Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Defending a Caw That Was Just. THI<: I, VST SUItVIVOIl OV THE CONFEDRH VTHJ CABINET. lion, .lohn li. Itcitgan, or Texas, De livers I ho Annual Address Before the United OonlVd^rate Veterans? PaolS of HImoi.v i hut Need to ho Told. Theannual addreas before the United Confederate \' U-rens ut the reunion in Nashvll) ?, Toon , was delivered by Hon. John II. Li ague, of Texus, who wa? Post mai-tar General of the Con federate States, at (1 is the * last survi ving member of Ihv Confederate cabi net. It contuii s v double facts and in cidents, and we priut the main por tions of his address : This grout assemblage und this Inter esting occasion c. I , up many memories of great events, li brings into review the ahlo und earn* s discussions whlob preceded the year 1801, on the great questions whica Ind Up to the war b - twoen the States : t1 e separation of the members of the 30th Congress ; the ac tion of the Southern States in passing the ordinances of secession ; the organ ization of the Government of the Con foderuto Stute? of America: the com mencement of hostilities at Charleston harbor, the cull for volunteers by Pres ident L'ncoln, the enthusiasm with which men on both sides volunteered to enter the great struggle, the separa tion of husbands und fathers from wives and children, of sot.s from futhers und mothers, of brothers from sisters, und of lovers from their sweethearts, with eyes bedewed with tours und hearts, throbbing wit i patriot sm. to enter the camps of Instruct!) n, oiuko the long marches und eugagu in tho liorco con ti ids of battle, It brings into review ilie assembling of migli'y armies, their toilsome marunes, too sicKnessund suf fering in camps, the thousunds of skirmishes und buttles, participated in by hundreds of thousands of brave men, the Bufferings of tue wounded, und the g real, uumber who fell on euch side as martyrs to their patriotic devotion to the causes they Iv-lu v d to bo right and just, in the greuKst war of modern timcb ; u wur in which hundreds of thousunds of brave no n lost their lo'es, and which left to the future u vust army of mourning widows and children und sorrowing re I at v s und friends, und which oausod the sucritico of bil lions of dollars' worth of property. And'itculls up our i? membrance of the great labor and saur licoa of our no ble women in curing (or the children and uged ut home, und In preparing and sending to tho arm us clothes and food for thei- loved oni s, und in min istering to the sic!f und wounded in tho hospitals, THE QUESTION or SLAVERY. From early times there were those who questioned the righifulness to slavery, possibly without sulhcient con sideration of the charm, t :r of tho dif ferent ruces of ?people. This feeling grew tirst with the philanthropic und religious classes until ut hut it was seized upon by political demagogues us an individual method ot political agita tion and declamation by office-seekers, it grew until mobs, Legislatures and courts repudluted ttie constitutional provisions and the laws ot Ci ugress und the decisions of the siipre no court of the United : tat OS, whic.i protected sluvery in the States wheto it existed, and required the rendit.on of sluves when tney escaped in other Slutes. The agitation of this question gathered in strength and violence until it result ed in civil war in Kan.-a. followed by tho raid of John Brown untl his follow ers, who invaded the Stute of Virgiuiu for the purpose of inciting tho negroes tc r. wur ojf.races. And because he wus lawfullyjl&tYcstod und convicted und hung bywe authorities of the State of Virginiu for levying wur on tho Stute, in an elTort to bring about u horrid war ; between the negroes and whites, many of the Northern churches were draped in mourning and many of the Northern people applauded his efforts und uulo- , gized this felon us a hero and murtyr. This was followed by tho nomination and election of a purely sectional unti slavery tickot for president and vice , president of the United Stutes. und , during tho Congress, which immedi ately preceded tho secession of tho , Southern States, thirty odd measures , of compromise were introduced in one or tho other branches of Congress, In nope of securing the adoption of u poli- , cy by which the union of the Stutes and the rights of tho Stutes and of tho peo ple could be preserved and war pro vented. Kaoh of these propositions of compromise was introduceo either by u Southern man or by u Northern Demo crat, and every ono of them was re ceived with hooting and derision by tho Republican members, as the Congres sional Globe of that period will show. And the Southern members wero told that they had to submit to tho will of tho majority, plainly showing that our people could no longer rely for tho pro tection of tho rights of tho Statos or of tho people on tho enforcement of tho provisions of constitution and the laws of the United States. Could any peo ple have, submitted to all this who wero worthy of liberty und good gov ernment V TO VINDICATE TUE TRUTH OF HISTORY. Vou must understand that f do not mako this recital for tho purpose of re newing the prejudices and passions of the pust, but only for tho purpose of showing to our children und to the world that the ex Confouerates wero not responsible for tho existence of African slavery in this country, and wore not responsible for tho existence of tho great wur which resulted from the agitation of that question, and that they wore neither traitors nor rebels. Comrades, by the laws of nature 1 can at most bo with you but a fow years longer, and 1 fool it to bo my duty to you and to posterity to make those statements of the facts of history, which vindicate us against tho chargo of being elthor robols or traitors, and which show that we wero not the au thors of "a causeless wur, brought on by ambitious loaders ;" but that our bravo mon fought und sulTorod and died, and our huly men of God prayed, and our noble women Buffered patiently and patriotically all the privutlous and horrors of a groat war, cruolly forced upon us, for tho purpose of upholding the constitution and laws of tho United States as preserving the rights of the several States to regulato their own domestic policies, and of protecting the people against spoliation and robbery by a dominant majority, some of whoso members, because tho Holy Bible sanc tioned slavery, doolared that they wanted an "antl-plovery Bible and an anti-slavery God," and who because the Constitution of the United States recog nised and protected i- livvcry, declared that It was a "league with hell and a covenant with death.'* Whatever may been said In tho past in the defence, of the institution of slavery, and whatever now may bo Hklhought of tbo means by whloh It was iff fill I M III 111 If I II ? ' ' abolished in this country, tho spi'it of tho present ago is against it, and it has passed away, and 1 supposo no one I wishes its restoration, if that were j practicable. Certainly I would not re store it if I had the power. 