Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/12

 6 Southern Historical Society Papers.

the pangs of suspense at home ; and these Americans all ! brothers by blood and heirs alike to the inheritance of this undivided country ! My God ! are not men worse than brutish beasts who talk in trivial phrase of men and times and events like these, and who are unawed by the amplitudes of the ideas, the convictions, the patriotism and the heroism which distinguished the actors in that ever-illustrious epoch of American history ! Every one who lived amidst those scenes, every one whose memory recalls those events, every one who in any respect mingled among those historic men, must be con- scious, sometimes, of a strong fascination drawing his spirit back to those times whose scenes, events and heroes are rapidly dissolving into the refining empyrean of history. And every one whose post- bellum birth makes him but a listener to the epic story of that focal period, must also feel the kindlings of a proud American spirit since all these men were his heroic countrymen, all these events are in his country's history, and all these scenes were on his country's soil. The hour then has come and now is for mutual honors to be awarded to all true defenders of their respective convictions, for fair statement of the law and the facts governing that one great disa- greement among Americans which issued in bloody conflict, and to build still broader, deeper, higher and grander our national fabric of popular government.

Under the influence of this American spirit, I desire to show the contributions of the South to the greatness of the American Union.

It is the just complaint of the South that the general literature of all nations has not dealt fairly with the motives of its men, the his- tory which they made, the customs and institutions which they fos- tered, or the sunny land where they dwell. We must, however, share the blame with all who have shown us this discourtesy, be- cause we have been careless concerning the publication of Southern worth. We have trusted to the " truth of history " without giv- ing that truth a tongue to proclaim the inmost principles, the lofty purpose, and the patriotic deeds of the Southern people, as a part of this American nation. Ours is a treasury of things new and old, whence all sections are entitled to draw those riches of political pre- cept and action which make nations great. That treasure belongs to the whole country, and in opening the cabinet for the display of the rare jewels it contains, our countrymen from every quarter are bidden to come, behold and use the riches which belong alike to all.

With my subject in view I name five cardinal co-ordinative causes