Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-26
MEETING OF THE LADIES OF RIoaMoyD.

cred in the Basement of the Broad street Methodist
| Church. The meeting op~Isd with prayer By the
Rev. DR.. Dogget D MEL Rstclfs, E,q., was csll.d
to the Ohsir and explained the otsct the meeting
an earnest and excellent address Joel B. Watkins o.
| Of Richmond, WIS appointed Secretary.
In response - cell OF the Presdert for any resou
tios which any lady in the meeting might have to cf,r
Ms V,rnon oil Georgia presented she folio wing pream.
bic and resolutions which after some slight amendments
were adopted:
| Wherfas the unholy and barbarous war now being
wased by the hde North sgsinst the civilization of the
South demands the immediate and prompt action OF all
cl.ssss Of society and whereas fathers husbands
brothers and sons have with unbounded courage and pc
triotsm barred their breasts formidable batement be-
tween our hcmes and the ny.ees and while they Of
fegcg tier lives willing sscrGcs upon the altar Of
their counys honor it becomes the duty OF the women
Of the South who 10 the sacred trusts assigned
them by nature and who worthy Of such patriotic
action sas chaacrzes the OF the Coufederacy, 10
render every assistance in their power for the protection
OF their home1 and children and 10 aiding the uufo.tu
nAto fam es a soldiers who have been driven in our
midst BY the misfortunes OF war:
Rcsolvsd That we, the ladies' OF the Confederate Capt.
Iol orlaDza ourselves into society to be called the
"Nstioual Defence Association"
R,soltt3 That the fs. action OF this association shall
be raise funds for the building Of gunboat or other
meas for the protection aud defence OF the city OF
Richmond aud extend cordial invitation TO all our
country women, sojouning in this city 10 cooperate
with US 10 this undertaking and render such assistance
may be in their power to consummste the objects Of
/ this association.
Resolved Tha. we do most earnestly urge upon the
women Of all cities, towns villages aud hamets in the
Conlederacy to organize auxiliary associations and CO.
operate with US for mutual protection and defence.
R,solv.d, That as better Of facilitating the
designs and perfecng at once lis permanent organ
liza ion committee OF five be appointed TO dr,f! rules
anareguaons for the government Of the same and the
nominating OF such officers their judgment1nay sug
/ nos N Il adjourned meeting.
Rssolvsd That the old men who ur6t fer military
duty be invited to aid In this mportaIt enterpiz'
Resolved That the eitz,ns Of the State Of Virginia
and OF the Confederate Sses be requested to forward
such donations OF money Otherwise they may feel
| disposed TO contribute.
Heso[ged That the press Of the city and country be
earues ~ requested TO give all the aid and publicity In
| their power 10 the association and lis designs.
The Presidet erquired il Il was ds'ired to submit
any remarks upon the nresmble and resolution where
upon the mover Mrs Vernon With the sent Of the
i meeting arose and read the following address:
Toe Importance Of the suit ct, contained in these re-
solutions is suf Jent apology for the assumption Of
stranger in Offering few remarks upon the suit ct pro-
| posed.
Such an action on the part of the ladies OF the Ma
onal CAPITOL will not only individual the chv,rous
character OF female sentiment in the Confederate States
| of Americs, but mark its own epoch, through all
| fu urs Ims, 10 the reco. de of women.
L. true tnat | sm not VEginan but am proud to
own mys II raivs of the great State OF Georgia,
RGose gGlan. sous hsVe but Lately dsLu'ed win th II
lives Every inch OF VTgiLA sC with thu bsIbArous 'Os
vAdng l., and whose isgions form toe advance gu
and Fh'ld Of free nation, against the eGcroac.-
| m. nts OF despDte anarchy.
TherfIT | cannot withhold any 'f'rt on my p'rt
which ccuduss the defer am ssey Of the Uunit
crate Capitol since Is becomes ths co inter s. o.
the Confederate States The ,hor,s o; the
of my life have been given 70 the Sou'h-.h' wnoIr
Soub-and have to rjocs TO kuoW that thy tAve not
beer IN var.