1 thing it I better for thn black race that they are free, and 1 arn sure that it is better tor tho whito race thai thorc are no slaves. Some great Macaulay of tho future ! will tell those grand truths to posterity bettor and more forcibly than 1 can in J this brief address, and will by reference i to history, to tho sacred Scriptures ami to tho constitution of the U nited States, as mude by our revolutionary fathers, vindicate the patriotism and tho horole virtues and struggles of our people. WHY THERE WAS NO COMPROMISE. In lator times those not familiar with tho facts to which I am referring have asked tho question: "W.iy was not this great question compromised ?" btatlng that it would have cost a fifth o( the money to pay for and liberate tho slaves that tho war cost, ami that in that way the tens of thousands of valuable lives of good men might have boon saved, and all tho attendant suf fering prevented. The first answer to that question is, that t ie slaves in the United states at tue beginning of the war were estima ted to ho of the value of throe thousand million dollirs, and if they wore to be liberated common honesty rtqulred that it should have boon at the expense of tho nation, which was responsible for its existence. Tho Republicans and tho anti-slavery people were thou a majority Of the white people and had full poss> ssion of the Federal govern ment, or wore ready and authorized to take possession of it. And tboy de manded that tho whole loss to arise from tho freeing of tho slaves should fad on their owners and on tho South ern States. They never proposed and would not have consented for tho Fed eral government and the Northern peo ple to pay any part of tho cost of free ing the slaves. Their patriotism svas notof tho kind which would cause them to assume a part of the burden of cor recting what they claimed to boa groat national wrong. Ami that, too, a wrong, if it svas a wrong, which we in herited fron? other ami older na tions, ami which was incorporated Id our social and industrial systems, and sanctioned by our constitutions, state and Fedora', in tbe organization of the governments. The agitators were willing and anxious to bo patriotic aud just at the expense ol other people. The second answer to It is, that tho industrial and social systems of the Southern States woro so Interwoven with the interest of slavery that the people then believed the frei dum of the slaves, without compensation, meant ttio bankruptcy of the people and States whore it existed, to bo followed probably by a war of races. I am speak ing of what they thou believed. As an ovidonco that our own people, in the oarlior years of tho Republic, recog nized tho necessity of acquiescing in tbo social and industrial conditions which had grown out of African slave ry, history tolls us that Gen. George Washington, who was an extensive slaveholder, was made commander in chief of our revolutionary armies. Ho was tho president of the convention which formed tbo constitution of tho United States, and was elected as tho first president of tho United Stites, and was rc-oleeted to that position. Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Madison, Mr. Monroe, Gen. Jackson, Mr. Folk and Gon Tay lor were each elected president of tho United States, and all of them were tho owners of slaves. They, like the framors of tbo constitution, recognized that this country had inherited a con dition of things in this respect in which it became neeessary to acquiesce. I do not assume to know whether, if a proposition to pay for tho slaves had been made, it would have been accept ed. Such a sacrilico as that which was demanded of the Southern people, has 1 not In tho world's history boon submit- I ted to by any peoplu without an ap peal to tne iast dread arbitrament of war. And ours were a chivalrlc. intel ligent, proud and liberty loving people, and if they twd submitted to this sacri fice without a struggle they would have proven themselves unworthy to bo f:co men, and unworthy of tho proud titlo i>f being Americans. And I say uow, with dt liberation and sincerity, In viow of all the calamities of tho war, if tho same condition of things could again occur, 1 would rather ac cept those calamities than belong to a race of cowards and surrender tho most sacred rights of self government to the clamor of a majority overriding tho constitution and demanding terms so revolting to our senso of justice. THE HAMPTON ROADS CONFERENCE. In this connection 1 dosiro to tay that it has boon frequently asserted of late yours that at the conference be tween President Lincoln and Secretary Soward of tho Federal side, and Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campholl of the Confederate side, at Hampton Heads on tbo .'Id of January, 18(>f>, that Presi dent Lincoln otforod the Confederates $400,000,000 for tho slaves if tboy would abandon tho war and return to tbe union. This story has assumud various forms to suit the tho rhetoric of tho speakers and writers who have given It currency. I wish to assert most solemnly that no such offer in any form was made. All the papers relat ing to the Hampton Roads Conference are given in " MoPhorson's History of tho Rebellion," as ho calls It. They show that the joint resolution for amending tbo constitution of the United States was passed by Congress submitting to tho States tue question of abolishing siuvery in tho United States, two or throe days before tho dato of tho conforonco. Tho roport of tho commissioners on tho part of tbo Confederacy, which was published at | tbe time, shows that no such olfor was made or referred to In that confeironce. Tho statement of President I) ivis aud that of Presidont Lincoln and of Sec retary Seward show that no such offer was made or ta'kcd of at that oonfor oneo. This falso statement ha* boon often made. It Is dlsprovon ny every man who was there, and by ovory pa per which has boon wrltion bj or for tbo mon who were there. Neither I Presidont Lincoln nor any other man ' on the Federal side would have dared to mako such an OtTO" at that time. It was stated at th* time, and I believe the statement to bo true, that tho Con gress hurried tho joint resolution above named through so as to forestall the possibility of any such proposition. The obj lot of this untruthful state ment was no doubt to cast odium on the Confederate President and author ities by trying t > show that they would aecept no terms of.poaco and were re sponsible for tho continuance of the war. President Davis appolntod Vice President Stephons to go to Washing ton In 1804, ostensibly to soouro a re newal of tho cartel for tbe oxuhange of prisoners, but tho real purpose of his mission was to see