The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-05-17
Charleston have been the synonyms
of hospitality, of chivalry, and of


valor
"What else could be expected of
a people in whose veins are com :.
mingled the blood of the proud
English Cavaliers the blood Of those
devoted and resolute men, who pro-
tested against the immorali,ies and
grinding exactions Of the Stuarts;
the blood of the stalwart DisseDters
and of the heroic Highlauders of
Scotland and of the sturday dem
ocratic Presbyterisns of Ireland the
blood of those defenders of freedom
who came to our shores from the
mountain battiements of Switzerland,
and lastly. but no less pure and So
cred, the blood of the high souled
Huguenots of France, whose martyrs.
by glorious fidelity even unto death
have made sweeter and richer the
record of human devotion to con.
science and liberty.
"No resolutions, l repeat, by which
this great Commonwealth extends its
flowing welcome were needed to as.
sure these remnants of the south's
immortal armies that the freedom of
the state was theirs, and that every
heart within her borders was sol.
dier's shrine We had but to remem
Der that South Carolina was the nur
sery of heroes, as we'll as of statesmen
and of patriots-that no one State.
except that she be endowed with an
almost boundless ahluence of great
ness, could in one century have given
to the cause of liberty and the re-
public such splendid galaxy as
South Carolina presents in her Rus.
ledge. her Sumter. her Moultrie, her
Middleton and her Marion; in her
Butler, her Pinckney, and her Pick
ems /; in her McDufie and her Calhoun
in her Hamilton, her Hayne, and her
beloved Hampton.
.sIi we turn from this incomplete
array OF her noble sous to the coctem
pIation OF the scars upon her bosom,
received 10 Der battles for American
freedom at Cowpeus, al Camden, aud
Charleston at Eutaw Springs, Fort
MouIsrie asd Kings Mountain, while
her "Sasmp Fox" With his ragged
brigade. roasted their ra,ious Of sweet
potatoes in her forests at night, aud by
their sudden sallies, now frou the
mountains and now from the marshes,
amasad and bewildered the British.
Invaders If We add to this survey Of
her pass the record OF her priucely
liberalisy in the donation of her soil to
the general government, We shall gain
still better conception of the lofty
characteristics aud uucballeOged patriot
ism of her people.
ITO me, personally, whose associa-
ton with South Caro!inians through the
Civil war acd the still more CALLING
period of reconstruction and rebabilita-
tioc. gave clearer insight iuto their
motives and future aims, it is a proud
privilege vouchsafed to me today to
stand 10 your presence as the repre-
sentaiives of these batt'ed bruised vete-
rams and tell this people how fully We
recognize their worth and bow CRATE
folly we acknowledge our Indebtedness
to them.
Il should esteem it still higher
honor to stand here today as the herald
of both the host and guests in proclaim.
log a message of good will to all our
countrymen and to send the fraeenai
greeting of this people, Of all Coufed-
crates, and of their children TO all
patriots of eli sessions; to unite with
our American brethren of every State
iu ascribing to the guiding of God the
unparalleled victories of American
arms 10 The late war on land aud sea ;
and lastly. by the memory Of the
fathers. whose spirits live in their sous,
to pledge the south's unfailiug supper.
to every cause for Strengthening the
bonds of American unity and thus
accelerasiog the onward march Of the
republic 10 its beugin mission to human.
ity T"
After the applause had subsided Gen.
Gordon led Mrs. S,ouewalI Jackson to
the froat of the stage, and ebe was
enthusiastically applauded.
AS he presented Mrs. Jackson aDd
10 the first ull. Gen. Gordon said: Il
will shake her hands for you all, aud 10
an instant he added, "ro. | will do
more than that; | am going to bug her
for you" aud with that did what be
said he was going to do. which met the
hearty approval of the vast shrong.
Il was at this stage Gen. Lee
presented his resolution. It was de.
cided without further discussion that
the resolution be- referred to the
committee on resolutions
Gen. Gordon presented Miss Kate