The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-08
OLD VIRGINIA..

In his recent great speech before the Southern
Historical Society at Richmond, x-Senator r. NJ.
L. Hunter paid the following beautiful and well
merited tribute to the glorious old 'Mother OF
Presidents"
Gentlemen, changes have been forced upon us.
Changes may yet be forced upon us leading to
consequences which do not pretend to foresee.
There is change OF growth, another OF decline.
Which direction we are now taking l do not I'M
dertake to say. But this I would say Virginia
has nothing to do with any of them. She re-
sisted them with all her strength; she fought
them to tire last; she fought them to the death;
for we all knew what victory in that contest by
the ma orty might mean until at last, without
food, without arms naked, but not ashamed. she
let fall the sword which, from pure exhaustion.
she had no longer the strength to WELD, and re-
signed the weapon which, in the hands Of
Washington and Lee, had shone with a splendor
that time cannot dim nor defeat obscure. Worn
down by the unequal contest. when she could no
longer sustain it, she submitted with dignity so
calm, and bore unmerited suffering and ungener
GUS persecution with patience SO sublime, as to
have won the respect Of all. But she has not
forgotten, and cannot forget, her noble sons who
often led inferior forces to triumphant victory,
or her heroes deeds who sleep in graves which
it will long be the pride of her daughters to deck
with all the emblems of admiration and atfec-
ton.
'sTime cannot teach forgetfulness
When grief full heart Is fed by fame"
OF all the recollections of the grand old Roman,
perhaps there is none which reflects much
shame upon her memory as his treatment, whom
she prosecuted when poor and old from court TO
court until he sought relief in selt-destruction
from her pursuit and revenge. 1t is no bright
chapter in American history which records that
of all the seeding States Virginia alone was dis
mcmbered; or the others, which tell how she
was insulted and despoiled- denied the rights of
self government, although she had been the first
to plant the seed Of Anglo-American empire upon
this continent, and had so often and so bravely
it grow. But she did not yield to ignoble despair
on that account. When she found that
it was designed to place her
under the heel of the negro, she called her sons
together and told them they must save her from
that disgrace, but to do it they must bury all re-
collections of former feuds and divisions. They
did it. They did their mother from the
shame and disgrace Of such q spectacle. She
still lifts up her face to the world unspotted un
suiled and beamng with affection for her chill
dren, who have never deserted her in any OF her
trials. She will never forget their love or their
| services, but will bury her dead with mothers
love, and keep in everlasting remembrance the
cry out rebellion, if they choose. Rebellion to
whom? Not to her!
How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
BY all their country's wishes blest?
When spring returns with dewy fingers cold
To deck the turf which keeps their hallowed
mold,
She there shan deck a sweeter sod
Than Fancys feet have ever trod:
By fairy tongues their dirge is sung,
By fairy hands their knell is rung;
Here Honor comes pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay,
And Freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell weeping hermit there.