President Lin coln for tbe purpose of ascoi t lining on what condition the war could ho ter minated. But ho was not permitted by the Federal authorities to pass through their military lines. Then he appointed tho commissioners te> tho saino purpose. And afterwards, in 1805, ho authoriz :d Con. It K. Lee to try to negotiate through Gen. Grant, for tho same purpose I mention these facts to show that it is a mistake to suppose that President Davis neglect ed any means in his power to end tho war on hooorao 1 terms, anu mention them because of tho many misrepre ; sentatlons which have been made on I this subject. Ho could not have made public all he did in this respect at the i time without discouraging our army I and tho peop'e. And if at any time \ he hail proposed or consented I t iin 1 conditional y surrender bo would have ' been in danger of violence at the hands of our own popple. Neither ho nor tin y proposed or intended to surrender unconditionally unless overoowered. RECONSTRUCTION and RESTORATION. After tho overthrow id the Confeder ate government and tho surrender of tho Confederate armies, tho work of the restoration of the federal autbot i ty in tho Southern States was com meuced, while tho excitemi nt and pas sions and prejudices of the war were in full blaze und were Intensified by the assassination of President Lincoln, with which it was then unjustlj as sumed tho Confederate authorities hail some connection, and winch was re garded by tbem as most unfortunate for the people who had adhered to tho fortunes of the Confederacy. Under the state of feeling which then existed on both sides it was hardly to be expected that a wise and temperate policy of reconstruction would be adopt ed, while many of the churches of the Northern States were resolving, and some of their ministers of tho religion of Christ were preaching a crusade of hate, i inscription and revenge against the Southern people. Too plan adopted for the restoration of ttie Union anil the pacification of tho Southern people was to deprive them of all political rights, put them under military rule, and suspend the right of the writ of habeas corpus, so that there could bo no relief or redress for any wrong done to a citizen, how ever unlawful or outrageous. Our oitiz ms were subject to arrest by the military authorities without an a Hi da vit or formal charge, or legal warrant, and to detention without knowing what the charges against them were, and to trial by a drum-head court-mar tial without tho intervention of a jury. A large part of the Southern States had been devastated by war : the peo ple bad exhausted their resources in the endeavor to maintain their cause, and tens of thousands of their bravest anil best men bad either fallen in bat tle or died in the service. Huaten in battle, denied political rights and tho protection of iaw, governed hy an un friendly military authority, and by the negroes, carpetbaggers and scalawags, (I mention them in the order of their respectability), plundered and robbed by tho i mployees of the treasury de partment, and constantly menaced by loyal leagues composed of the elements above named, their condition scorned to bo ushopUcss ns can well bo im agined. If untb-r tho providence of Cod tho lifo of President Lincoln could have been spared, so that "ho reconstruction and Uio restoration of the Union could have been brought about under bis supervision, and that of the olllcers and soldiers who fought the battles of the Union, I believe the country would have been saved from the introduotlou of abnormal military governments which are so unfriendly to civil rights and political liberty, and so contrary to the genius of our government; and that the people of tho Southern States would have been saved from much of the enormous sacrifices and Buffering which tliey wore compelled to endure during tho period of reconstruction : the demagogues in politics, the un christian persecution by religious bodies, and the thieving ticasuryolti elals would not have had bo wide a field for their operations. it is unpleasant for me to make the foregoing r< jltals, and the more to be cause the purpose for which tney are made may be misunderstood or mis represented. The restoration of peace, good government, the rul 3 of law, and good will between those who wi re once enemies, is as gratifying tome as it can bo to any other citiz in. Hut the charge baa been constantly made since tho war that the Confederates were rebels and traitors, and the effort is all tho time being trade to educate the rising generation nto tho helief that their fathers and their mothers wore robels and traitors, and therefore law less criminals. Without malice against any of our fellow citizens, I feel it to bo my duty to tho memory of our ho roic dead, li their surviving associates and to thoso who are to come after us, to make tho foregoing statements iD vindication of tho truths of history, and in justification of the patriotism, the manhood and love of justice of thoso who defended the lost cause, and offered their ail In an clTirt to pre serve their constitutional rights against the uggressions of a hostile majority. TRIUMPH OK SELF-QOVERMENT. Prora tho dosolation, absence of civil government and political rights and of law throughout the Southern states, less than thirty years ago, wo now, in all these states, have good civil govern ment, eood laws faithfully enforced, liberty protected, society reorganized, peace and Industry re-established, with many valuable enterprises put into suc cessful operation, and with a steady and wonderful incroasu in population, wealth and comforts of olvilizod lifo. This constitutes tho greatest and proud est vindication of tho capacity of our peopio for local self'government, und is a grander and nobler achievement by our people than was ever obtained by war. It Is the triumph of their ca pacity for self-government, and shows that our people aro worthy the pos session of tho political powor and reli gious liberty wliicb they now enji.y ; and which shows thorn worthy of po litical equality with thoso who wore oneo our enemies. In this great Cen tennial ?Zposition of Tonnesseo wo have before us u magnificent exhibi tion of the results of Southern enter prise and prosperity to gladden the | hearts of our people and to gratify tho prldo of the peopio of this great state. And to-day tbo peopio of tho South aro as earnest In their attachment to our common govornment as those of any other part of tho Union, and would make as great sacrifices, if need bo In defense of our govornment as could bo made by any othor part of tho Ameri can poople. Knjoying peace and liber ty to-day, we can rofor with prldo to tho courage and heroism of our soldier*) In the late war, and to tho gallantry and bklll of our ohToors. And when Impartial history comes to be written wd do not doubt but that It will bo