The le9lons Of Sou hnen m'rslsl=l MON no bitls
D Grts from the AI1rc s. the eky aBa, in de-
fegce OF their inGV1I-i ~. -. b. ih- qusICe o.
historical oSus. Aud tLe AIS crepe sb'a nom ~
ma = brain, mDy ave hclpsd 70 sSo g tCs Of Gu
rs ional zen iuen', mo 'h,t n!s ~ tood en-
sweeps sughr tbs. sP=dss ia way In he fury OF
IT, long smother m sht.
ask Of history higher bcon han 20 h've name
let down hc Utuct IhFoggh It, urtl'd g record,
ga one OF the women Of this volu oT a d thl t..
ten all d. IL re Irue 20 lis purp aGd feel proud
1t ne Cppotuuity offered this ,c,sion srte It
upon the scroll Of 10 8 epoib, vi The women OF he
National Capitol fell that this il but the common
tinont OF the ladies Of Virginia well all tue Con-
tolerate States many OF WON have been iorc'd from
tue homes, and are at present sci ouruiog In this city
Let the association, therefore, be called National, and
rot sectional
Bu /. il of the occasion that would spssk-snd III.
obi OF Of ths meeting OF the sdiGs Of the Confederate
O.pi:5l tji4 evening The very il Isrccs OF which
tns,- srccess OF the great prof Q. proposed.
The caltnce o. women gave he greatest mpul'e TO
Oh valrc sentiment in the rOma ages wien lhe young
nsors of Europs Just waking up from their long
dull eep OF bsrearism into political and social actor.
To the frugal and chiySlrous women OF the Court Ct
ChAremsgne is attributed that rrid spirit Of progress
witch spread itself from Ak IA Cfapelle the whole
Romance Provinces 10 singh cen .ury and carried
with il civil Elon and the Christian rel ion, to the
remo,es, boundaries Ct Western Europe They urged
., To fhatr hON in Il
Eas. and it the Empress Helena whG.set the bright
example 20 tie Of Ohrs!endom in after years,
long aud tedious plsr mage to Jerusalem, In search
o! that pucAre for which the Christian world
tending with the lrfisl.
The early history Of Greece affords many striking
ampes Of female patriotism worthy OF the attention OF
this age, As siEo that of the HebreSs
The superior ind len of womsn the sterner
constitutes snomay in comparative history, bat on
the contrary is acknowledged on the very fist page OF
the history Of mans creation ccgused in the sources
OF our tradition. Nor such Influences more potent
upon the plastic nature Of man, IN his earliest existence
In paradise. bV which world lost than in this ad
valcsd age Of his Intellectual refinement by which
nation OF freemen may be saved.
1t Is not therefore, to the crude state Of primitive
caty among the ancients that We TO look for the
licences of women upon national sentiment, which
becomes more apparent the world advances in in,
tercu,l culture.
In this great test OF the fu,uce Of the women OF
the Ooniedeacy upon It's chTar spirit now rising on
the face Of its society, let them guard well the nature Of
such irfaoDcs, and uDd1rs ID lis power.
Ia this do no. with to initiate the dctatorsl mod
up to by the preachers Of the older d.
vision of the Republic, whose sedoUs clau:oring, have
been heard amid the Bedamic throngs OF in poiti-
cal wrangng. We have to thank God for having been
born under the cnligtt ned aud refined Influences
Of Southern society, which has assigned to women
| ma ural position Of enlarged action.
The women OF the South have to invent their own
systems tncs age Of the world has witnessed such
| revolution. henacei oil sides by barbuous e. d
subtle foe Who not content with the desoa,ion Of tie
torch and sword, but striving TO arouse the dull
erges OF inferior in midst the fury OF in
surrecticn.
l. il not the violent spirit OF Charlotte of Oorday, nor
the wild dream Of JOAn De- Arc, which should inaa
the sentiments of an enthusiastic OF women
eager repel the insults aud oppression of their
ragged counrymen Blu. the characters OF Roland, and
Tsisu the Offering herself hostage and martyr fer
the Of freedom the oher sie ng bold Of the tide