The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-02-02
ADDRESS BY GEN. WADE HAMPTON.

moviag macs of heads. The balconies,
stoope and windows were thronged with
gsily dressed ladies, whose bright faces
were Wreathed with smiles Of Welcome
soldiers. Shortly after nine o'clock tue
sound II music doated upon tho morning
breeze, and there was an immediate stir
among; the assembled throng, as the pro-
oession came in sight. The following is q
list Of the military organizations that par
Republican Blues, Volunteer Guards,
Chatham Artillery, Orglethrope Light In
fantryt Georgia Hussars. In tbs ranks were
many off, the veterans who had followed Lee
from Manassas to Gettysburg, and by their
devotion and gallantry, added to the INDY
ing fame Of the glorious army of Northern
Virginia. After marching through the
hlsd past the residence of Col. Anderson
where they were received by Generals
Joseph z. johnson, Wade Hampton Law
ton, Kershaw and Jackson. The sight
presented was glorious one, and awak-
ened feelings Of the grand past in the breast
Of every true Southron.
asGRN. HAMProN's ADDRESS
at the Theatre was listened to by an i'm
menso audience, every inch Of roem being
occupied.s Prominent among the distin-
guishea men present on the stage was
plause consequent upon his introd uction
had snbaided, Gen. Hampton said:
Ones again, and for the last time, seem
placed On putty in the service Of my old
CommeDder, aad the voice that suEmons
me here waking many of the prenaese,
eomes from the tomb Of him, who, though
'sdead, yet speaketh." 1t would i'll become
any Confederate soldier, who is not q rene
gade TO- the faith for which he fought, to
refuse to deck the honored grave of Lee,
and while the humble garland would rev.
greatly and tenderiy place on that hallowed
spot, seems but poor and withered by the
aide Of those rare flowers the world has,
with sneh-lavish hand, scattered there, let
me hobe that my votive Offering will be ac-
cepsed 10 the spirit In which it is made.
Believe me, it comes from heart which
feels profoundly that calamity which, while
taking from the bereaved South that con of
hers in whom centred SO much of the just
pride, the heartfelt gratitude, the passion
ate love of his countrymen, has stricken
down the first soldier of his time, and de-
prived humanity and Christianity alike of
one of their highest ornaments.
In reference to the history of tie war he
said: 10
Notnntil the heat of passion, the nists
Of prej1dice and tue venom of hate, which
have 20 deeply stained American annals
during the last decade, have snbsided, can
the true. story of this last great Revolution
be given to the world. Then will the inn
partial historian be called on to tell with
what heartfelt reluctance the South, driven
to desperation, severed the bonds, no longer
fraternal, which bound her to that Union
abe had 80 largely aided to make, and threw
of Government which her wisdom had
mainly formed, and which her patriotism
and her genius had 80 greatly illustrated:
Het then proceeded to give full and
cempiete account of the main facts of Lees
illustrious career, from which we select the
following:
Soon after the Confederate Congress- met
in Richmond, Generals Cooper, A. S.
Johnston, Lee, j. E. Johnston and Beaure-
gard, were appointed Generals, ranking in
tho order in which they have just been
named. Gen. Lee was not called on to
take an active part in the earliest opera
tions Ia Virginia, nor did he participate in
the first rude shocks of those great armies
which then began to crimson her soil with
that precious blood, afterwards SO lavishiy
and aIasl 40 fruitlessly poured out in her
defence. IL was not until the autumn of
1861 that be was assigned to duty in the
field when he was sent to supervise and
harmonic operations in West Virginia.
The campaign in this quarter was not sue
cessfal, and few of those acute military
critics, who, from their safe retreats 10
newspaper offices, used to tell us gllbly,
how neids should be won, censured Gen;
Lee for his failure. In the absence of all
Official documents, all of which have been
lost or destroyed, it would be paipably un-
inst 70 cast any blame on him for the con-
duct of this campaign. But one man now
living, can speak knowingly and authorita-
lively on this subject-the great statesman
and pure patriot, who then presided over
the deatinies of our young Reanblie: he
who; after dedicating himself, body and
heartsand soul, to the cause in which we
Sourist. has lived to bear vicariously for us
in his own person, with the sublime endu-
rance Of martyr, the sufterings,; the hI-
need name him nay friendsi Does not
every heart in the South instinct1y frame
che answer, and does not every tongue ut
ter the name of jefferson Davis He has
sDoken on this point, and spoken IN no
doubtful or uncertain tones, and to him l
leave the vindication of Gen. Lee, in this
che only instance in which one breath OF
bostiie criticism has ever risen from the
South. When standing by the grave which
6ad lust been closed over our great Cap
i Mr.. DAVIS, while paying noble trib;
nte 70 his memory, referred to this part of
his military career in the following Ian
tiyubao V;roinia jnineu tn0.COn