seen that thoy were novor excelled In tho qualities of patienco, endurance and manly courage by any othor noo ple. The names of Jtffurson Davis, H. K. ; Lie, Stonewall Jackson, Albort Syd i ney Johnson and many others of our horoio leaders will go Into history Illu minated by a halo of courago and skill and purity of life and patriotism unsurpassed by any other namos in hlstorv As indicating tho faith of earnestnrss, I call attention to the eiosing sentences of his inaugural ad dress, after his election under the con stitutional government of the Confed eracy, made on the 22 id day of Febru ary, ls<>2. tvalidng Iiis hands, ut the ; close of his address, and looking tow ards the heavens he said: "And now, 0 (.Jod, 1 commit my country and bei' I cause to Thy iioiy keeping," thus show ing the solemnity with which lie as sumed anew tho duties of President of of the Confederacy. l'HIi WOMEN Ol?' T1IK CONKK0EHACY. History notes w'lth its richest praises the matrons of Koine. They were no doubt worthy of all that was said of them. But their honors cluster about thorn when Rome was a great and vic torious nation. This is not said to their discredit, but to contrast with them tin; .;:>ble and devoted women of ?uo Confederacy. The grandeur of their lives and conduct was exhibited in a cause in WUlch tho odds were greatly against their country, in which Baerl tices were necessrry, and In which SUCC088 was always doubtful. 1 never felt my inability to do justice to any subject so keenly as 1 .do when at-. tempting to do justice to the character of the women of the Confederacy. They gave to tho armies their hus bands, fathers, sons and brothers with aching hearts, and bade them good* hyo with sobs and tears, but they be lieved the saorltloe was due to their country and her eau.-o. They assumed the care of their homes and of the children and the aged. Many of them who had been roared in ease and luxury had to engage in all the drud gery of tho farm and shop. Many of them worked in the lields to raise the means of feeding their families. Spinning wheels and looms were mul tiplied where none had been seen be fore, to enable them to clothe their families and furnish clothing for their loved ones in the army, to whem with messages of love and encouragement they sent, whenever they COJId, some thing to wear or to eat. And like angels of mercy they visited and at tended the hospitals with lint and bandages for the wounded, and medi cine for the sick, and such nourish ment as they could for both. And their holy prayers t\t all times went to the tlirone ol God for tho safety of those deal to them and for the success of the Confederate cause. There was a courage and a moral heroism in their lives superior to that which animated our brave men, for the men were stimulated by the presence of their as sociates, the hope of applause, and by the excitement of battle, while these noble women, in the seclusion and quietude of their homes were inspired by a moral courage which could come only from God and the l ive of country. 1 hope wo a.*e to have a battle abbey, and if we . hould the honor of our Southland demands that at the same place there stould lie a splendid monu ment erected to commemorate the con stancy, tho services and the vl.'tues of tho noble women of the Confederacy. And since tho war some of our grand and noble women: the widow of PrOrl* dent Davis, the widow of Stonewi 11 Jackson and tho widow of Col. C. M. Winklor, of Texas, have earned the gratitude of our people by books they have furnished ns, containing most valuable contribut ions to the literature of the war and supplying a feature in it that no man has supplied or could supply. To illustrate the character and de votion of tho women of the Confede racy, I wiil repeat a statement made to me during the war by Cov. Lotcher, ol Virginia. Ho had visited l?s old homo in the Shenandoah valley, and on his return to the State capital called at the house of an old friend who bad a large family. He found no one but the good old mother at home, and in quired about the balance of the family. She told him that her husband, her husband's 'ather and her ten sons wero all in the army. And on Iiis sugges tion that she must feel lonesome, hav ing had a lame family with her and to be now left alone, her answer was that it was very hard, but that if she had ten more sons they should all go to the army. Can ancient or modern history show a nobler or more unselfish and patriotic devotion to any cause ? There have boon and there still may be those wiio nil !0t to speak lightly of tho Confederacy ; out a cause and a country which it required more than four years of terrible war. anil armies of more than two million men, and which cost the lives of hundreds of thousands, Counting the lesson both sides, the expenditure of billions of dollars, und the saorlfloo of other bil lions of dollars worth of property, to overcome, can hardly he belittled by any honest or sensible man. Wo can well afford to wait the verdict which history will render on the men and women of the late Confederacy. [HE CONFEDERATES CAPfUHED NASHVILLE. THR CITY CAPITULATED WITH' OUT KIOSISTANCIO. Gordon'* Resignation was Not Ac cepted?Ktit'it Thousand Veterans In Attendance?The Next Meeting; to he Held In Atlanta. The annual convention of the United Confederate Veterans begad in Nash ville on tho 22od of June, and lasted three days. Con. John B. Gordon was in his place as presiding otlicer, al though ho had been quite sick for a week or more. Among the prominent men in attendance were (ions. Stephen D. Leo, of Mississippi, M. C. Butler, of South Carolina, JoSCLh Wheoler, of j Alabama, Clement A K?ans, of Geor gia, W. B. Hate, of Tennessee, Marcus .). Wright, of Washington, I). C, and s. B. Buck nor, of Kentucky. Toe assemblage was cubed to order by Gen. Gordon, and prayer was oll ered by the chaplain, Dr. J. Win. Jones, of Virginia. Governor Taylor delivered an address of welcome ou behalf of tho State ; Judge .??'orris spoke for tho coun ty, and Bishop Fitzgerald represented the city. Cion.?Jordon responded briefly on behalf of tho old soldiers, and tiion introduced 1 It ri. John EL Knigan, of Texas? ns the annual orator. Judge Reagan's address wu? (ml of historic ntorost, and OUT readers will lind the main portions of Iiis spOdOb olsowhoro. The city of Nashvilio gave the vete rans a most cord ial reception. Tho deco rations wore profuse, andj nearly every public building was in its most gorge ous apparel. The convention was held In tho Union Tabornaclo, an immense and suporb structure, and it is not pos sible to Imagine a hotter hall for tho mooting. Sinco tho audition rocontly mado to tho upper galleries has been completed, tho seating capacity of tho Tabornaclo Is bot ween 1(1,000 and 12,000 people, and I with standing room utilised It Is esti mated that 13,000 poroons can got with in