The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-05


mond. The city was in mourning for one
of her brightest ornaments, and on every
countelElnce there was written-Gricf.
On the streets, where we have seen his
brisk step 50 often since the present cam
yaSs commenced in the committee rooms
ut the Exchanges; in office, shop. and
store everywhere-the NauXhall disaster
was the subject of conversation, and many
were the tributes of affection and respect
paid to the memory OF the noble dead.
The State Central Committee.
At the meeting of the Conservative State
Central Committee the following minute.
submitted by =. II. Ayett, Esq. was unani-
mouSly adopted ,
"In the death Of our beloved friend and
associate james Il. Branch we suffer be-
reavcmcnt too deep and sorrowfUl for words
to express. Snatchcd from our side III the
midst of the great contest in which we were
jointly engaged, whilst his desires were is
warm and his hopes "a eager a our own, it
does indeed most feelingly tell us 'wlnt
shadows we are and what shadows we pur-
sue
"How he toilcd in that work-how lIn
Sparin"ly he devoted time. talents. and the
means. to its >tlcceS>. we best know: but
his city, his state, and his people, must ac-
knowledge to him a debt of gratitude which
now, alas can never be repaid. And let it
be known and remembered that his life was
lost in magnanimpus effort for the restora-
ton of social peace-in the cndeayor to call
back an erring and dcudcd race to the
paths Of interest and duty.
- But it iS the scvcrin@ of our personal
relations with him that aiilct> III with the
kccncSt sorrow. We miss, and shall miss
forever. the bright and genial >mile-the
cordial salutatiOnS-thc >a@aciOu> counsel
| the frank but wcl-con>dcred >pecch-and
all those out-spcaking evidence, Of solid,
manly worth. which charmed while they 80
endearcd him to us his near associates.
! ITO his afflicted father and brethren, and
to that dear home circle Of which he was
| the pride, the ornament, and stay, we tender
our deepest and warmc>t Sympathics. Our
/ hearts bleed for them. We minglc our tears
! with theirs.
/ "RcSolced. That we will in a body attend
! the funeral Of our friend. and Wear for him
| the usual badge of mourning for thirty
days"
\ ECLOGY ELOQUENT AND JUST.
Mr.. 2. II. Aylctt in moving the adoption
Of these resolutions, said that the sudden
and terrible calamity which has cast Il gloom
over our city, and carried grief unuttcrable
| into households lately 80 happy. has also
/ deprived this Committee Of one Of IL most
| able. patriolr and distinguished members.
! Not only do We mourn III the untlmely
death of Colonel james K. Branch friend
! who was endeared to Us by many generous.
manly. and chiyarou> traits of quality-nut
only are our hearts bleeding for the noble
old father who has lost hi pride and first
I born. and for that wife who has been made
dcSolatc by an. irrcpurable loSS-and for
those children who arc now tathcrIc>>-
but we mourn his death H. Il Great public
calamity.
The brief life of the deceased was 50
I full Of examples OF bravery. public spirit.
and patriotism, that il i Il radiant example
Tor the imitation OF all, for when the welfare
of hi> state and section demanded it. there
was 10 sacrifice which Ac was not ready to
make.
As i SOLDIER AND A CITIZEN.
When the honor Of his state called her
SONS To the field ne WAS among the first TO
90 forth and fcarlcSSly expose hi> life in the
pcrilou> front of battle. When the wounds
and accidents Of war disabled and forced
him from the field his splendid public spirit
and exalted patriotism were still felt until
defeat t1irled torc:cr the banners OF the late
Confederacv. His state no longer demand
ing his services i'll the field. he became a
resident Of this city. and at oAcc won honor
and distinction as one of our most far
sighted. puhlic-Spiritcd. and intelligent bIl>i-
among those cntcrprising men who, casting
their fortunes into a city shattered, torn.
and halt-con-umcd by the casualties of civil
war. rebuilt it, ruined streets and placed
capital within the reach of labor. Ills cX-
crtiouS in the establishment OF that Nlcr-
chants Exchange which has become the
pride Of our city. and his wcll-dircctcd. per-
<iStcnt. and able efforts to extend the trade
and commerce Of Richmond, are known to
all
But. continued Mr.. Aylctt, his >kili and
bravery a Il soldier, and his sagaCity and
arutencSS aS Il business man, while placing
him high upon the rolls Of Virginia. honor
ed dead. will not prove Colonel Branch
highest claim to the love and admiration OF
, DOSterity. What he has done during the
last two wears. and more especially his Ia
/ bors FOR the past month. cpttlc him t" some
thing more enduring than mere monumcn-
tai marble and bronze.
Like that soldier who guarded the bridge
when Rome was heleagucrcd by hosts Of bar
harian enemies and who became immortal
by the heroic performance of n -Icat duty,
Colonel Branch peri>hcd in the performance
of duty aS worthy Of honor aS thar of the
soldier who dies upon the battlefield.
An ORGANIZER OF VICTORY.
If it shall please God 10 crown or grea'
Rights. with victory, the historian will
award high need Of praise 10 the patriotic
men who, like Colonel Branch (aad the
president of this committee, were the Car
notS-the Organizers Of ictory. II Virginia
shall on the 9th Of July east oil The maIig!l
influences which are crlI@hiu" her, and
peace and prosperity again bless our pco-
pie. much of our success will be du" 10
those who, when apathy and despair op-
pressed and fcttercd Ill classes. devoted
their time, talents, and energies, to organ
iZing aud arouSin@ the masses 10 the great
! work OF State regeneration.
WHAT He DID FOR VIRGINIA.
Those TO whom ! address these words.
said Iir. Aylctt. best know what an able,
energetic, and indefati@ablc coidjutor the
distinguished Chairman Of this Committee
/ and the rest of Us had in Colonel Branch
/ This work he performed unSeltishly and un-
ambitiouslv: for when he neither sought
nor desired it, The admiration and gratitude
OF the people Of this district thrust upon
him nomination for the Senate. With
talents for debate OF Il very high order. and
with style Of popular eloquencc brilliant,
effective, and captivating, he kept hi great
talents mode>tly concealed. while his energy,
his zeal. and his entreatieS, called To the
front many who were i'll no way his >upe-
riorS. Without the aid OF Colonel Branch'>
great executive talents the Conservative
party would not to-day have been cheered
by the prospect of speedy and brilliant vic
tory.
HOW He DIED.
! There was something, said Mr.. Aylett,
peculiarly tollchin" and characteristic in the
circumstance. attending his sudden death.
lie ardentlv desired the restoration Of kindly
relations between the two races i'll this city,
and deplored the wicked influences By
which that relation had been disturbed. He