The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-10-22

states, was Rho0e Island.
In the troublous times preceding
the clash of conflict between the
states, many of the most loyal sons
of Dixie questioned the wisdom Of Sc
cession, but the right to withdraw
from any federation into which one
came voluntarily was inalienable
Still, strong was the love for the
united country, founded at such count
less cost, that many an ordinance of
secession was signed amid the tears
of strong men, and six of the thirteen
Confederate states did not secede I'M
til forced to choose between fighting
with their sister states of the south
or fighting against them.
The inexpediency, the Unwisdom of
secession was demonstrated by the
result of the. war between the states,
but its right is inherent in state SOW.
ereignty. Our country is and was
from the beginning, an equal fedora
ton Of free and Independent states,
according to articles of agreement
mutually agreed upon and signed;
therefore, in all points not specifically
conceded by the state to the federal
authority, nor specifically prohibited
to the state by the articles of fedora
ton, the authority of the state is alb
solute, and is so declared, in sub
stance, by the 10th amendment to the
constitution of the United States.
The same spirit that moved the
English barons at Runymede to de-
mand from King John that great bull
wark of English liberty, the Magma
Charta, that inspired resistance of the
colonies to the oppressive exactions
of the mother country that made the
states hesitate to sign the articles
of the constitution of the United
States, lest the federal authority en-
croach upon the rights of the state,
was the indwelling spirit of the south.
Her people were deeply imbued with
a love of fair play, a high sense of
personal honor and personal rights,
which found their legitimate express
sion in state pride, for after all, states
rights are but the rights of the indi-
vidual raised to the highest power.
Their state borders were to them
their castle walls, and all within was
theirs to possess, to love, to protect.
What wonder then that when the call
for troops to invade the south went
out from the federal authority its
translation to every southern heart
was:
Come to tear down the statehood
your fathers died to upbuild! Come, to
invade the homes of your brothers!
Come, to trample upon their liberties!
To take away their rights, to make
desolate the homes and the hearth
stones of those who are your kim
dred!"
Sons and daughters of Confederate
men and women, is it cause for won
der that the south sprang to arms,
indeed, but ito arms for Dixie?" That
the slumbering spirit of the American
revolution, the spirit of English an
cestry of centuries agone, avoke in
its might, and became the spirit of the
.Confederacy? That its cleo
trio impulse thrilled from soul to soul, |
tanning the flame of that indomitable
courage, that unfaltering heroism,
which made her sons and daughters i
alike offer their all in defense of the
and that was their own, the homes
hat were their pride, the rights that
we're their heritage?
The spirit that famine could not
ytarve, nor insult humilitate, that de-
EAT could not subdue, nor death slay;
hat yielded not until her land was
)ne wide sepulchre, her homes black.
sned and desolate, and the scant rem
lant Of her dauntless defenders gaunt
with hunger; that buried her dead,
md covered their graves with the gar
ands of victors. that made her battle
Scared sons her heroes, that bore
Ter stainless banners from the field of
Ter defeat, and hung them in triumph
Il drapings above her hottest shrines,
hat strengthened her children to reap
he cruel aftermath of the conflict,
hat lifted the pail of desolation and
despair with the hands of eternal
lope, that babe her people wait in
,atience for the verdict of the years!
Where, ah where, on the unrolled
ecords of time shall we find note of
pirit so brave to dare, so strong to
so patient to upbuild, so pure
n patriotism as the unconquerable
pirit of the southern Confederacy?
Sons and daughters of the south,