Year: 1868

nave recently seen what pufDOtts 10
be a quotation from a speech made. in
Charleston, not 10 an ordinary meeting,
but in acknowledgment Of a compl,.
ment--a serenade given 10 me by nv
old soldiers. am told that in the
New York Herald Il is published that
said ",he flag had been preserved, and
should one day unfold il and call around
me the men who used to follow that
banner on the field" I need no, tell
you that this. statement is in every re.
spect false. On the sontrary, when
spoke of the flag Of the Confederacy,
remarked that II now was furled forever
to be buried in the grave of our lost
catfse. did make an allusion 10 an
other flag, which had been followed by
many Of the men standing around me.
II was a flag that bad been worked by
the descendants Of Revolutionary pa


triots, and presented to us by the hdbie
women Of South Carolina, through the
hands of our then chief magistrate, n
flag which had foated amid The smoke
of many desperate battle field; which
had been borhs by my own hero son,
and which enshrouded him when he
was carried 10 the tomb. told them
that flag was resting with me; fer
knew that they would be glad to hear
lidings Of banner that had long been
familiar to their eye-, and whose ample
folds did not contain space enough on
which to write the names of all the en-
gagements in which il had foated in
the front Of battle. Because | told my
old comrades that that flag Of a single
regiment had not been buried in the
wreck OF Columbia, these Radicals OF
the North basely perverted both lam
guage and sense for the purpose of pro


ducing political effect. Had they taken
The pains 10 do so, they would have
seen that ] said that even that flag was
furled forever, 10 be buried in the grave
OF our lost cause.


/ should not have noticed tn ese gtoss
misrepresentation, had they not been
brought to my notice in direct man.
her by thy friend from Marion; but
since he has afforded inc an opportun.
ity Of doing so, use it not only to de.
nounce these statements rs false, but to
reitera,e here as do in every place.
that am fighting as earnestly in the
interest Of peace rs did in war. In
saying this, | recognize AL Of the Issues
Involved in This contest, and also recog


nize, 10 the fullest extent. The kindness
extended TO us at the North by those
who had met us on hundred battle.
fields, and who, standing around a com.
mon altar which they wished once more
to raise, extended in faith and kindness
the right hand Of friendship. | ask
you wha, more can | Gol Everywhere
l have urged our people to come for.
ward in this contest, and be as tue sol!
diers in the cause Of peace as they were
in the cause Of war. This is all / have
done, and il is what shall continue TO
do. Notwithstanding the misSepresenta-
tions that may be given TO the world.
Whatever may be the character Of the
falsehoods Circulated ~ intend 10. pursue
an even course, and will not bs pro-
voked to say one word that is acrimo.
nions or offensive. know what the
Radicals have in view, and urge the
people not to give wayio prejudice or
passion. Let them IN patience endure
the misfortunes they cannot control,
avoid all conflict with the negr oes, give
no political capital to our enemies, trust
to the Democratic party, fight this great
struggle with peaceful agencies alone,
and there is every reason to believe tha,
we shall witness the restoration of the
government, and the supremacy of the
Constitution Of the United States.