The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-05-29

will to remain in the union, i power
not to be found In the constitution, q
power which all the earlier fathers be-
lievcd did not exist, a power utterly
Inconsistent with the right OF seces-
sion, which it Is believed all parts Of
the country recognized when the con-
StitutiOn was framed and for many
years thereafter.
''lf the southern States had The
power, Notwithstanding the cOnstftu-
bion, to withdraw from the union In
1909, in 1912 and in 1916, as New Eng
land statesmen then affirmed, they
had the same power III 1901. No
change OF the constitution. had been
made and the relation of the States to
each other were unaltered. II that
power existed at all, the cXpediency of
withdrawing was Cne solely for each
State to decide for itself.
1t was not a question Of the con-
trOl OF the government or an econOmi-
cal or industrial question; 1t was not u
question Of preserving the balance OF
power or the equilibrium OF the sec
tiOns, such as was felt in New Eng
land when the Louisiana and Florida
purchases were made and Texas ac-
quircd. 1t was Il question Of civilian
tinn, Of constitutional liberty, Of the
preservation Of TIE principles of the
constitutions; and the south when the
alternative was presented OF abandon
Jug the principles of the constitution
or giving up the union with alacrtY,
but with deepest reluctance that the
necessity existed, chose the latter.
She was overcome: she has suffered,
but She ought not to be maligncd or
misrcprcScnted
must not be misunderstood. This
whole question OF secession and dis
uniun has been forever settled, SO far
aS the domain OF constitutional law
is concerned. The decree was render
cd ut AppnmattOx and was written In
the best blood Of all sections Of this
land. 1t was rendered in tue high
court OF last resort, where all laws
but thosc Of war are silent. From it
no appeal can he had except to reYolu-
tion, which God forbid. From the
clear skies Ills blessed finger points to
Il restored union and His benitlcient
smile is spread all over the land where
| dwclls people, the strongest, the
most enlightened. the most prosper
GUS and happy to be found on the
habitable globe. In all our struggles
we had not been forgotten. His
mighty hand has been felt, lifting us
up from our calamitieS, chastened but
made better and stronger by Ills low
ing kindness.
Slavery perishcG. Al accession, as
one Of the incidents ;r.L !rsultS Of the
war. Thank God thu. Is gone for,
ever and that we ha,,e Il reunited
country under one flag. the cmblc. a Of
IL free people in an ,scparable union
Of cocQual States a.id never destined,
we pray Cod, to become the emblem
Of imperial power at home or abroad,
or to lloat over vassal States and sub
jcct peoples anywhere against their
will
| I'VE are assembled here for. no
/ ignoble ends. We are here to revive
no issncs scttlediby tiiat ;ulfh fhdpp y con-
Eiiict. we are net ret here e. eotsdc fame
others or pervert or wrap Gne =. u o.. ;,
We are not here to eXaggerate or
magnify the glory and virtues OF one
section Of our common country at the
expense OF the other. We are here
that mankind may not forget nor
falschoou nor calumny cloud or tarnist
the calm Judgment Of poSterity as to
the sincerity of the motives and the
honorable conduct Of Confederate
soldiers. We affirm our desire
that our children may understand
these things. that they may the more
reverence their ancestry, that they
may know Of their suffering and sac
! riticcs and he able to defend their good
names, and proud of their achieve
ments, emulate in the great struggles
Of the future, If such await our coun-
try the fidelity, patriotism, love of
! home and country attcstcd by the
| veterans Of 1861 on hundred bloody
battlefields.
WHO would have them forget the
Lees, the JOhnstons. the JacksonS and
the Hills? Who would have them for
get Bragg, Beauregard, Hardcc, Pr cc,
Polk and Hood? Who would have
| them forget the great wizard of the
saddles, Bedford Forrest; and our own
little Joe Wheeler, Pat Clcburn, the
lamentcd Walthall and innumerablc
others? Who would have us forget
the grand old man Gen. John b. Cor
dom yet with us, and others still spar
ed and The hosts who made for hem
names that can never perish from tic
earth as long as genius and courage
and patriotism challenge the admra-
tlon Of mankind?
Did any other people ever face
and overcome adversely as did the
southern people? The same spirit
which gave her armies unity, power
and endurance followed the survivors
back into civil life to point the way Of
Il new birth such as no other country
has ever experienced. The south gave
to her armies all Of her male popula-
ton, including beardcss boys and
gray-haired men, ard they went from
every walk, profession, calling and
station in life. Neither the bench,
the pulpit nor the institutions OF
learning were sparcI, All answered
with alacrity and determination the
call to arms. When the war closed
there were none upon whom to
rely but the Confederate soldier.
He it was who took up the new prob
lem which the changed conditions OF
his dcsolatc land presented. Stand
ing by the graves Of his comrades, in
Spircd by their noble deeds, chaStcncd
., N 0icpinlinnI I,u