The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-10
BRILLIANT URATORY
 IN THE AFTERNOON
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cession announced what he was pleased to call the higher law. He and his fol- lowers contended that there was law higher than the constitution. higher than the acts of Congress, and that these higher laws had to take the place Of the constitution, which had for their purpose the taking from the south the property which represented the sweat and toll ot the southern people for POO years and when was jealously guarded by the provisions of the constitution of the United States. Of course the announcement of the higher law was to all intents and purposes rev olutonary and when this party had se- cured control of the government, It was perfectly natural for the northern people to assume that the higher law would De put into operation, and that it would displace all of our constitutional rights and thus deprive us of legitimate ana legal property
 Had Two Options.
 e'This left the south the option of fol- lowing one of two courses.
 First. The southern people had the right to remain in the union and ara" their swords in preservation of it's honor and of its constitution and laws.
 Second. They had the right, which had been reserved by each state, to with draw from the union. They chose the
 
 not it is now not necessary to discuss.
 "The southern army was composed or citizens that had enjoyed a peculiar civ ilization. It was altogether dissimilar in it's customs and practices from the civil ization of our northern neighbors. They were a commercial people and sea-farlng people. and consequently had different en- vironments, politically and socially, from the southern people. The southern people were an agricultural people. They lived at home. They were trained to ride wild horses, use firearms in the chase. and to lead an outdoor life that tended to make them absolutely independent and rather disposed to be arbitrary. Now when the war was precipitated between the states these southern men volunteered, and the southern army was composed of just such a class of citizens They never had been in the habit of observing any self-re- straint, or having any power above them to restrain them from doing what they thought was honorable and legitimate. They volunteered made up their OWE messes, and never was any army that had more intelligent discipline than the southern army. These men promptly and cheerfully submitted to every hardship in the camp, on the march and on the battle field. The esprtede corps and morale of the southern army was equal to any that had ever been organized. and another singular feature connected with the southern army was that these men were allowed to elect their own field officers, lieutenants, captains, majors lieutenant colonels and colonels of the regiments. and I challenge history to furnish a par allel where the field officers of any army were superior to those of the Confederate army, although elected by the free bal lot of the soldiers themselves. These of- ficers understood their men. They never resorted to cruel and brutal methods to control them. It was not necessary. Their hearts were in the cause, and life to them was not considered when the question of duty was involved. The record of the Confederate soldier was equal to that of any to be found in history. He fought battles that will be the wonder of man. kind as long as the world lasts, and that under adverse circumstances, hunger, lack of clothing, and with inferior equip ment, except where they took it from the enemy.
 Right to Be Proud
 Comrades, you have .the right to be proud of your career as soldiers. The ung men and the young women of the south have the right to have their hearts thrill with pride and admiration when the Confederate soldier is even mentioned
 Our comrades lie upon the hillsides of Gettysburg, amid the brambles and briars of the Wilderness Comrades the, flowers that bloom in the spring on the beautiful plains of Perryville, among the rocks an1 cedar brakes around Murfreesboro, on the rugged hillsdes of Chickamauga, or on the banks of the ripping waters of Harper's creek, are crimsoned with the blood of our comrades.
 And now, comrades, a word of tribute to our southern women, God bless them! Our southern girls, who had been accus- toned to wearing imported bonnets and dresses. were reduced to the extremity of having to go to their mothers loomt to weave for themselves homespun cloth. cut of which to fashion their garments, and then go to their fathers oat fields to gather straw, and with their own delft fingers weave themselves oat straw bon nets
 You have seen them thus appareled. and I know that you will agree with me in saying that they looked as sweet as beautiful as refined and cultured as any queen that ever sat upon throne. During a banquet given to Admiral Luce and his afficers in this city some years ago. said to Admiral Luce, who at that time commanded the North Atlantic | squadron Admiral our young women had to wear homespun dresses and oat straw bonnets. but when I looked into their clear, beautiful blue or black eyes felt a strange sentiment come over me, perhaps you have felt it, Admiral? "Oh. yes, I have felt it. and I want to feel 1t again." he said. I said, @Admiral, I have come to the conclusion that the char acter of the dress. or the bonnet does not have anything to do with causing these strange but pleasing sensations He replied: "None in the world, Russell, none
 in the world"
 "1n conclusion comrades, we are to be congratulated in having a reunited country. The passions and prejudices en- gendered by the war, as far as the sol diers are concerned on both sides, have disappeared. We have one country and one flag, and none are more loyal in the support of that flag than the ex- -Confeder- ate soldier.
 "When you cross the river, comrades. you will rest in the shade on the other side and will again in the spirit land be comrades of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Stone wall Jackson and Stephey D. Gee and our other comrades that have gone be- fore"
 After musical number General Ca bell introduced Judge Wright
 Judge Wright Speaks.
 There can be no more fitting exordiun to any address on the subject of the Con federate States navy than a tribute to the man whose untiring zeal ripe expe- rience and noble self-sacrifcc made nos sible it's brilliant record upon the high seas. That man was Capt James Dun
 Money TOI Oan