Wilmington journal., 1873-11-07
From the Richmond Dispatch, Oct. So
THE SOUTHERN HISTORICAL
SOCIETY.
ADDRESSES BY GEN. EARLY,
WADE HAMPTON, REV. DIR.
CURRY, REV. DIR. HOGE,
MAJOR STILES AND
9TH RS.

CURRY, REV. DIR. HOGE,
MAJOR STILES AND
OTHERS.
| The meeting of the Southern His
torical Society. in the Senate Chamber.
| last night, in spite of the number OF
other meetings and attractions In the
citv, was attended by large number
| of Confederate officers and soldiers,
number of ladies and other visitors,
forming most appreciative audience
| for the distinguished gentlemen who
had been invited to address the Society
AS at the appointed hour the tower
ino form os General Wade Hampton
accompanied by Generals Early, t1tz.
Lee. Maury and others) moved up the
aisle. the memories of the Confederacy
came rushing back again, and "old
rebels" felt happy once more.
/ After prayer by the Rev. DR.. Wood
bridge, General Early introduced the
f, exercises by saying that as the Southern
Historical Society met tonight for the
! first time in Richmond, the Capital of
the late Confederate States, it would
be proper for him to make brief
statement of the origin and present
| status of the Society.
He said that the meeting last Sum
mcr seemed to have aroused certain
aIarnists at the North, who appeared
to think that Il new rebellion was be-
ing organized, and lie regretted that
some of the Southern journals had
reiterated their utterances as soon as
they gave the cue.
He then spoke of the Importance
and difficulties of the work of this
! Society-with our archives in the
hands OF those whose interest it is to
falsify our history, and most OF our
States III the same hands-and said
that the only weapons we now pro-
posed to use were the pen and tongue
of truth. In this new rebellion we
would fight with the pen the hosts OF
error, and that. too, not with the
bloody spirit OF those knights of the
pen who, during the late war, advo-
Gated the "black flag" and wrote most
blood-thirsty exhortatioIs to others to
go into dangers which they scrupu-
Iously avoided for themselves.
He then event for" the so-called
historians of the war in his character
istic style, and thus illustrated the i'm
portance of this Society, to the support
of which he earnestly eXhorted all to
rally who were not willing to have
their sons and brothers branded for all
time as ''rebels and traitors -
It was not proposed to appoint a
Observation-Disclosures are not appoint
r4-but 20 collect the material for the
grand work He spoke of the especial
Obligation we are here in Virginia to
sts,S material for the history, not
simply OF our own State, but of the
noble men Of al tho States, who came
TO our defence. He paid an eloquent
tribute to the sous of North Carolina,
South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Ala
bama, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi,
and other States giving a bright gal
axy OF names of fallen heroes, and in
sisted that as all of the Southern
States are willing to do full justice to
Virginia, so we should be ready to
lead the van in doing honor to and
placing right Oh the record the noble
soldiers OF the other States who fought
ana fell on our soil.
IL conclusion lie desired to say that
If there was here present any sensitive
politician Or editor who feared to have
his nerves shocked, he would now give
him an opportunity to retire. and would
advise him to 10 SO.
He now had the honor OF iutro-
duc.ng 10 the audience distinguished
son OF the cllivalrous though oprress-
ed State OF South Carolina-a man
whose sacrifices and noble services
were equal to those of any other of
our patriot soldiers. He needed to
add nothing more when he announced
the name Of
GENERAL WADE HAMPTON.
After the loud and ong-continucd
applause with which he was greeted by
Il old comrades had subsided, Gen
eTal Hampton begun his address by
saying that he lad preferred to have
com pied with the suggestion of the
distinguished President Of the Society,
and - have spoken of the cavalry
corp IS the Army OF Northern Nir-
GINA.
He had, at the request of our great
c!tieftain General Il. +. Leo care
fully Hr.tte0 cut a report of those op-
erations, which had not yet been pub
lished, and from which he would have
cuiled with loving hands such things
as would have told of the noble deeds
of those gallant men whom it was his
proud privilege 10 have led so often to
victory.
But having by q mischarcc failed to
q
thay document, he had been compelled
to use the few hours left him to pen
few thoughts which lie trusted would
not be out Of place upon this occasion.
lie regarded this Society as an ap-
peal from the distorted prciudiccs of
our enemies I" Justice aud right, and
iii attempt to show to our children that
III the great civil war We were not
''rCbels ami traitors" but patriots
struggling IOr the cause Of Justice,
righteousness and truth.
He gave a most vivid picture of the
condition Of the country-the present
state ct society and of the Government
Until here i'll old Virginia, who has
contributed 50 largely to the whole
country, there is now going Oh a bitter
struggle us tn whether the grand old
Commonwealth shall be able to free
herself from the dominion of the .tfri-
can and his baser white allies.
We are met 10 take counsel together
under these circumst;nccS-to vindi-
cate our cause and or martyred dead,
and to show to the world that these
men were not traitors.
He explained in some detail the
objects of the Society, and said that it
appeals to all Southern men and (by
the gallantry of the President, Gen
eral Early to all women, too, to unite
for these important objects.
He paid a most touchingly eloquent
tribute to tie women of the::South and
! their work during the war-every
home where there was a woman con-
tanned "a sister Of chorHy-and
spoke Of their noble mission iii teach
gin our children the truth of history:
He spoke ably and earnestly of the
cphemeral character of military sue
cess. and insisted that principle and
truth will yet triumph.
He then took a most hopeful view
of tie future, and cited apt illustra-
tlons from history to show that pros
perity and peace may yet come to
bless our desolated Southern land.
Yet whatever fate betides-as equals |
III the government or as inferiors-he |
would exhort our people to acquit |
themselves like men. ''Do your duty