn., LII q q.