It would be a gross mistake to conclude that the men who gave
their lives for causes now vanished, died in vain. For the Civil War
settled once and for all the question of the unity of the states in our
federal system. As a result of the war, the separation of one region
of our land from another is no longer conceivable to an American.
It was a terrible price that was paid, as we all know, for the settlement
of an issue, but none of us today doubts that the unity we enjoy
was worth that price. And so, it is fitting that we who have inherited
the benefits of the strife pay tribute to our forebears who made the
sacrifices and honor the devotion, the courage and the faith of the
valiant men who fought in this war.

Let me here commend the members of our Maryland Civil War
Centennial Commission for pursuing the true objectives of this
centennial commemoration—of honoring the men who fought and died
for principles which they thought to be right. What we have done,
what we are doing and what we shall do in this commemoration will
give all of us a better understanding of the glories and the horrors
of this internal conflict and a deeper appreciation of the re-united
nation that emerged from it. For myself, let me say that I have
enjoyed taking a part in the events which have been staged during
this first year of our centennial here in Maryland. All of us who
attended it were deeply moved and profoundly impressed by the religious
services held in the chapel of the Naval Academy which officially
opened the commemoration period.

I was in Frederick for the re-enactment of the "Secession Legis-
lature, " commemorating the transfer of our General Assembly from
Annapolis to Frederick because of the military occupation of our
capital city. I had the honor of apologizing to the Governor of
Massachusetts for the stoning of the men of the Sixth Massachusetts
Regiment by Baltimoreans in the "Baltimore Riots" of April 19, 1861,
which apology was graciously accepted by Governor Volpe. I attended
the dress parade of Naval Academy midshipmen commemorating a
parade of 1861 in which the personnel of the Academy was so drastically
reduced as a result of resignations of many of those from seceding
states to join the ranks of the Confederacy. And I was at Hagerstown
when thousands of people gathered for the rededication of the sen-
timentally neglected Confederate cemetery.

I expect to attend as many as possible of the events which have
been scheduled for the remainder of the commemoration period. And
may I here extend a cordial invitation to the people from all parts
of the country to attend the commemoration of Civil War events

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