"It is easy to talk;  but when a man risks his life in defense of his convictions of right, he presents the best specimen of manhood, whether he wore blue or gray."
E. D. Baxter

E. D. Baxter was a nationally renowned lawyer and had gained a reputation as an eloquent orator early in his career.  He was keynote speaker at the 1892 Reunion of the Tennessee Confederate Veterans, which was held at the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, TN.  Newspaper reports indicated the speech was frequently interrupted by outbursts of applause.  The speech proved so popular, it was later published in booklet form by the Tennessee Confederate Veterans.  Years later, CONFEDERATE VETERAN  magazine tried unsuccessfully to locate a copy of the pamphlet for publication.  The following excerpt was found:

"The history of the English people is a history of rebels struggling to maintain their rights and liberties against the tyranny and oppression of the governing powers.  To the American citizen who has carefully read the history of the race from which we sprang, the term rebel conveys no suspicion of dishonor or reproach.  It is a term which tyrannical governments have at all times applied to people who have the courage to resist their oppression, and while tyrannical governments may intend to use the term, rebel,  as one of reproach, every true lover of liberty who knows his history must regard it as a title of honor;  history proves  that it is a title of liberty which is older and more honorable than the king's prerogative;  it is a title which was originally won by the sword, it has been maintained by the sword, and unless it is defended by the sword, liberty will perish from the face of the earth.  All the rights, privileges, and immunities now enjoyed by the American people were acquired for them by rebels and will be bequeathed to them by rebels.  There can not be found today in all this world a man in whose veins does not flow the blood of a rebel, whether of English descent or not.  Allow me to add that any man deserves this honorable title who is ready to fight, regardless of doubts or consequences for the rights of life, liberty, and property.  These are the things for which we fought, and we counted not the cost when we bade defiance to the enemy's forces that undertook to despoil us of them."

              A CONFEDERATE AT A FEDERAL CEMETERY

Elsewhere there is printed a speech of United States Judge George R. Sage at the National Cemetery here (Nashville, TN).

After the conclusion of the address of Judge Sage, Mr. Ed Baxter, a comrade of whom all who know him are proud, in response to an earnest invitation made a brief extempore address.

Mr. Baxter said, in substance, that though he was an ex-confederate soldier, he was glad the government of the United States had established and maintained the National Cemeteries, which beautify and adorn the country, He was glad that the government had recognized the debt of gratitude which it owed the gallant soldiers who followed its flag.  Those who confronted the Union soldiers for four long  years of battle were the best witnesses of their valor and devotion to the cause for which they fought.

He honored the Union soldiers.  He felt the highest respect for the gallant men who lay buried around him.  They were American citizens of the highest type; for they lost their lives in the defense of what they thought to be the constitutional principles of their country,

It is easy to talk; but when a man risks his life in defense of his convictions of right, he presents the best specimen of manhood, whether he wore blue or gray.

Though the war had resulted in the abolition of slavery, Mr. Baxter felt no regret at the loss of his former slaves.  When he entered the army, he left his wife and child at home, and his former slaves remained with them.  Several of those who were once his slaves are now his servants;  and for all of them he cherished the most kindly feelings.  If any one of them harbored the least ill feeling toward him, he had never heard of it.

The soldiers in the opposing armies, even in the heat of conflict, always treated each other with personal consideration and respect.  No instance has been recorded where a soldier of either army refused to share his canteen of water with his wounded foe.

At the close of the war the devastated condition of the South rendered it impossible for her people to provide suitable cemeteries and monuments for the Confederate dead;  but, with such means as were at their disposal they gathered together, in their public cemeteries, the treasured relics of their heroic dead, and tenderly cared for them, as best they could.

While the Confederate dead have not received the honors due to their courage and devotion, the fact that the Union soldiers who fell in battle have received the honors justly due them excites neither envy or regret.  There is no leaf too green, no bud too bright, to be laid on the graves of heroes.

The day will yet come when some great-hearted man of the North will say, in the halls of Congress, of his own volition, and without solicitation  form the South, "the Confederates were brave American citizens, who died in the defense of their ideas of constitutional principles.  Let the nation gather up their relics, and accord to them the honors which they so richly deserve."

There is not a foot of territory belonging to the Union which has not been acquired or defended by the aid of Southern valor.  During the war the South fought in good faith, and at its close she returned to her allegiance withequal and good faith.

The flag of the Union is now, as before the war, the only flag to which the South yields her allegiance; and where she gives her allegiance, there also will she give her loyalty.