Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/183

 Rh over "States, not provinces; over freemen, not slaves;" and there never was a time when flaunting a lie, by whomsoever borne, he would not have despised and trampled upon it. This was true American patriotism.

Though loyal to Georgia and the South during the period of separation, he rejoiced at their restoration to the Union. No mariner tossed through long nights on unchosen and tempestuous seas ever hailed the day of return to tranquil port more gladly than he hailed the day of the restoration of the States. No son driven by fortunes he could not control from the paternal roof, ever left that roof with sadder parting than he left the Union, or returned from the storms without to the shelter of home with wilder transport of joy than he felt when the South was again admitted to "our Father's house."

Permanent peace and unity in republic or monarchy cannot be secured by the power of the sword or the authority of legislation. England, with all her power and statesmanship, has tried that for centuries and failed, and will continue to fail until her people and her rulers learn what her foremost statesman has recognized, that the unity of all governments of every form must rest in the respect and confidence of the people. If this principle had been observed after the war between the States, that dark chapter in our history, that must remain to dim the glory of American statesmanship, would have been unwritten. Wisely appreciating this principle after the admission of the true representatives of the people in Congress, with voice and pen, he devoted all the powers of his great mind, and all the impulses of his patriotic heart, to the re-establishment of that cordial respect and good feeling between the sections upon which alone our American system, more than all others, depends for permanent union and peace.

The great and good do not die. Fourteen centuries ago the head of the great apostle fell before the sword of the bloody executioner, but through long ages of oppression his example animated the persecuted Church, and to-day stimulates its missionary spirit to press on through the rigors of every climate and the darkness of every heathen system, to the universal and final triumphs of that cross for which he died. Four centuries agone the body of John Wickliffe was exhumed and burnt to ashes, and these cast into the water, but "the Avon to the Severn runs, the Severn to the sea," and the doctrines for which he died cover and bless the world. Half a century ago the living voice of OConnell was hushed, but that voice to-day stirs the high-born passions of every true Irish heart throughout the