Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-26
Onion and american.
SATURDAY. MAY aG. 1866.
THE CHIVALRY-KNIGH AND
TOTRNAMENTS-SP BY Lam
non a. HAYNES.

HAYNES delivered the following address:
LADIES. GENTLEMEN AND GALLANT
KNIGHTS OF THE TOURNAMENT AT MEM
PHus: / should be wanting in sensibility
and modesty if incapable Of feeling the res
ponsibilities I have incurred in accepting
the invitation Of the Committee 10 addres
an audience so brilliant as that by which ]
am surrounded, on an occasion so splendid
enlivened as il is with the ardor of youth
graced with the charms Of beauty, ennobled
with the dignity Of genius, and adorned
with the virtues of cbivalrous knighthood.
In its ancient Specification, Knight was a
person Of Patrician birth, possessing the ac-
complishment, the abilities, the martial
proves and gallant spirit Of a soldier. The
Eg1Iifes Of the Romans, or the Roman
knights, were cultivated youths, selected
from the best class of Patrician families,
trained in equestrian exercises, and taught
10 serve on the back Of the war horse IN the
armies Of the Roman States. None were al
lowed to enter that noble order, and 10 serve
"a knights ia the Roman legions, but those
e refined manners and gentle blood, whose
characters and morals were irrcproachable,
and who served their country alone for the
public good. From this ancient order Of
Patrician knighthood, sprang the institution
Of modern chivalry.
According TO the historic writers, it re-
ccived it, greatest impulse from the spirit Of
the crusaders, who marched in myriads To
the Holy Land to rescue the sepulchre Of
the Savior from the empire of the Turk
Aud after Palestine had been reduced by the
power of the sword 10 the dominion of the
inhde, and the crusader had been expelled
by the cimitcr Of Saladin from the scenes
made sacred by the presence Of Christ, he
returned once more to his native Europe,
where he and his descendants gave to chiv-
airy the perfection of its splendor and
the intensity OF its influence in the re
lincment of the manners Of European ma
tions. For in those days Of feudal violence,
when there was "no right but might, and no
law but power" but little protection existed
for the feeble and the helpless against insult,
robbers and rapine except from the gem
crosby and yalor OF those gallant knights,
who declared themselves throughout Europe
the ayenging defenders Of injured innocence.
Religion aud galantry were the elements
of The institution, while justice, courage hu-
manity, interrupted faith and inviolable
truth, were the Respondent ornaments which
shone most conspicuously in the crown Of
kuightly honors. Their knighthoud was
deemed, even by the mobiles superior TO roy
atty itself and mOnarchs were accustomed
to bow the princely hinges of the knee in
courtly pomp 10 receive admission into the
order. in consequence Of which the courts
and palaces Of kings were made brilliant
with the charms Of chivalry and soitened
into refinement by the elegant accomplish
10 of fnIr
and brave men,"
And when military violence and the
bloody butcheries of the trade of war had
in some degree abated, while the spirit Of
chivalry still survived ever and anon it
cent, but splendid pageant of the tOurna-
mcnt, where the thrilling smiles of lovely
woman stimulated gallant men 10 deeds Of
daring and Of honor. And we have been
taught by history that the generosity of val
or. the magnanimty of courage, the gentle
ness of religion, and the tenderness of hu-
humanity, which became the distinguishing
ornaments of European knighthood, not
only suftcned and mitigated the ferocity, but
hreathod into the laws Of nations and of war
that humane spirit Of modern civilization
now practiced by the brave and gallant ma
ti0ns of the earth And though some may
be inclined 10 misconstrue the intentions of
this day, who look upon the scene through
the prism of green-eyed prejudice, yet this
tournament is not less brilliant for the beau
~ of the ladies who are present, and the
chivalry Of the knights gathered within
the lists, than innocent in its motives and
bencticient in its objects. These exercises
are peculiarly appropriate 10 you, the sons
of the South, and the .ineal descendants OF
brave cavaliers, in whose blood still survives,
We have a right 10 suppose, by natural in
hcritancc the chiyalrOus virtues of your an
cc=tors. Applause
For, ~ Horace has said, the brave are
descended from the brave and good. Forts
rrcgHtur jortibu Ct boHiS, nee ttroccS GquiT
yIrogcacrdm imbdlcm columbian. ] know il is
alleged that the chivalry of the South are
stil disoval to the Government of the
United States But this is nothing more or
less, than a bold and reckless fiction. And
Won will allow me moment, by an easy di-
erosion upon this point, TO make a single
observation. We have faithfully acquiesced
aud intend 20 acquiesce, in every issue legiti-
mately involved in and decided by the war.
We have repealed the ordinances and sur
rendered up the principle of secession. We
have surrendered three thousand millions Of
dollars worth of property. We have eN-
plunged the slave clauses from the Constitu-
tiuns of the States, and closed up the ques-
ton forever by an amendment Of the Con-
stitution of the United States. We have
sent Senators and Representatives 10 the
Capitol, who now stand waiting restoration
20 the constitutional right Of representation
ia the Federal Congress. Evidence more
sublime and dcmonstrative was never given
by any people in all history, Of interrupted
faith and naked truth in their sacred pledges
Of fidelity TO their Constitution and Govern
ment
The magnanimity and grace with which
the people have acquicsced in the issues de.
cided against them by the verdict of the
sword, are only equaled by that superhuman
bich-mindcdncss and llnightly chivalry,
which. in the hour of battle, not only eN'
iorted admiration from their stern foes, bat
made them seem To forget that they had
ever heard the name of death. Applause.
And il can scarcely now be expected 10y en-
ightened men, that the people Of the South
should suddenly transfer their affections
personally TO those whining, cauting grace
less Goddess, Christlcss yipers in the human
IN.
nclarious i'm the name of piety, cowardly IN
the name of courage, warllke m the name
of peace. and disunionists in the name o
the Union. seek TO prevent fraternity and
concord, and 60 reduce vanquished peopl,
to scrvitude and TO hasten them down into
an abyss of ruin unequalled in this or any
other age or country. Applause Whii'
We give our allegiance and fidelity TO In,
Government of the United States, we rescrv,
Cur scom for these huzzing insects of the
hour. who, with the venomous stlngs OF ma
Hgnant asps, would coad us to degradation
aud Ia death. Applause.
BUT the President of the United States
however they may have hitherto differed
with him ON other questions, ON account o
the generosity of his behavior in the per
foruance of official duty, deserves and re
c,ivcs the esteem and admiration of thcil
hearts as well as the appreciation of ia,
civilized world. Applause.
Born ON Southern soil, without RAM
fortune, or opulont friends, Ivy the mas
rulne vigor Of an unaided intellect, Ia
has not only conquered the adverSlues q
life but from the ranks OF the people, dc
spite of all opposition, has aScendedthrougI
aI the rradatious Of official responsibility
STATE and Federal, TO the very Summt O
the national honor. There he now stand
with sublime resolution and knlghtly gal
lautry. to rcbuke the bloody spirit of per
secution; TO protect and defend the rights @
the States, aud 10 guard the Constitution
rom further wounds from malignant an
rc,epgeful dagpers. And when he shall