Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-31
General Lanes Visit 90 His Fathers BIrth-
place-.MsetInR with His ReIarivcs--and
Dining with Henry Merdecaf, Esq.



From the Raleigh IN. CO. Press, July %.
On Tuesday last Gen. Joseph Lane, accompanied
by few friends visited the birthplace of his father
about six miles distant from this city The land on
which bis immediate ancestors lived Is now owned
by Col. Willis Whitaker, Col. Thomas G. Whitaker,
W. Il. Whitaker, and Il. B. Whitaker the latter lives
near where the father of Gen. Lane was born. This
property was purchased by John Whitaker, the
grandfather Of the senior editor of this paper.
about the time, or just before the Revolution,
from Jesse Lane, the grandfather Of General Lane.
The General expressed himself highly gratified st
behodng the land of his fathers. and pleasantly re-
marked THAI were he not so strongly welded to his
Pacific home he should feel inclined to to the
beautiful and fertile fields of old Wake county.
The General and his party stopped few moments
at Col Willis Whitaker's residence, where a pleas
ant though rather brief interview was had. The
party then returned to this city and proceeded to
the residence Of Henry Mordecai, Esq, where a
family meeting was to take place.
Mr. Mordecai had invited his residence the rela-
tons of Gen. Lane, for the purpose of giving the
General an opportunity of meeting them all togetner,
and spending day with them. There were present
some twenty-five persons, all of whom were the
Generals blood relations, descended from the same
ancestry Besides these several other persons par
ticpated in the festivities of the OCCASION among
whom were Gov. Bragg. Mr.. Cantwen. Treasurer
Courts, Mr.. Branch, Mr.. Barringer, and others. We
had the pleasure also of participating in the social
gathering, and shall never forget the pleasing events
of that day.
At the dinner table Mr. Mordecai took his position
at the head of the table, with Gen. Lane on his right
and Gov. Bragg on his left. Mr.. Barrlnger did the
honors of the opposite end, while the relatives and
friends of Gen. Lane occupied the intervening seats.
1t was glorious occasion.
The cloth having been removed, Gen. Barringer
proposed to drink 20 Gen. Lane. Glasses were
filled and Gen. Barringer proposed
Gen. Joseph Lane The soldier, the patriot, the
statesman The friend of equal rights the friend
of constitutional Union"
Gen. Lane arose to respond. THANK you, sir,
for the compliment you have seen fit to bestow upon
me. thank my friend and knsman, Mr., Mordecai,
for this interesting meeting with so many of my
kinsmen around the festive board thank you all
for the compliment you have done me in the senti-
ment you have just drank"
The General alluded briefly to the troubles which
now disturb our country to the fanatcism that
crosses the mind of the masses of the North; the
darkness which hOyers over our political horizon,
and the conflict which is being waged against the
constitutional rights of the South. he announced
himself to be the firm friend of constitutional
Unions Union that would guarantee equal rights
and equal privileges to the people of every State
and Territory. He was not for union upon any
other terms. Union that did not protect the rights
and privileges of all was not worth preserving. He
called upon his relations to calmly survey the field
before them to study the nature of the crisis with
which the country afflicted, and to act dispas
sionately and honestly for themselves and their
situations in the coming Presidential struggle. He
was well acquainted with the nature of the cOun-
try's peril He knew 1t to be struggle between
constitutional Union and fanaticism-a struggle be-
tween equal rights, equal protection, on the one
hand and aggression on the other Pe would make
them political speech, for he dining with his
own relations; but he would not foregO the oppor-
tunity of admonishing his friends and relations Of
the great Importance Of being thoroughly and firmly
united in their views and actions. They had friends
at the North. They had friends in the great North
west; they had friends on the Pacific coast who
were watching with anxious the interest of
all sections-friends who would fly to their aid in
the hour of oppression.
And said he, his face lighting mp with the enthu-
siasm of patriot, Should your rights ever be in
vaded, should your property ever be endangered,
should your lives ever be jeOpardzed would fly to
your relief from my far-off Paclfchome and give all
the powers Of my arm and my head in your defence
in defence of tie rights of the South. But would
come to fight your battles no sooner than l would
go to Maine to fight her battles, if her citizens
were oppressed her rights were invaded, and the
lives of her citizens were in jeopardy. would main
tain the Constitution it is, and the rights of the
citizens of all sections as they are"
The General made some complimentary illusions
Ia the services OF Mr.. Cantwell who served under
him during the Mexican war. He was warmly ap
plauded through his whole speech, and was listened
TO as if from father, admonishing his children.
Mr. Philips, the Generals travelling companion,
drank to "Mr Cantwel the friend of Gen. Lane, and
his companon-in-arms in Mexico.
Mr.. Cantwell responded in happy manner, reia-
ting several incidents connected with the Generals
campaign in Mexico, and explained how it was that
he on one occasion had taken the Generals best
best horse. He spoke of the kindness of the Gener-
al to his soldiers of his kindness to him when,
after the army physician had given him the conSO-
ling C) intelligence that he must die, and it was
therefore unnecessary waste physc upon him the
General had him brought to his quarters and kindly
cared for.
The General remained with Mr.. Mordecai all
night. He returned to this city yesterday morn
ing, where he found many friends waiting to see
him.
Those who have read an account of the battle of
Buena Vista will recoect that in the heat of the bat
tie, when the Indiana regiment was repulsed by the
Overpowering force of Mexicans, General Lane was
wounded in his right arm; the wound yet disables
his arm as will be perceived in shaking hands with
his friends. This accounts for his using his left
hand. We shall say more of this during the cam
DaUn