New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-07

An appreCatye and enthusiastic audience, com
posed of our best citizens filled Virginia Hall on
Thursday night, to listen to lecture by General
ColstQn, on -" Stonewali " Jackson. Considerable
interest had been awakened by the preliminary
announcements Of the lecture, arising not only
from the nature Of the subject-dear to every true
son of the Old Dominion--but also from the fact
that the lecturer himself was for many years one
of the intimate associates and afterwards com
panionin-arms of the fallen hero, whose pane
gyriC he was pronouncing, and, therefore, pecu-
larly fitted for the task he had undertaken.
That the expectations so raised were completely
satisfied by the lecturer, every one who heard him
will testify, and it is with peculiar pleasure that
we record the invitation which, by the unanimous
voice of the meeting on Thursday, was extended
to General Colston to repeat his lecture at his
early convenience. For the benefit OF our readers
generally, and especially those who were not for
tThate enough to hear General Coston, we publish
sketch of the principal points of his lecture, which
itout further comment, we leave to speak for
itself Shortly after O'Clock, General Coiston APP
peared on the stage, and, after the applause with
which he was greeted had somewhat subsidized, he
spoke as follows:
THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON.
Ladies and Geatenen-T had hoped tonight to
have addressed you in another place, but in con-
VersatiOn which has been accurately reported in
one of the morning papers (the EXaminer) the
Governor of Virginia refused me the use of the
hall of the House of Delegates for any such pur-
pose " as to deliver a euogy on the most honored
and beloved son Virginia has produced in modern
times. (Hisses)
In order that the reader may better know the
character of this 50 conversation to which Gen.
Colston alludes, and the accuracy of which he tes
titles to, we reproduce it here, as printed in the
Examiner of last Thursday-Ed Examiner
THE hall of the House of Delegates
should have been offered to Gen. Coston without
solicitation but in default of that fitting courtesy,
he approached the so-caed Governor of Vir-
ginia to ask for it. The following brief dialogue
will show how he and his application were re-
ceived.
"On entering the Governorsroom, Gen. Colston
presented to him the letter of invitation he had
received from many of our most prominent citi
zens, which was taken and read. As the Governor
returned the letter, Gen Coston remarked pleas
antly:
Governor, suppose now that the war is over,
Tnat every Virginian feels pride in the fame and
character of St0newall Jackson
Pierpont-' No, sir feel no pride in Jackson
as Virginian and can see nothing in his charac-
Ter worthy of admiration.
After some further remarks, Pierpont asked,
contemporary, " What is there in the character of
Jackson.to admire? He was kind of crazy en-
thusiast, with good deal of the bigotry of Crom-
well. That was all"
General Golston-"I merely called, sir, to ask
lure" " '-'' NS' VI 'D0 nan III my ~,
Pierpont-"No, sir !" Every emphatically.) al
VIII not lend the hall of the House of Delegates
for any such purpose.n
And then he again asked derisiyely. " What was
there in the character of Jackson to admire?u
General COston-' 1t is useless for ms who diffe,
30 widely, sir, to discuss that subject, You mus
excuse me for doing so. Good morning. AnG
the General departed.
General Colston then stated that it was pot hi
purpose to give history of StonewaIl Jackson
but merely to relate some of the circumstance
and facts respecting him which had hitherf,
escaped the notice of most of his biogranhers
Indeed he thought it was not at all desirable tina
any attempt should be made to write the histor,
of this remarkable man until the angry feelings n
the present had subsidized before the wise and con
ciliatory policy which had been so nobly inaugu
rated by President Johnson. His object at presen
was two fold-&st to bring before the minds of hi
hearers, as Vividfy as possible, Jackson the man
next to offer some criticisms upon the history o
his campaigns, as exhibiting Jackson the soldie
and strategist.
JACKsoN's PERSONAL APPEARANCE, MANNERS AM
HABITS.
It was In June, 1851, that Jackson Joined the Viz
ginia Military Institute at Lexington, all that wa
then known of him being that he had been in tn
army, and that he had fought in the Mexican wal
Bis figure was angular and ungainly his feet large
his gait heavy and numbering, and he wore regula
ton whskers, with an ugly m6ustache. In SEP
TENDER, 1851 he entered upon the duties of hi
charge as instructor in artillery tactics and naturi
philosophy, and at first was by no means popula
among the cadets or the professors of the inst
tute, from his cold and somewhat awkward mar
ners, but he soon won their regard by his kind an
Obliging conduct. Although he was not at all dt
monstratiFe, he was one of the most obliging
men, and no one was ever more willing than b
8 to sit up all night with a sick friend, or even
stranger if necessary. In addition to this he We
punctiOnsy courteous, and never failed to r
turn every salutation by lifting his cap from h
mead, even to the humblest servant round I'll
place. lie also had a habit OF saying than