Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-07-22
GEN. BONHANI'S SPEECH.
Delivered in the Afternoon IcStrr.
day at the CnvcIinS.

Alter the rcaSScmDling Of the
| crowd after dinner yesterday. Gen.
Nj. l.. Bonham, the second speaker OF
, the day, delivered an excellent ad-
dress. With his usual ease and
fOrcciul manner, Gen. Ronham said:
That was Il fclicitouS thought
which suggested that the dedication
OF this monument, which commence
rates the fame and honors the names
of the soldiers OF Oconcc. should
tall upon the Scmi-ccntcnnial OF the
first great battle OF that gigantic
conflict in which they bad part.
Fifty years ago to-day, upon the
Plains OF MANASSAS there WAS enact
ed the first great scene in that drama
OF war which shook continent to
its foundations. and for four years
absorbed the attention OF the civil
lied world. At this distance OF
time, in these Niping days Of peace.
one marNclS that the passions Of
men could have been so wrought
upon as to make possible that war.
II were Il work OF SuncrorOgatiOn to
weary this audience with an extend
ed discussion OF The causes which
led TO it. Possibly no single uucS-
ton OF public interest in the range
OF the history OF the United States
has received more attention than has
TINS. Every person OF mature years
OF this generation has heard it de
hated. or read books which treat of
1t. Naturally there exists great di-
VorSity OF opinion upon the subject,
consequent upon the point OF view.
Probably the prcpondcrance Of that
opinion inClinCS to the belief that
slavery was the moving cause Yet.
upon this the people OF the North
are themselves divided in sentiment.
Many Of the soldiers OF the Union
hoily denied the charge that they
were lighting to give freedom TO the
negro. but asserted with vehcmencc
that they fought solely to preserve
the Union. Others OF them. how
ever. took pride in the declaration
that they fought for the cXtermina-
uon OF slavery. Now that slavery
has been abolished as the result OF
the war, all OF them are inclined to
claim great credit for that accom-
pIiShmcnt.
The people of the South asserted
that they took up arms. not to per
petuatc slavery, but in defense Of
tN" principles OF SClf~govcrmmcnI and
o. the right OF the States to rogu-
late their own internal affairs, as it
was guaranteed TO them by the Con-
SiItubOn. and 10 rcpCl ,hc invasion
q; their country. II Is Il fact that
0nr-haII the men who constituted
TN" armies Of the tOmfcdcracy were
not the owners OF slaves. and very
many OF jhCm were personally Op-
posed To the institution OF slavery.
Nevertheless it is true that the
"Nist"nc" Of slavery in the South
was Il prolific carSC OF those conUi-
lions which made the appeal 10
arms Inevitable. l'nmndful Of. or
ignoring tn" fact that, when the
Constitution was adopted. slavery
existed, or was lawful. in twelve o.
ihr thirteen original States, and that
the matters OF the Constitution, al
ter long drbat" and consideration.
specifically guaranteed to those
States in which it existed. that they
should not b." disturbed in these
property rights, The rabid and radi-
cal abolition sentiment OF thc North
never ceased it's agitation. its inter
ference, its aggression upon the
rights OF The Shareholder, until it
had brought about state OF public
opinion which made compromise ana
peaceful settlement Impossible. The
enforcement OF The fugitive slave
laws, and HE extension OF slavery in
ihc territories and new States which
applied for admission to the Union.
involved the assertion on the Oac
hand and the denial on the other
OF III" political doctrine OF State
sovereignty, and furnished thai con
Siant source Of irritation whi,h
thWartrd the every effort OF the Con-
ScrNatiyos.