Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-11-15

A meeting nt Cunleherate nHccrS hnu SoI-
ders was held in Rlchmend on Thursday
night the 3ri inst. in the First Presbyterian
Church. The ed'ife was crowded to ."ver-
flowing At ocipek General Bradley j.
johnson called theftlastipg tn order, and,
upnn his motion, General JuLal "A Early
was elected temporary Chairman. General
Early, on taking the chair paid an eloquent
tribute to the memory Of him whom he de-
scribed ns the greatest and nnnlest Of men,
General Robert u. Lee. After prnyer by
Rev. Dr. Miime.ernde General Bradley T.
johnson moved tho appointment OF the usual
cummittces aud the motion was cnrrled.
The Committee on Permanent Organization,
after a brief retirement, made report rec"m
mcnding the fnlnwing as the permanent Of
fcrrs nE the Associations:
For Prcsident-J, ffrSon Davis.
Vice Prrsidents-NI NIajnr General Fiizhnsh
Lee. Mnior Gemcr join r. Gordon. Major
General Edward JohmSpn> Nlajpr General /.
r Trimllc. Brigaiicr General w B. Tnla-
tcrrn Brigndcr General William n. Pende-
ton Mainr General Wm. Smith. Brigadier
Gcne,al n A WISE Brgader GrueralJ D.
Imboden Colonel ChaS. Marshall. Cnl'nel
Walter n. Taylor Colonel w. X P"rrne,
Culoncl Pryton n. Wise General NJ Ransom,
Captain Reborn Pr"ran General j.. II lIn-
max Colonel Henry Pcvt"n. Colonel j. NJ.
French, Colonel r Il Withcrs Major Will
liam ~ berkeley. C"lnncl William Willis.
Cnlnuel Wm. Preston J"husnn l.icuenut
Mann Page. Prvatcs Vim e. Kane. Of
Louisa cnuntv. va; Rnht Martin. of FauIui"r;
G.. Unugh, of baltimore. aud G. Elder. of
MARYLAND. and Sergeant w Writ Robinson.
Secretaries Captain Il s. Gregory. Ser
ccant George ]. Christian. Captain g G.
Law. on. Sergeant James p. Cnwar,ln Captain
w. a. Anderson Captain s y. tl"uSrtn",
Capta'n George Walker and Major VIM: B.
Myers.
The report was unanimously adopted amid
great applause.
REMARKS OF PRESIDENT DAVIS
The DiSpoIc} says: As Mr. Davis arose
to walk to rhc stand every person il the house
rose 10 his feet. and there followed such storm
nrapplnmSr nS seemed tn shake the very t"unda-
tons nf the buildings while cheer upnn clIrer
was echoed from tie thtoats nf veterans sa!u-
tno one whom they delighted tn honor.
Mr. Davis s,,oke at iru@th. and with his
accustomed ririiiiug, moving el"qrcmce. We
shall not attempt, ut the late hour nt which
we write 10 give full r"2ort of lis address.
He addressed his hearers as '.SulicrS aud
sailors cf the Cnniedcracy. comrades and
friends :" Assembled on this sad occns.on,
with hearts oppreS, Ell with the grief thar fol-
Im,ys. the loss of l,ir who WAS "nr leader on
many n hlnodv battle field pleasing. though
mechanically spectacle. Is presented Hitherto.
and in all times. men have been hnn"ICd when
surc, sSiul. but here is the Of one who.
amid disaster. went down to his crave. and
those who were his companions in misfortune
have assembled to honor his memory. II is
as much an honor to v"u who give as TO him
{ H.. ,,,,1. ,,E
merit ynm show Yourselves c"mrr'cnt to dis
crimina'c lctwcCn Him who enjoys and he
who deserves success
R"h"rf Il Lee WIS my associate and friend
ir tie military arndemv. aud we were friends
until the hour Of his cIraih We were nssn.
catcS aud friends when lie was Il soldier and
Il congressman and associates aud friends
when hc led the armies "t the C"ntrHcracv
and p.c>iiri in irs Cabinet We PASSED
thrnu.h many sad srrucs together. hnt cam
nmt remember that there was ever am"ht hut
perfrrt harmony between us If ever there
was difference "f n,ininn il was dis>irn'cd hy
discussion. aud harmony was rhr result |
repeat. 7rc D'r"r di<"yrCcd and | NAV add
that | never in NV lie III him the slight
est tendency to self seeking. II was not his
to make a record, it was not his 10 shift blame
to other shoulders: but irwas his with an eye
fixed upon the welfare of his country. never
fnltcring to follow the line of duty to the end
His was the he rrt that brnved every difficulty;
his was the mind that wrought victory out of
defeat
lie has been charged with 'wnnt of dash -
I wish to say that never knew Lee TO taitcr
tonr;cmrtanvrhiug ever man could dare. An
attempt has also heen mnlc to throw ciond
upon his character because I've left the army Of
7 = G. =, rin f,,r
the liberty of hisSfnfc Without uenching
at all nron ,,nliticS I deem it nv duty to say
ono word in reference to this char"c. Nir-
.yininn born. descended from family illus
! rrinrlS in Virrinin'S annals given hv Virginia
| to the service uf the UuirCd States lc rcure-
| scnrcd her in the Military Academy ~ West
/ Point lie was not rdmcatcd 10y the Federal
! G"vrrnmunt hut TX Virginia. for she paid her
/ full share for the support of that institution.
| and was entitled to dcmaud in return the
! services nf her SONS. Entering the army of
I the United States he Represented NIr@'ula
there also and nuhy. On many n hard
/ fought field Lee was conspicuous: battling Tor
/ his native State much as for the Union -
He came from McXicn crnwuCd with hnnOrs,
covered lv brercts and recognized. young rs
/ he was. us one rf the ahie~t Of his country :
suldiers Aud to prov that he WAS estimated
then as such let me tell vou that when Lee
was Il cn1tnin Of en"ineers. stationed in I'airI.
mere. tie Cuban Junrn in New York selected
him to he their leader in the struggle for the
independence nf their native country. They
were anxious TO secure his services. and offered
linn every temptation that ambition c"nId de-
sire He thought the matter ever. and. re-
] member. came to Washington to consult me
as tn what he shnuld do and when began to
discuss the complications which might arise
= from his acceptance of the trust he gently re-
buked me. saying that this was not The line
upon which he wished my advice. the simple
/ question was, Whether it was right or not
! lie had been educated by the United States
, -. =. IL. 49,. :,