Year: 1866

given me the pleasure of meeting up with
you today, and in participating in the
laudable objects contemplated by your
meeting and that pleasure is greatly en-
hanced by seeing around me many of the
brave men whom it was my good fortune
to command during the war. These noun
tain regions gave to the armies of the South
some of our best soldiers, and it is due to
them that l should declare, what 1 do here
with infinite qualification, that had in my
ranks none better, Drawer or more devoted
than the men of this and the adjoining
districts. In your presence l desire to
tender to them my heartfelt thanks for
their conduct as soldiers. They have the
proud consciousness Of having performed
their duty to the State, and this will be
some compensation to them for the result
of the war. nd brother soldiers, whilst
we acquiesce in the results of this war, let
us not admit that the cause of it was un.
justi6ablc or wrong. accapt the terms
upon which we laid down our arms, i'm
good faith, and it is our duty to observe
these terms faithfully; but whilst do
this, shall never say that We had not
right on our side-I shall never hold my
State as guilty or her sons as traitors. The
cause is not to be judged by success or
failure. Success does not inevitably make
right or truth or justice, nor does failure
always imply evil, wrong or falsehood If
the justice OF n cause always insured sue
cess, Poland, Hungary and Ireland would
not now groan under tho heel of an OPP
pressor, nor would the South be reduced to
the sad condition in which she finds herself
to day. But sad Us is the condition OF our
beloved land, we must not iorsake it. She
has need of all her sons. You know tha;
in years that are just passed, you regarded
1t as your highest duty to stand by your
colors. So now it is your duty to stand by
your State. Her coiors are nailed to tie
mast, and let us stand or fall with her.
Give her all the aid you can, and
it she sinks, at least let US go down
with her. For these reasons, | have dis.
couraged amig,ation. l believe it is our
highest duty " assist In the re establish
ment Of law, order. peace ~ he.p the
widows and orphans made by the war, and
TO endeavor to raise our PROSTATE aud bleed
ing country. We may not be able to do
much towards alleviatlng the suffering and
sorrows Cf our people, but we at least can
take our share of them, and thus tighten
the general burden by distributing it
amongst us all. To the accomplishment OF
these objects-the highest that patriotism
can inspire-l invoke your earnest CO ope-
ration 1t will require all your energy, all
your strength, ali your endurance, to lie
store hope to our people or vitality to our
State.


We can expect nothing from the Gov.
ernment Of the United States, whatever
party may be in power. The Convention
at Philadelphie-where the North and
the South, burying the past, were to re
establish liberty, equality. fratcrnity-has
declared the platform upon which the con
servativcs propose to enter the next can
vass. In the declaration of principals,
which compose that platform, see it an
nounced that the brave soldiers and sailors
who suppressed the rebellion are entitled
to the thanks of the nation tha. the debt
incurred in that holy crusade is to be sa-
cred and that all Confederate debts IRE
null and void. We pc .fsiol the men who
forged our fetters but the soldiers of the
South-men with empty sleeves or on
crutchcS, such as are seen around me now
are to be branded as outlaws, rebels and
traitors. No fostering hand of paternal
Government soothcs or cares for their
widows ard orphans. The cuuntry and
the government for which they fought.
like their hopes, are dead, and they are
thrown on the cold charity OF the world
1T is our duty to open our hearts and our
hands to our brave disabled soldiers, and
care for the families of those who fell in
our defence. Whatever may have been
the result of the cause in which they ell,
remember that they died for us, fighting,
as they honestly believed, to make us free.
They offered up their lives a willing sac.
rliice for their country, and shame upon
the man who would not help those who
have lost their all in our behalf | shall
never turn my back upon any brave sol.
dier who stood by his banner to the last.
though that glorious banner may be forever
furled-thOugh now


"Therc's not q man to wave il,


And there's not soul TO save il.


And there's not one left to lave il


In the blood which heroes gave t."
It's true that We have but little left TO us :;
that we are impoverished but we can at
least share our pittance with those who
have lost all