the doors. No pains nor exponso had boon sparod in decorating tho interior of the build ing, and a moro perfect plcturo could hardly bo Imagined. The general ol feot ?a? in agin lice n i and eaoh hang ing decoration might undergo the se verest critical examination. Many handsomest works of art were suspended on the front wall above the speaker's platform, oae of which was the celebrated painting of General Lie , mounted on his whit.; charger, with . full uniform, sword and accoutrements, \ ready for battle. Another was a life ! s i ;u painting of Stonewall Jackson, j similarly mounted and equipped, These pictures hung in relative posh tiens on either side of a veiy large coat I of arms of Tennessee. Directly above the coatof arms was a cupid-liko figure on canvas bearing in its hand a parch ment, on wbloh was inscribed in glided letters, "Welcome. ' Suspended from the walls, tho dome, tho galleries and every available point of vantage about tile immense building wore State llags and coats of arms arranged in regular order, stars and stripes ami bunting in profusion. Tho whole was very artistic in design, and tho i tlect at lirst glance most wonderful. As the critic examined in detail each piece of decoration, it was evident that every position had been studied and each hanging had been made with re gard to the appearance of the whole. Nashville is proud of the Tabernacle. Tho business meeting of the second day was even more largely attended than at the opening session. The report of the committee on his tory wi;^ presented. This report fu Vor?d the plan now being pursued of inviting many writers into tho lie Id of history rather than selecting one or more to write a history. Too report of the trustees of the Con federate memorial association was sub mitted, showing that excelleut progriss was being made, arjd that the trustees would ins ablo to report a locatiou for the memorial building at the next re union, provided camps and bivouacs contributed liberally. Atlanta was decided upou as the place of meeting in ISiiS. A resolution commending tho reign of Cv) icon Victoria was voted down, and a resolution in pruiso of the queen's jubilee was defeated. Gen. Gordon delivered his annual ad dress, and prefaced his remarks with a determination to resign tho position of commanding general, but this was re ceived with a decided "No" from every part of the hall. Tho address was in tho nature of a farewell, and reviewed tiie work dene under his administra tion. The following extracts give the chief points of the address : "Mr. President, in these closing hours of my long service as commanding gen eral, 1 must ask the convention's Indulg ence for a brief review of that oflloial relation and possibly for some sugges tions as to the future. "On the lUth day of Juno, 1881), eight years ago, while serving as Governor of my native State, I received from Now Orleans the wholly unexpected announcement of my election as com ma nder-in-oh let of the newly organized United Confederate Veterans. This new communion of ex-soldiers began its somewhat unpromising career with the modest number of button organiza tions united for peaceful and noble ends. Today it presents the proud ar ray of more than a thousand camps an swering the roll call and reflecting merited honors upon tho different com manders and especially upon our aide adjutant general. I n'the next few hours 1 snail turn over to my successor this army of more than a thousand organ izations rapidly advancing towards the second thousand. "1 said, Mr. President, that 1 would turn over an army. It is an army of ex-soldiers, of ex-Confederate soldiers, of ex lighting Confederate soldiers at whose opowress and endurance enlight ened Christendom stood in breathless amazement, it is an army still, Mr. I President, but an army for the bloody work of war no longer. Its banner no longer bear tho Raming insignia of battle, its weapons no longer Hash dc dance to the foe nor deal death to op- | posing ranks Its weapons are now the pen without malice, the tongue with out aspersion and history without mis representation. Its aims are peaceful, philanthropic and broadly patriotic, its sentiment is lofty, generous and just. Its mission is to relievo tho suf lering of the living, cherish the mem ory of the dead and to shield from re proach the fair name of all. This now mighty organization, while insisting upon complete historical justice to tho South, will scorn to do less than com plete j istice to tho North. Proud of the Smith's chivalry in defending tho rights of tho Stales, they honor tho heroism of the North in defending tho perpetuity of the Union. Having com mitted mo Smith's cause to the arbitra ment of battle they loyally and manful ly stand by that tribunal's verdict, r ighting and suffering for their homes und rights as men have rarely fought and siill';red in tho world's history ?.ex hibiting on a hundred Holds und in a thousand emergencies a heroism never excelled ; yielding from utter ex haustion and only when their prostrate stction was blooding at every pore: falling after tho most desperate defen sive struggle in human annuls to estab lish their cherished Confederacy, these high-s niled sons of the Smith Oiler this record of devotion us the noblest pledge of their feulty to freedom und of thoir readiness to defend the republic of the fathers. "My comrudes of tho United Confed erate Veterans, if this brief summary fairly represents your sentiments and your uims, then my cup of joy Is full i indeed. I cannot doubt, i do not doubt, that I havu caught and correctly voiced the impulses and hopes of the most rep resentative body of southern manhood." Wliuu Con. Gordon concluded his ad dress, u motion wus made that (ion. Joseph Wheeler bo requested to Dom inate Gen. Cordon for re-election, which wt's oarried with enthusiasm. Gen.Stephen I). Lee, who was occupy ing the chair, declared that nomina tions wore closed and Gen. Cordon was unanimously ro-oleeted. Tho thou sands of delegates present cheered and wave.i thoir huts und hundkorchiefs and the scene was a most impressive one. Tho cummittuo on credentials ro I ported 7,IK;0 delegates present and 1,000 camps represented. Tho parade on Thursday, 24th Inst., in which more than I0.U0D veterans took part, was the. largest in tho history of the organization und one. of the greut&^c over seen in Nasbvillo. The regulur und special trains ar riving in t he. morning brought thou sunds of people from cities und towns In Tcnucssee und other Stutes, and i thousands more came to tho city in ; wagons and on horseback from various i parts of the country uround Nashville. Tho streets were densely crowded and I every available place from which a j vlow of tho groat procession could bo I obtained was occupied long before the ' order to march was glvon by (Jon. W. , II. Jackson, the chief marstiui. Tho parade was headed by a dotuah mont of pollco. Thon came General Jackson and his statT. Gonoral John 14. Gordon, tho commandor-ln-ohief of ! tho United Confederate Veterans, and his Bluff followed closo behind. Kacb division was headed by the gonoral in command, and tbo sponsors and maids ot honor rode in open oarriages, which wore decorated with Hags. Tinire vv^fir^a^^^K^^u^handH In the were followed bv loud applause from the spectators. The stars and b tri pet and the Confederate Hug were conspic uous on tho long line that reached from tho publie Miliare to the Tcnne.