Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-05
ADDRESS OF GEN. VIM. A. QUARLES.
KIng-af-Arms, at the Tournament. at
CIarksviIIc. Tenn, May 81. 1866.

KfuK-af-Arms. at the Tournament at
CIarksviIIe. Tenn, May 81. 1866.
You come not here to-day, Sir knights. as the
mere figures Of an ideal pageant,.but as represen-
tatives of the principle. which, however much it |
may sleep, needs but the silvery blast of the bu- |
gle TO awaken it TO life and to action-'tis the 1
principle that filed with manly contestants the /
games Of ancient Greece-that made the solid |
ranks Of the Roman. legions a moving wall Of mar
tial power-that penetrated the gloom of the dark
ages and with rude battle AK cut down the frozen
forest Of barbarian, till .all Europe clothed
in the garments Of its gentle and graceful courtesy.
II Is a principle that all men admire and all wo-
men love It's manifestations have been vari-
Gus as the various ages Of the world but there is
a similitude which enables us to trace these mani
festatons 10 a common paternity. 1t hath all the
rudeness Of manhood, blended with the softer era
ces that a gentle mother gives 1t strikes with
the sword, but the same hand that gave the blow
is open as day TO melting charity. 1t will give
and take blows the livelong day, aud sing love
Iorn dtties beneath the window of lady fair "
by the light of the silver moon. 1t can be
led by silken thread. but will not give an inch to
mortal foe 1t bows the knee tonone, save 10 you,
ladies. and TO God. IT'S a shieldto the weak-a
sword TO the OppressOr-a song to lady FAIR
a blow for a riyal-a prayer to God.
Such is the spirit Of true chivalry-a spirit which
has lived. does live and will ever live as long as
this earth Is the habitatiOn Of man. The age of
chivalry, indeed is not gone." and he who so be-
Iieves is but a confessed witness to his own i'm
becility.
IT'S true Sir knights, you not here to-day
panoplied for warlike deeds. No walled city is to
be stormed-no serried ranks to be .broken-but
it was ever one Of the highest missions of knight
hood to rid the land Of dragons and monsters dire
And are not dragons and monsters now cx-
listing upon whose destruction you may well fix
your thoughts and expend all the strength of your
knightly arms? What dragon was ever more hos
tile to life than want? What monster more appal-
ling than ignorance? What wall more piteous
to the ear Of manhood than that of the hungered
orphan? Can you not hear this wall wherever
you go, whether in the busy haunts of men
" in the solitude where none intruder" Go where
you will-whether on the hill tops, or down into
the valley, the green mounds rising like archcd
shields as if to protect their jewcled dead-prO-
claim at once your cause and speak its silent
eloquence. For every mound there is an orphan.
For every dew drop that sparkles on the green
grass, tear has burned its furrowed way down
the check of some soldiers wife. or Of some sol
dier's child. Our men, though destitute.
strong of arm and of heart. and will do all that
manhood can accomplish. Our women, too, though
many of them unused TO toll, sing. we think,
more swcety TO their spinning wheels than they
used to sing TO their harps. For these we
do not ask aims. Their proud hearts would
burst before their hands would become the recip
tents Of your charity; but for the helpless little
sufferers we do appeal, not to the reluctant.
churlsh giver. but to that spirit of universal
charity which is the gift of God and the heritage
Of the poor.
know, Sir knights, there are those who attri-
butte dislOyal promptings and disloyal purposes to
this assemblagc 1t Is TOO absurd to merit notice,
and IwOuld pass it over in silence but for the
opportunity it gives of speaking word of praise
of those who took as well as gave blows, and who,
from the testimony ofmy own.personal experience,
can state, know how TO symrathze with suffer-
ing even though it be in the person of a wounded
or fallen foe-soders themselves, they know how
to appreciate a soldier and those who would feed
a soldiers orphan. And there-is yet another
higher than all, who, from his own experience,
| knows how to feel for an orphans wants and
the lonely bitterness of an .orphan's fate. lie
he has waved the proud flag of the nation over
the broad extent of the land. and upon it has
| lnScrlDeu-peace, Oiu mere ~ Dcdfcs Ahu ohOuiu
there be another war growing out of the present
European troubles, there will be but one flag, and
beneath it there will be-not one of these calum-
niators-soders in peace citizens in time of war.
As in our late civil strife. they will stay behind
with the vultures, and be found where green-
| backs most do congregate.
| Thank God, these traducers of public and pri-
vate fame are becoming known, and soon the honest
people, both here and at the North, will strike
them. like so many horse-leoches. from the body
polite and send them, full and'gorsci. It's true,
but still send them back to the stagnant pools
| from whose muddy boSoms they originally came.
But, Sir Knights, this is theme not suited for
the ears of courtesy and beauty.
gladly turn from it, and remind you of an
| other of the sources Of Knightly inspiration.
| Need tell what this is. Look around you at the
bright eyes. bcHmlHg III radiant lO' olmvss. bov
| these wrcathod smiles. stronger than any tyrants
chains. Sir Knights, you are in danger. know
tina. some of you have charged to the bronzed and
| hollow lannon's mouth, and have escaped the
danger. but alas there is no escape from this.
Tou may clOthe yourselve in triple mail-in armor
| of brass; no cunning armOrer has yet devised
shield that can save your hearts to-day, and candor
| compcls me to tell you that not one of you will
| leave this list who will not die of his wounds or
be a captive for life. without hope of ransom or
rescue. But | detan you too long remember
that bright eyes look upon you. The sacred cause
in which you are engaged. while each Of you have
an individual NAME and fame. You are all to-
| day the orphans Knights. 1t is the cause in which
| the Iion-hearted Knight. did he now live, would
| love to WELD his pondcrous battle-ax. And Bay
ard the Knight without fear, and without reprOach
| would gladly set lance in rest.
On then gallant Knights-thc whole world is
| impatient to know who shall be our Queen Of
| Love, and of Beauty. Sir Herald, proclaim, that
| the feots will now begiD