The news & observer., 1901-05-11
CAUSES OF THE WAR
AND ITS FIRST YEAR
Continued from First Page.)

| tions, and proud memories of noble men
brave deeds and costly sacrifices. n
1 was in Raleigh that | entered the Con-
| efderate Army at the outset of the War
| Between the States as Adjutant Of the
| Twenty second North Carolina ReGi-
ment under the peerless Fettigrew. lE
| this city my family found refuge ana
welcome after the occupation of New
bern by the Federal forces, and here
| / returned after the sad end near Hills
boro when Johnston surrendered to
| Sherman. My life as a soldier is asso~
ciated with Raleigh, and it is most
grateful to speak to her people-amons
whom l number many friends and some
contemporaries those far off, stir
ring days of great events in 1S61-1S65.
| On the Feast of All Saints Day, which
according to the Christian calendar, oc-
ours on the first of November, beauti-
full custom is observed in Europe ana
in parts of this country. The day is
kept as a holiday, and many persons,
laying aside their cares of life, repair to
the burial of their dead and decorate
their graves with flowers. The day
seems appropriately chosen.
In our annual gatherings at the South
to offer loving tributes to the memory
of our Confederate dead our custom
is much akin to that described, finding
its expression also most appropriately
in floral offerings.
But on All Saints Day the offerings
are made by relatives of each of the
departed members of the family cir
cle with us it is the undivided tribute
of whole people to all soldier dead
Here, too, the day is fifty chosen. Thir-
ty-eight years ago today Gen. Thos. ].
Jackson. but few days after his splen-
did achievement at Characteristic, in
which he met his death wound, passed
to his final reward. How many North
Carolina boys were with him there, and
many from him ''in death were not di-
vided" Stonewall, the incarnation of
the Confederate cause of what was
noblest in it, and knightliest and best
meet is it that the anniversary OF his
death should be set apart as the. day
for all to assemble to commemorate the
cause he upheld so ably, and to do
honor to the heroes who survive their
great leader. as we'll as to those who
with him have passed ''oVer the river
and rest under the shade of the trees.
Perpetuate, o my fellow countrymen!
this beautiful custom-just tribute TO
devoted men and noble deeds. 1t keeps
in fond memory a glorious epoch in our
MISCONCEPTIONS though it passed
away in blood and tears. Preserve 1t
for the sake of the women of the South.
who instituted it in the face of difficult
ties, discouragements and disappoint-
ments that only zeal like theirs could
overcome. Make yearly pilgrimages,
and take care that those Who come af-
ter us are taught thoroughly the cause
and meaning of these, ceremonies that
they may hand down to generations yet
unborn the true story of the men and
era We now commemorate. Foster and
sustain your Memorial Association.
Second all efforts to care for the few
who survive the great tragedy, and to
adorn the hallowed spots where rest
our dead, and so shall our soldiers be
held in grateful memory in all time 70
come, and their deaths will not have
been in vain. No! not in vain Brave
blood is never shed wholly in vain, but
sends a voice echoing down the ages
through all time" The familiar PROV
erb, republics are always ungrateful, .,
must have no application here in Dixie
The subject of my address to you to-
day will, at the request of the Memorial
Association. be ga Sketch of the Events
Immediately Proceeding and Following
the Passage of the Ordinances of Sc
cession by the State of North Carolina;'
and as an appropriate beginning, / will
first mention what is known as the
John Brown raid at Harper's Ferry,
Va, which occurred in October 1859.
This was an attempt of narrow mind
ed fanatic to arm slaves and stir UP
servile insurTection throughout the
South He was accompanied by few
followers, two only Of whom We're ne
groes, but was contenanced and abet-
ted by large influence in the Northern
States and was aided with money and
supplies. Several citizens were killel
in this dastardly outrage, as were menl-
bers of Browns party. No negroes of
the neighborhood came to his assist
ance, and it is a pitiable commentary
that the first person killed by his men
was negro, an employe of the B. IL
Q. r. r. Brown was promptly cap
tured and brought to trial with several
of his followers, all of whom were con-
victed and executed at CharlestoWn
Va Prominent and principally instru-
mental in his capture was Lieut.. Col.
Robert E. Lee, in command of body
Of u. s. Marines, who was assisted by
Lieut. j. e. B. Stuart. The connection
with this event of those officers after
wards SO distinguished in the war be-
tween the State, is worthy of note This
action Of deluded fanatic who paid
the penalty Of an infamous crime by a
justly merited death, was the logical
outcome of the teachings of the aboli-
tion party 1t startled the whole coun-
try, and for the South had the gravest
significance. It's real meaning was more
fully demonstrated and emphasized at
the time, and after, of Browns execu-
ton. There was tolling of bells, min
ute guns were fired in many parts of
the North. In church services held in
memory Of him, Brown was portrayed
as martyr, was compared to our Re.
deemer on Cavalry, and that not by ig-
norant enthusiasts but by men as promi-
nent as Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said
''the new saint will make the gallows
glorious like the Cross 1t was alarm
ing, inconceivable, that miscreant whose
previous career of crime in Kansas was
we'll known, who was guilty of insur-
rection, rapine and murder, should, in
consequence of his just punishment be
q O0thaocizad and anfitla6 Iobr