-see Centennial exposition gates. The procession was composed of the South Carolina, North Carolina., Mia souri, Kentucky, Maryland, Indian Ter ritory, New? York, District of Columbia, Illinois, Arkansas, Virginia, Texas, j Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, 1 Mississippi and Tennessee divisions, Unit d Confederate Veterans, Sons of Confederate soldiers. Troops A. of the Savannah Hussars, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the sponsors for the different States and their maids of honor. A WOMAN'S RECOLLECIIONS OF THE WAR. RACY MEMORIES OF CONFED ERATE I I MKS. The Burning of Columbia was Vial hlo in Union County?Negroes lie llevetl the Judgment Day Had Come, It is hard to know just how far Iwok , into the realm of infancy our memories ! reach.and i.ow much of what we remem ber is what we have had told us of that fairy-land of the ;>us* My rocollootlons of the early days ol tne late war are as dim and shadowy as the hazy Bugger* of color that the budding trees take on in the early spring. Mi first real war-time memory is of the 13 >aUregard bats, very pre tty broad brimmed white leghorns trimmed with white ribbOQS, and a fringe, of white lace banging around too edge of the brims, with which one spring, my mother delighted too hearts of my eld er sister and myself. Then comes a shadowy vision of the cadets from the Military institute, and the local mili tary company, inarching up and down our shady ?trocts to the cheers of the admiring throng. Kven more vividly do I recall being allowed to accompany the nurse, who was sent with the other servants to the depot to carry food to the troops then passing through on the trains. And full well I remember with what zest we children sang a patriotic, though not very olegaut improvisation, in which we declared "Jeff Davis'' to bo a gentleman, but referred to "Abe Lin coln'' in terms more vigorous than po lite: closing with the rather doubtful assortii n that "Jeff Dav is rides a milk-white siecd. Abo Lincoln rides a mule." In the early part of I80JI, my father, a weli-known citizen of Charlotte, X. C. but a native of England, was called to that country to take possession of the estate; left by his father. Going by way of Charleston, S. C, to secure passports from the British consul, he ulso pro cured bills of exchange ou the Hank of l?ugland, from the Confederate secre tary of the treasury, Mr. Trenholm. Befog arrested in Now York, on suspl olou as a spy, these papers caused bis detention feu- two years in a Federal orison. In the bandages em the: foot of a wouuded fellow-prisoner who was re leased, ho concealed a lett.-r to my mother, directing her to t ike her fam ily of six llttlj children and make her home with his brother e.aw, In the town of Union, S. C, about sixty miles from Columbia. So our happy homo was given up, novor again to be re-en tered. And in thi-> iiiiiet, little town we .-pent the. last oxcltiug and evcutful months of the war. This uncle kept a boarding school 'or young lud los, in a building formerly ??oeel as a hotel, occupying acorner whore: the main streets of the village crossed, and facing em twe> streets. It is a strange fact that all through these troubb us tunes this school was sustain ed, teachers and pupils keeping at their work, though with frcquont interrup tions toward the last. 1 remember how the teachers und my young lady cousin, ofton entertained the ollicers of passing troops, and one nightu remnant of Mor gan's bravo hand, by singing for them, "The Boony Blue Flag," "All <N?n.t Along tho Potomac," and that most, pathetic of all war time songs, "The Vacant Chair," Who could hear it without a tear ? When Sherman's army entered the State, headed toward Columblu, it was thought that our little town could not eseupu us iio would certainly move on le> the notthWe-stern towns. With tele graph wires down, and railroads torn up, the; enemy sometimes travelled more rapidly than HOWS of bis when - abouts : sei wo had stirring times mak ing ready fer the coming of 'tho yan kecs." Humors hud reaohod us from othor | parts e?f the State of their penchant for i jewelry, silver, and all such "portable property ;" it being stated, with bow truoh truth] never knew, that in the I lower part ol the; State, earrings were | torn by the n from Ilm earn of tho ladles, j So, many ingenious devices were resort- j eil to feir secreting our valuabl e. Tue ( large boopsklrts then worn by the ladlos ' wores very scrvioable for this purpose, as many 6 Olid I articles could bo tied to { tlumi without weighting down the , Wearer. ^ lite a number of our young ladies were transformed into walking spoon am. fork racUs O.io of tho touob ers, I remetalier, concealed her watch in her hair, which was worn in a lo.v knot conIInod ltt a not, then much in > oguo. My one treitsuro, a so-called, alabas ter doll, 1 huiiod by usage, hush in tho garden to savt from tho I ndlsor I in tou ting grasp of Iho omnivoous foo. That night a houv* rain fell, and next day when I concluded that "tho yankoos" woro not coning, anyway, ami went to oxhume my leloved doll, I found to my great grief tlat the bountiful alabaster heael was utterly ilissolvoil A keener grief I have tevcr known; for neither .lolls nor moieiy woro them to bo bad, bo I know it Quant an Irreparable be reavement. But a far nore serious loss befoll my uncle and bnther, who in the dead of I night when tie negroes woro supposed I to bo asleep,bad sunk a hogshead in the cellar, and In this stored their china, cutgliss, and silver pieces. Af ter tho stirreidor, w ben thoy thought it prudent ti unearth tholr treasure!, ' not erne arthio remained in tho hogs- j head, and n<t 006 was e vor recove red. t)no novelmodo of preparing for the "coming of be yankoes. did m>t eome to e>ur a.otlnr's knowledge until years after, fortmtoly for us. Hy some un- i ? accountable'freak of tho child-mind, my eldest sstor and I conceived the idea that w would have ne ed of extra agility in gitting away from "the yan j koi-s." Whit indolinablo heirrors tho ' I very natno suggested to our excited chilelisb Imaginations ! So In order to 1 become expert in escaping the dutches , of those musters, wo betook ourselves ovory aftonoon after school to a vory deep gully,noarat hand, and oxerclscel oursulves y jumping from point to fioint oveir eally perilous holgbts ; on y a kind povldenco saving us from a dangor far i eater than falling into tho hands of tU yankee^a. I In my utilo's housohold It was tho cuatom to iavo family prayor In tho dlulng renn, Immodtatoly after tho i tin.