Year: 1866

or justice, nor does failure always imply
evil, wrong or falsehood. If the justice
of a cause always insured success, Po
land, Hungary and Ireland would not
now groan under the heel of the oppres
sor, nor would the South be reduced to
the sad condition in which she finds her.
self to day. But sad as is the condi-
ton of our beloved land, we must not
forsake it. She has need of all her
sons. You know that in years that are
just passed, you regarded it as your
highest duty to stand by your colors
So now it is your duty to stand by your
State. Her colors are nailed to the
mast, and let us stand or fall with her.
Give her all the aid you can, and if she
sinks, at least let us go down with her.
For these reasons 1 have discouraged
emigration. 1 believe it is our highest
duty to assist in the establishment of
law, order, peace; to help the widows
and orphans made by the war and to
endeavor to raise our PROSTATE and bleed.
ing country. We may not be able to
do much towards alleviating the suffer.
ing and sorrows of our people, but we
can at least take our share Of them, and
thus tighten the general burthen by dis
tributing it amongst us all To the
accomplishment Of these objects the
highest that patriotism can inspire-I
invoke your earnest Co operation. 1t
will require your endurance to restore
hope to our people or vitality to our
State.


We can expect nothing from the
Government of the United States, what,
ever party may be in power. The
Convention at Philadelphia-where the
North and South, burying the past,
were to re.ostablish liberty, equality,
fraternity-has declared the platform
upon which the conservatives propose
to enter the next canvas. In the do
~l---tinn. VI prtiiCIples winch compose
that platform, I see in announced that
the brave soldiers and sailors who sup.
pressed the rebellion are entitled to the
thanks of the nation; that the debt in
cured in that holy crusade is to be sacred,
and that all Confederate debts are null
and void. We pension the men who
forged our fetsers, but the soldiers Of
the South-men with empty sleeves or
on crutches, such as are seen around me
now--are to be branded as outlaws,
rebels and traitors. No fostering hand
of a paternal Government soothes or
cares for their widows and orphans.


The country and Government for
which they fought, like their hopes, are
dead, and they are thrown on the cold
charity ofthe 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 fell, remember
that they died for us fighting. as they
honestly believed, to make us free.
They offered up their lives willing
sacrifice for their country, and shame
upon the man who would no. help those
who have lost their all in our behalf I
shall never turn my back upon any
brave soldier who stood by his banner
to the last though that glorious banner
may be forever furled though now


"There's not man to wave it,


And there's not soul to save It,


And there's not one left to lave it,


In the blood which heroes gave It,"


'Tis true that we have but little left
to us; that we are impovished; but we
Cali at least share onr pittance with


those who have lost ALL ="


| To record the names Of those who
fought for US to perpetuate the history
of the gallant troops given by our STATE
to the common cause; to extend aid t
those who are disabled, and to those


whose protectors fell in the war, are th'
noble purposes Of your proposed Associa
| ton. / wish you God.speed IN thi
work. congratulate myself that


have been permitted to participate il


these holy objects; and l pray that Go'
may EIess them to the fullest extent o
/ your wishes. I thank you gentlemen
for the courtesy you have extended /,
me, and fofithe kindness with which 70,