Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-11-11


result of bringing us together, for the first
time since he gave up the sword which he
excepted with the pledge to devote it to the
gods and the affairs of his homo, and to
sheath it only when his work was finished.
He sheathed it not until his whole duty was
discharged and his work was doae. He made
us honor, love and confde in him, and
taught US how to deserve the honor. love
and confidence of each other; and I pray
you now to form a brotherhood in peace
which shall perpetuate our conrad eship in
war worthy of the armies Of the Confsde ra-
cy and Of their llustrious chief
In its initiation let it be like what the
Cincinnati Society after the first American
Revolution was to Washington, full of affec-
ton and memories Of which the great Chief
was the centre, but let it never fail or expire
a, the Cincinnati did, for reason or suspicion
even Of any designs of paltry party politics.
Let our standards be still the standard of
Robt. 3. Lec-God, Religion, Honor,
Truth and our Country! Let US unite in one
grand Confederate brotherhood, with subor-
dinate, auxiliary organization for each Con-
federate army, to foster our affections, to
cherish our memories, and to preserve our
history There is necessity for all this
for we are scattered and separated from each
other, and may lose our fellow feeling; we
are fast dying away from memory, and may
soon be forgotten; and the spoiler is now
busily and rapidly taking from us by the
pen the truth of history, more precious to US
than all the spols of war which were ever
captured by his sword.
This. [ trust, will be the main object of
this meeting. Mourn we must, in silent
submission to Gods will, but we must act
to save what is most precious to us and our
children, as well as greve for what is lost
We have lost much, but we did much.
We were obliged to fail and we did fail,
but what men on earth ever did more, or
! as much, in a struggle for "hope against
hope Z" viii Paris, with her million, stand
( as long as Richmond did Will the Belle
OF Nations, that lily Of their garden, France,
endure aga nst equal odds as long as the
devoted Confederacy stood against all the
odds of all the earth Passing events point
to the justice due us, and we will not be
true to ourselves if we neglect or omit to
claim our own in history. Contrasts now
casting lights and shadows on earth are
illustrating causes of failures in battles and
causes of the downfall Of nations We fell
in weakness of mere numbers, and there
are causes for that weakness which we must
scan. And we have not only affections to
foster, memories to cherish, truth to pre-.
serve, but liberties to be regained. This is
a great work, and we ought to be up and
about it,
Monuments are but mites, compared with
this work General Lees remains are in a
Temple of the Living God, selected by him.
self for the depository Of his body amidst the
last of his labors. Stone and mortar can't
add one cubit to his statue his monument
is in the heart of the Confederacy and on
that topic [ have but word to add that I
would delight to see design of true art
placed over or at his tomb; no meretricious
( nlockery Of all taste, such as Northern me-
chanics have put upon the monument Of
George Washington in the Capitol Square
Of this metropolis. but work Of some native
artist of the South, like that Of Houdon,
worthy of the man it moulds. We have an
artist here, Mr. Edward Valentine, Of Rich
mond, who has already made the plaster
speak very Lee, and he can mako the
Parian express him to the very life.
And now, sir, pardon, I pray you, the
egotism of an old man when add that the
age Of General Lee was within few DAYS
the same as my own. [ was with him from
the very first to the very last of his cam
paigns. I honored, loved and obeyed him
for four years. He has, in the words of his
last moments, struck his tent. Ia a very
| short time I shall receive the mandate to
strike my tent too, and I now pray that
when that order comes to you and 70 me
| that we may all be ready to follow him in
the march to that "bourne whence no tray
eler returns to join him in that innumera-
bic army of the Captain of Salvation, who
is invincible, who hath demanded of Death
his sting, and of the grave its victory. There
is NO more sting for General Lee, and his
now is the victory. IL defeat he was glori-
Gus, and in death more than victorious.
The resolutions were then adopted and
the Lee Monument Association organized,
with the following officers
President Lieut. Gen. Jubal A. Early.
Secretary-Col. 7. NJ R. Talcott.
Treasurer-Col. VIM. W Palmer.
Aulitor-C R. Allan
Executive Commute Walter Fl. Tay.
Tor, Bradley 7. johnson, Robert Stiles, r.
D. Minor, R. FL. Maury.
The meeting then adjourned,