The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-02-28
A STREAK OF TIGHTENING IN THE
GEORGIA CONVENTION,


In the Georgia Convention,e few
days ago, ColonelJ. D. Waddel, a gall
liant offer of the late confederate army,
and a Conservative member of the body
gave Inference toahe following thoughts
that breathe and words that burn
Sir, have borne vituperation long
enough. | am not ashamed of my re-
port.
There never was a moment since
the date of my political accountability
when | was not true to the great prin-
ciple of popular libt rty as laid down
in the Constitutionofthe United States.
1t was precisely because l conceived
that that Constitution was practically
overthrown, that its principles were in
jeopardy. that its spirit and, essence
We're violated by the election to the
office ofPresident os the U. s., of sec
ctional candidate upon sectional plat
form, that espoused the cause of Geor-
gia. Through her sovereign voice, she
commanded me to avouch my ballot with
my sword. / bowed to her high mandate
Georgia made me citizen Of the Uni
ted States. conceived she had the
right to absolye my citizenship. She
commanded me to defend her (; the Fed
eral government commanded me to
crush her. could not obey both mas
tiers. | elected without hesitation in
obedience to the instincts of my nature
to stand by Georgia The home of nv
childhood and manhood the graves Of
my neighbers and friends; the affairs
of my kindred, the honored ashes of
him whose name | hear. OF whom,
then shall be afraid : or what shall
1 be ashamed {? Let me here speak
one word for myself alone, aud ifmy
voice could reach to tie utJermost
boundary of creation, creation should
hear the declaration. TO day would
not exchanges the memory of the part
| bore, humble as that part was, in the
noble struggle of Georgia to be free Tor
the crown the Bourbon lost. ! would
not exchange my poor part at Manas-
sas, Gettysburg and Chickamauga, and
a dozen other proud but melancholy
fields, for the best hope 1 have. If
erred, 1T was ON the side of my State
and my section-an error, If one it be,
that stands recorded in Heavens chan
Gerry upon mercy's page. i erred, too,
in company with the best, the brightes
and the bravest OF my State I erred
with men whose names are garnered.
up in her heart, whose lyalor she'd I'M
fading lustre upon her arms, and whose
fame Is among the Jewels of her crown,
and over whose hero dust her most
precious tears have been shed.if f9s
Mr.. Baldwin here interrupted by in
curling whether Mr.. Waddel still held
to secession.
Mr.. Waddel-Secession was settled
by the war. | accepted the result. -
When surrendered my sword. / sur,
rendered that doctrine. l surrender
ed to General Grant, who is man of
honor and who has kept his pledge. =
l have kept and mean to keep mine. I
Would that | could say as much for
some of his supporters here. My hon.
or was pledged, and that it is un
stained. But will not sit silently by !
and hear the memory of those who per-
ish in the effort to make secession glo-
rous illuminated. Those christian
heroes, Tom Cobb aud Stonewall Jack
SON who baptized your cause and mine
Mr.. President in their blood-who
sacrificed life in maintaining it-over
whose graves glory weeps-they are
denounced by party on this floor as
I raiters to the. country, while Butler,
the beast, who melted ruffian soldiery
at New Orleans to violate detenceless
females-who went there a bankrupt
in fortune, and he is now bankrupt
in fame-who grew rich by plumber
robbery, -rapine and theft--he is now
a patriot Put ME down among the |
traitors EHi An- -
Here large number of delegates on
the other side of thefho rose to their
feet looking Mortified. They knew
we'll they possessed the numerical
strength to crush the speaker by force |
and consequently they were furious to |
pounce upon him.. Some had ques-
tions to ask, andJothers had points of |
order. Alas the arch rebel had to |
succumb to the pressure and TOOK his
seat like all rebels 'do--oyer- powered,
but not conquered. $500.