- supper table, thissalntly man pour i ing *-?ut his soul in prayer for our nOllo ? led land, and for Iiis holp'osg family, i tbo pleading torn b of that gentle voice ? were suddenly stepped b\ a terrible hanging 00 the dour, and tooshrieks ol the cook, ''Master I Master ! judgment I day is come ! The world i- burning up I" That prayer was never finished. ? The frightened Crowd '?f women and children rushed luto the yard to lind the t>ky seemingly ablaze from horizon almost to zenith, it did look like that dreadful 'May of wrath," hud indeed come. After a few minutes' survey of I tho plowing heavens, my undo saM quietly; "I think It Is Columbia burn : ing." la a short time he succeeded in quieting that crowd of hysterical wo I men ami terror-stricken "darkies." I Can one of us ever forget the horrors of that nicht'.'' The memory id it is burn ed Into the brain there to remain while I live lasts. It was imposlblo to forget I the lurid glare of the .sky, the terror of the negroes, the awful gloom that set tied on our spirits as we realist (d thai Columbia, the pride of the State, the gem of the South, Columbia, with its avenues of stately trees, its beauti ful homes, and do igbtful gardens; Columbia with Its evergreens, its foun tains, its wealth of (lowers?was perish ing in this whirlwind of lire. Kven to my childish mind came some realiza tion of tiio awful oalamlty, for wo had spent the previous summer in this ver itable earthly paradise, and iiad re velled in its beauty and delight-. The next day a courier came, con firming our belief that Columbia was burned, and reporting Sherman's army as starting in out dlreotlon. Tuen the fear seized the people that the same unmerciful torch was lighted for our fair town : oconfusion reigned ; many lied, taking with them servant-and valuables : many determined to stay by their homes till the last. As my uncle's homo was tbo most promin< nt building in town, an 1 most likely to attract at tention' ho thought it most prudent to scatter out, among the families in town for the night, his helpless family of wo men and children, Peeling sure tie house wool 1 bo plundered, if not burn ed : and, that, like t he people of Col umbia, we would have left only what el >thlng we wore ; we din our bot at converting ourselvos into animated dry good stores. Several suits of under clothes were put on every child, and twoor three dresses ; in fact, just us many as could be buttoned on. What funny figures wo must have made ! No douhl I toking like the l> itch maidens of .New Amsterdam, whoso wealth was counted by the number of skirts they wore. And stloh a funny time we hail at night! Unable to turn our uuwiold ly little bodies in bed, when we could no longer endure one position ami wanted to turn over, we hud to get out on the lloor and got in bed again on tho other .side. After three nights of this torture, word came that the Confed erate soldiers had burned the bridge across Broad river, whoso waters llow ed between us and the dreaded foe, and that the frosht t in the river made it impossible to throw a pontoon across: and (2real was the rejoicing at t 'iis tem porary deliverance. Before tho waters bail subsided tho tide of the war hud ebbed, and L.-e had surrendered. When "the yankocs came," it was to march quiot'y Into tho town to lake p ?Session as a garrisan. from the front windows of our home the victori ous troops were watched by a crowd of eager, wondering ohi 1 Iren : two of whom could not belp fuuliug In their hearts a mild disappointment that their athletic exorcises In euhy jumping hud been all in vain, ami 'what tiie formid able yankei s were only ?Oidh rs in neat ; blue uniforms, in>i ?ad oi noldiors in ragged gray. 1.. A. M. A STAUNCH HNTr.lU'KISM. The Soliil Ul'O Wit i and IVi sistoilt l-.iVoris at 1'rogrenH which Charac terize the t". ? W. U. Itailroiul. Abbeville Press and Ummer, The Cuarkston and Wostorn Caro lina railroad traverses one of the most fertile and prosperous sections of South Carolina. Too marvel ?US growth and development along all lines of business throughout the Piedmont li It ha.*, not abated. The stringency of the money market anil the hard times generally to the contrary notwithstanding. During the past decade '.here, has been a steady improvement. The hustle and bo-tie of the live towns, the 1 bplOUCld Ileitis of growing iron. '" f;rvening, and the thrift and enter prise of tne people, as a whole, uro good evidences of a las'dug prosperity. I It does not seem to bo unreasonable, therefore, that a sect on of to nr..en I push and energy should expeot its railroads to take the lead ku develop ment and enterprise, The Charleston and Western Caro lina has lone since appreciated toe spirit of this truth, and in order to | meet the expectations of Its patrons and friends no p- oplo ever lab in d harder or succeeded in building hotter than tho present able and olllciont management To those accustomed to travel over this road, there is nothing so striking as the seeming permanency of all the improvements. Where, it was practl cable, all trestles have la-en removed and dirt til ing placed Instead. Tho grades have, been wonderfully redue. d, | the road bod drained, and the cuts i rendered frei- from land slides. At tho stations, water t inks, and all along the. line, you see tho unmistak? I aide evidences of line management. , During the last three or four years of business stagnation and depression, when the whole country was in a State 1 ol political turmoil over the IrUUUCCS of tho government, no railroad iu-1 i its own bolter than too C liar l?sten and Western Carolina. Having worked up the road bed to a stat-j oi excellence, tho management has succeeded ill inducing the new owners of the road I ? OXpond a large sum of money in rolling stock, steel bridgos and terminals. Thirty miles of new slxty-thl'OO pound steel rail has h en purchased, and is now being laid upon the heavy portion of the ro.nl between I'arksvlllo anil l/il tville. Noa steel bridgos are in process of erection at Whale lirauch, s. 0 : also over the Augusta Canal over the. Stwannah ItlvOP, IT miles above Augusta, and steel bridges will bo erected during the summer over Warrior Ore?