Year: 1861

Passing events during the period of the last
SIX months, have directed our attention to the
heretofore almost exclusive claim of the people
OF the Southern States to this acquired attrib
ute of personal character. Poets and orator:
have been fond of declaring that the chivalrie
spirit of old bad vanished, but the Southerons
of the United States claimed to have been its
preservers and par excellence, its embodiment
yet the grounds for such clairs are of doubtful
existence. We learn from history that the
combined characteristics of chivalry, were a
warlike spirit magnanimity TO the conquered
lofty devotion to the female sex, an unde.
Enable thirst for glory, connected with feudal


ndependence,-elevation above the drudgery
of daily toil-a delightful case, and luxurient
repose after great achievements, together with
much pride, vanity, credulity and extravaganza.
We will admit that in these latter characters
tics, such as elevation above the drudgery Of
daily and honest toll &c, the Southrons pre-
eminently excel their Northern brethren, but
deny their possessing the loftier attributes of
the old cavaliers; on the contrary, if we can
believe the history of our own day they lack
all the more ennobling characteristics of true
chivalry. The spirit of chivalry, if it ever
existed in the Southern heart was only that
part of it which was secondary to the more
lofty and ennobling. 1t was the pride, vanity,
credulity, extravaganza, and the avoidance of
the drudgery of daily toll.


The orator and poet may now safely declare
that the spirit of true chivalry is Dead even to
the hope of resurrection, in that part of our
country where it was claimed to be enshrined.
But the true spirit of modern chvalry with all
its lofty characteristics of devotion to country,
of selfsacrifce for the good of posterity,-o
courage even at the jaws of deadly battery,
of magnanimity to the conquered foe-of
bravery and fortitude under the most fearful
odds of numbers and vantage grounds, and of
artistic skill in warfare, that would challenge
the old world for a comparison-is still alive
The New York Goth regiment, the Fire Zou-
aves, the Michigan regiments, and many others
at the Manassas battle can honestly claim for
themselves and their brethren that need of
praise due to the true chivalry of the present
day.


So also can the renowned Lyon, now laid in
a soldier patriots grave, and the fearful Sige
with bis unerring engines of deadly warfare,
each claim for himself and his country that
they have taught to would be depostors of the
true chivalry of the country, that they are far
in the rear of all these necessary requisites
which stamp at once the hero, soldier, patriot
and self sacrificing cavalier of the olden time,
or of the present day. The brilliant victories
of our troops at Manassas, Carthage, and
Springfield, and the sweeping of Western Vir-
ginia by the gallant and daring Mcclellan
have snatched all the insignia of chvalry from
the clans of the Soutern border, and won last
ing laurels to themselves but more than all,
have cast lustre upon their country that will
long prove prestige and boon to their success,
and knell to the dying spirit of the unjustly
claimed chivalry of the South.