The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-30
The Southern Historical Society.
INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS.
Addresses by General Early, Wade
Hampton, Rev. DIR. Curry, Rev.
DIR. HoSe, Major Stiles,
and Others.

lnc meeting vi LUC SOutlcIll E1lSlOIiCal
Society, in the Senate Chamber, last night,
in spite of the number of other meetings
and attractions in the city was attended by
a large number of Confederate officers and
soldiers, a number of ladies, and other visi-
tors, forming most appreciative audience
for the distinguished gentlemen who had
been invited to address the Society.
rs at the appointed hour the towering
form of General Wade Hampton (accompl-
MED by Generals Early, Fitz. Lee, Maury,
and others) moved up the aisle the memo
ries of the Conlederacy came rushing back
again, and sold rebels" felt happy once
more. .- ... .... 49,.
After prayer by the Rev. Dr.. Woodbridge,
General Early introduced The exercises by
saying that as the Southern Historical So
ciety met tonight for the first time in
Richmond, the capital OF the late Contede-
rate States, it would be proper Tor him 10
make brief statement of the origin and
present status of the Society. ..
He then detailed the facts given i'll the
Dispatch during the meeting of the Society
at the Montgomery White Sulphur Springs
last summer.
He said that the meeting last summer
seemed to have aroused certain alarmlsts at
the North, who seemed to think that new
rebellion was being organized, and he re-
GREETED that some Of the southern journals
had reiterated their utterances as soon as
they gave the cue.
He then spoke of the importance and diff
| culties Of the work Of this Society-With our
archives in the hands Of those whose interest
it is to falsity our history, and most of our
States in the same hands-and said that
4 fto nrl yQsln yIra IN
were the pen and tongue Of truth. In this
| the hosts of error, and that, too, not with the
bloody spirit of those knights of the pen who
during the late war advocated the "black
fag," and wrote most blood-thirsty exhor-
tations to others to 20 into dangers which
Mey scrupulously avoided for themselves.
He then "Went for" the so-called histo-
rians of the war in his characteristic style,
and thus illustrated the importance 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"
Itwas not proposed to appoint historian
historians are not dPpointed--bnt to col
lect the material for the grand work. He
smoke of the especial obligation we are here
in Virginia to seek material for the history,
| not simply of our own State, but OF The noble
men of all the States, who came to our de-
fence. He paid an eloquent tribute to the
sons OF North Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas,
Mississippi, and other States giving q brlsht
galaxy of names OF fallen heroes), and In
Sisted that as ull of the southern States are
willing to do full justice to Virginia, so we
sbould be ready to lead the van in doing
honor to and placing right on the record the
noble soldiers of the other States who fought
and fell on our soil.
| In conclusion he desired to say that il
| there vas here present any sensitive pollti
| clan or editor who feared to have his nerves
shocked, he would now give him an oppor'
tunity to retire, AMI would advise him tt
do so.
| He now had the honor of introducing tt
the audience distinguished son of the Chi
various though oppressed State Of Soutf
Carolina-a mun whose sacri6ces and noble
services were equal to those of any other o
our patriot soldiers. He needed TO add no
| thing more when. he announced the nam'
of
| GENERAL WADE HAMPTON.
After the loud and long-continued ap
plausse with which he was greeted by his old
| comrades had subsidized General Hampton
begun his address by saying that he hat
preferred to have complied with the sugges-
ton of the distinguished President of the
Society, and to have spoken of the cavalry
corps OF the Army Of Northern Virginia.
He had, at the request OF our great ebieftaii
General r. E. Lee), carefully written out
report Of those operations, which had no
vet been published, and from which b,
would have culed with loving hands suci
things as would have told of the noble deed:
of those gallant men whom 1t was his prout
privilege to have led SO often to victory.
But having by mischance failed to get II
time from the friend who had it that docu
ment. he had been compelled to use the fee
hours left him to pen few thoughts whic'
he trusted would not be out Of place upol
this occasion.
BE regarded this Society as an appeal iron
the distorted prejudices of our enemies Z
Justice and right, and an attempt to show .
. our children that In the great civll war W
were not "rebels n traitors" !" but pafrio'
struggling for the cause OF justice, rlgnteou'
ness, and truth.
| He gave most vivid picture OF the eond
ton of the country-the present state
, .a;tro opd nf the C0yerument-uUtli leI