The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-26

| with tho north, for the perpetual union
OF the States undCr tho constitution rs
there construed. We believed in the
right of peaccable separation Of the
States when the bonds of frutcrnul
union were dissolvcd;- tho north be-
licvcd in perpetual union Of the
States and proposed to maintain this
sword.
In the maintainancc Of these views
the mon of the south aud north gath
cred in the ranks Of war~~thc one az
grcssivc-thc other defensive. for the
last great argument that decides the
fate Of nations.
The United States goycrnmcllt has in
the past score Of years been publishing
at immense cot all of the Union and
Confederate documents relating to the
war, and has entitled the work, The
Records Of the Rebellion. There is
not line or II word in that vast cullcc-
ton ot historic papers that does not put
the seal OF falscho0d on the title pages
II.
II was war; II war between nations un-
equal in numbers and resources But
the weaker and newer was acknowl-
edged 10y the world us Il hriligcrrnt, as
we'll as by our adversary. The move
mcnt which resulted in war WAS lclib-
cratclN and legally inauguratcd ny the
constituted authorities OF eleven SOY
crcign states in orderly procedure, and
with all the forms of law. The govern
ment OF the Confederate States, as well
as OF each state, in all neutrality-suspicious.
was in harmonious working order.
There wa, disruption Of the Union Of
the States, but no rebellion against uu.
thOrity. Your brothers aud fathers
who answered the call Of your legally
constituted government, and gallantly
bore arms in its defence, were not rob
els, but the lawfully constituted sol
diery OF their sovereign. Once, shortly
after the war had closed, it was consid-
cred the proper thing in national pur-
lance to call the southern soldiers trai-
tors, but history has ratly condemned
the vile epithct, and its use, even with
the bittcrcst of our foes. has been
abandoned.
The congress Of the United States is
composed OF many members who fought
undcr the Confederate flag; and it an
nuaily apprOpriates II large sun. to con-
tinuc the publication Of the records Of
the rebellion. 1t is to be hoped that
some manly ycX-cOnfcdcrutc in that body
will SO forclbly protest against this
pcrversion OF history i'm the title of the
work that it's authors will awake to
shame and repentance.
In all the annals of all the wars of all
time, the soldier of the Confederate
Army presented type so distinct, that
he will go down to future history i'm
lasting colors. In him there was Il
genius and an individuality seldom
found in the ranks. He was obcdicnt
to command yet difficult to bend to
army discipline. He was ever ready TO
meet danger from sense of duty and
from patriotism, but rarely could he hc
driven by force Of discipline. His pa
ticnt endurance OF the hurdships and
privations to which he was subjected
waS prominent trait in his character.
IT has not often fallen to the lot Of men
to suffer so many Of these for 20 long Il
p ri0d with the heroic fortitudc that
characterized the men who followed
their Confederate leaders for four
years of war. His intelligence WAS
largely above the average soldier. He
would often discern the object of some
strategic move while it was being iui-
tlatcd, and would discuss campaigns,
pDlnt out errors ard criticisc with
rare Judgment, the military movements
in which he was engaged.
The hardships he endured we're al
most beyond the comprehension OF men,
especially in the later months o. the
war. General Il. T.. Lee, in IL letter to
Mr. Scddon, Secretary Of War at Rich
mond, under date Of Feb Sth, 1860, thus
forcibly presents the condition Of the
Confederate Army in front Of Peters,
ohlS. All Lllc ulSpOSaDlt IOrcG Dl the
right wing Of the urmy has been op-
Grating against the enemy beyond
ilatchcr's Run since Sunday. Hrstcr
day the most inclcmcnt day Of the
winter, they had to be retained in line
of battle. having been in the same con
diton the two previous days and nights
| regret to be obliged to Stale that
under these circumstances, heightened
by assaults and fire Of the enemy, some
OF the men had been without meat for
three days, and all were suffering from
reduced rations and scant clothing, cx-
posed to battle, hail, cold and scct. |
have directed Con. Cole, Chief Com
missary, who reports that he has not Il
pound IF meat at his disposal to visit
Richmond and sec if nothing ctn
be done. II some change is not made,
and the commissisry department rc-0r-
n lniu n 1 irn ros,,l,, ,