The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-17
n. C.. IN THE GREAT WAR.


| "cAuon ou ApbAI JUN loVos
There were twenty-five states or the
other side. / looked at the census Of
1860 last night, and studied it well
and here is what l find in the seventh
cesus, 81, 1855, 600 in the whole United
States, white, colored and all. This
is history, and by these lines you
shall be judged. Of this number o.
Co., 600 and eight hundred and odd
thousands were north Of Mason and
Dixon's line. The south had only g.
10000, the north had nearly %. 000, 900.
OF our 5000, 600 nearly 1000, 900 were
blacks n they did not enter our army
So that gives us a little over 5000, 900
against their %, 900, 600, and with our
slaves in sympathy with their side.
They recruited 500, 900 men from for
eign countries and put 1873 900 negroes
in their army. They recruited 351, 900
from the states of Maryland, West Vir-
ginia and Kentucky, and they recruited
$4,000 from the southern states. Now,
my countrymen, these were the forces
with which you entered the fight. They
a the whole world to recruit from,
yet the war lasted four years. No
other people but the southern people
could have stood -four years against
such odds, and against such destructive
agents of modern warfare. But
against all these wonderful appliances
of modern destruction our brave men
stood for four years, stood against
rifles that shot for miles and many of
them sixteen repeaters. Our men,
nNnrlU ornopd holt alnfhoH on6 ont nf
from all the outside world, nobly
maintained the struggle four years.
And how many men were there in the
southern army? But 600, 900, and
against 1859, 142 of the splendidly
equipped army of the north, paid and
receiving 1885, 600, 900 in bounties. My
countrymen don't blush for the south
ern men, always love the south with
all your hearts and souls. We were
never conquered, neve overcome, but
exhausted! Every foot of the south
ern soil was owe run by the northern
men, with the exception of a small
strip of country between here and
Raleigh. The northern army covered
the eleven southern states; like a great
rise of water they covered the land.
When everything was exhausted we
were forced to surrender, at last, and
laid down our flag and guns at Apo
mattoX. This is the truth. I have
thought of it for thirty years. We are
a great people, and every veteran, and
sons of veterans, should thank God for
such a people. That is the record and
every southern heart should be proud
of it.
What did Lincoln say when he was
implored by the philanthropists of the
north, on Bonded knees, not to put ne
groes in the army to fight white men.
1t is the only means l have to over
come the rebels" was his reply.
My God, my countrymen, don't let
us give in. Let us take the south to
our hearts, live for it, die for it and
cherish it forever.
people were all praying for General
Grant to exchange prisoners. For
Gods sake exchange them" they said,
"You stop the exchange with the south,
a thing hat has not been known
before in three hundred years." Lin
coin wrote Grant and asked him if he
could exchange the prisoners. Il can
not exchange prisoners with the
SOUTH" said Grant, IF 1 let them have
| their prisoners back, they will fight on
forever. The only way to stop the
wal is to catch and keep them con-
fined"
That's the undisputed estimate of
your valor and courage. You did it,
my brother cOuntrymen, may God
bless YOU. Is that the record of the
southern soldier? I could go on and
tell you that Grant, when the sun was
| setting with him forever and when the
light was going out, the most success
full general of modern times, a day or
two before he died, declared his admi-
ration for the southern people, and re-
corded it in words that will live for
ever.
s. s. In 1860 her census was $685.
900 people, about t%wo-thirds white and
one-third colored. What did she do,
this great state with 5000 square
| miles stretching from the ocean to
the mountain with its hills and pleas
ant valleys, what did she do? How
many men men did she send to the
army? The record is, 125,000 of her
sons. Did any other state do the like?
No, We sent the largest proportion Of
any state in the south. Now, I ask,
will you not love it, stand by it and
| uphold it. + Do not forget what
you are, cherish it, live up to it. You
| should. love every foot of the old
state, you should cherish her good
name and above all her noble daugh-
tiers. Oh, my friends, they were great
in war, angels of mercy doing deeds of
love in hospitals and going into
prisons and laboring bravely at home.
How beautiful they were, giving up all
| the Injuries of life and doing the hum
| blest kind of work at home, raising up
their children and teaching them to
be honest, pure and v%irtuous. AS long
al memory shall last you should wor-
| ship and cherish these noble women
and just in proportion to our love and
! admiration for woman, just is our po-
sitiOn in society.