*k, north of L'juirens, and over Little it v r at Liurens. Thirteen new locomotives have been purchased, 25 air-brake box OPrs, 75 air-brake flats, fJO air-brake coal cars, is oaboos s, and is passenger coaohos. Tbis equipment Is thoroughly inodorn anil up-to dato in every respect. In addition to this Improvement, the management is spending ahmt sixty thousand doll irs in erecting MOW docks and warehouses at Port (loyal, and re- '; modelling them to facilitate the hand ling of export trafll -. Tho new terminals at Augusta, Which wiil uoupy the entire river ' front, parallelling l oad Street, the; principal commercial avenuo of too I city, will cost in tbo neghborbood of $100,000. New depots and ollioo ouild ings will be erected, yards and transfer tracks arranged. for regular monthly services during the summer months from Dort Koyal, S. C During the winter months the ? service will bo much more frequent. These .-hips have boou running regu larly since April, ami have carried out , miscellaneous cargoes, consisting of nil of the principal Southern products. Th<> road i- being put in lirst-class condition so as to place it in position to enjoy the trafrlo of the enterprising communities which its'?rvos. Too much cannot he said of tho nro sont management. The fact that the new owner- of the road have expended so largo a sum in Improvements, is a suuioinnt compliment within itsolf to the eminent lltness of those composing the management. Both Mr. Cralg and Mr. Anderson have worked their way up from humble service, ami by olose application aud indefatigable endeavor have been most prominent in building an enterprise of which thoy have every reason to bo proud, and which deserves and merits tho support of its friends arul patrons. They do not indulge in riotous living ?traveling in palace cars and sport ing ilashlng diamonds?but they are tho test of genial-hearted gentlemen, strictly in the swim for business, Thoy both enjoy the best wishes of every ono In their efforts to make the future of the Charleston and VVestorn Carolina all thoy desire it should bo. CilAS. T. Dak ion. Lowndesvllle, S. C, June 21st. 1SK7. Till-: WKATUKK AM) chops. Valuable Information to Those Inter est cd io I'arming Operations. The following is the weekly bulletin issued by the weather bureau in Co i lumblu as to tho condition of the crops in tnis State : Columbia, s C, Juno 22, 18!?7. The week averaged 5 degrees per day hotter than usual with maximum tempi ratures above 100 at many places. The highest reported was 102 on tho l'Jth at Cilllsonvillo ; the lowest Oil on the Ulth ami Pith at IMoronco. Tho 111 can of the St ate, for the week, deduc I ed from ?d reports was s.t and the nor I mat is approximately 78. Tin re wero showers in some por tions of the State each day in the woek although, with a few exceptions, the rainful was light, as 20 places reported less than one inch : 10 from one to two inches: 10over two inches, with f>.2l at ! '1 ck s Station : .'! 50 at Mount Clare: ll.l?atSt. George; and :! ?? at Flor ence. The average of tho measure ments was 1 00 while the noinal is ap proximate 1.00. Thoro was an abundanooof sunshine, tho estimated percentage of the possl hl ? was and not below normal at any place. Destructive hail fill in Florence, Anderson, Sum tor, Darlington, Lex ington, Nowbarry and Crangeburg count ies. 11 i _r 11 winds destructive to crops, especially corn, occurred on the 17th In Pioroneo, Clarendon, Darlington, M irlon, Chester and Chesterfield. There were. Iso destructive winds in Hampton, Spartanburg, Diekens, Croon vlllo and Beau lor t, The injury was in each case con lined to compara tively small areas. The combination of steady high tem perature, abundant sunshine, and geu . rally sulliclont moisture was very favorable on crop-, which made rapid growth except that in places corn and cotton wilted in the mid-day sun, re viving again at night. Over portions of 15 u nwell, Bamborg, Dickens, Kdgo lleld, B?rry, Anderson. Alken and Lexington counties the ground is very dry and hard. Over portions of Berke ley. Florence, Ciarendon, Orangeburg, B?rry, Chester and York counties tho ground is too wet to plow and grass ha- become a menace to small corn and to cotton. Grassy tie Ms aro also reported from Snintor, Union and Newbcrry counties. Otherwise Mehl? arc generally idean, and free from grass or iieing rapidly put into such condi tion. b'rom Spartanhurg and Fairflold com plaint i- received of crusted soil after tho heavy r un- of the previous wook. I. imi- were badly washed in ESdgefield ami GrcenviHo. All these adverse conditions aro more than otTsot by reports of Improve ment in crop conditions, over the State gcnortilly, ami applicable to all crops raised. Insects worn !<?*?* numoro**" and d'".'Vi active than during any pre , .on- week of tin- crop season, although chinch hugs in York and Cilest? r, on corn . a root 1 ?use or beetle on cotton in Itichland may be noted as ? exceptions. Tue latter insect is new to the region Infested. (' n il is being laid by with prospects di cidodly bettered although advorso reports are numerous. lOarly corn is in silk anu tassels. Its color is good except in Berkely where it is turning yellow. The Improvement noted does 11 it yet promise a full crop. t oil in continues small, is healthy and the ear! est is beginning to bloom. I'ho plant made fair growth and its conditli 11 is generally satisfactory, ex cept where injured by excessive rains in B-jrkeloy, Chester and York; Some rust is noted ;n Fair Ii dd and Lexing ton. Sea Island cotton in splendid condition, free from parlsltos and blooming. TobaCCO Wii8 injured by bail in por tions of l-'l irence, Clarendon and Dir llngton. Its condition has generally improved but is not uniform, and in places tobacco shows signs of maturing too early. Kiee ooiiig well in (' illeton, but last planting som iwhat injured by eater pillars. Is small In Willlamsburg. Small and yohow in Lexington. Karly 11c ? heading wed. S in 0 ol the lands llooded by tho pre vious heavy mins have been replanted and othors ab onioned. Watermelons poor and lato, although showing deoldcd improvement lat terly. Ksirly p aches inclined tobe small and faulty. Crapes rotting badly In I) irlington. I'eas being .-own in with corn and on stubble I mils. Seed scarce over the ea-tern counties but plentiful over the western, The crop is making good growth. VVhoat harvest practically linished. Fall oats also harvested, with generally g.I yields. Some damaged in tho shock by rain. Spring oats being cut ami aro poor. Threshing begun with yield of wheat good, of oats fion poor to very good. Gardons have kept up thoir abun dant, yield of seasonable vegetables. Pastures are better than heretofore. Wild berries ii'o ahm.dan* ovor tho entire State. Sugar e<tQe of all va rictiles doing vcy we'!. From the national bulletin of Juno II: " Thoro lias been a goneral Im provomunt in the condition of cotton throughout tho cotton belt, it being most marked in South Carolina and Gergla. ?'Corn, while generally backward, has made good progress in tho prin ciple corn States under tho favorable weather conditions of the past woek. A marked improvement in tho eropds reported from Missouri,,, Kansas and Nebraska, and generally throughout the central vdJleys.' __a^m-*nMdkn^^+U\i*i lib -finlm ?11