The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-03
GEN. GEORGE E. PICKETT.
HONOR TO Hrs MEMORY.
Memorial Meeting at the Opera-House
Last Night a,f
Speeches by General Kemper, Major
stiles, Bfshop Dudley, Captain
-. Wise, and Rev. DIR. Hose.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.

nc USdtE uI STeueEht OcOIRC Z iEhckt,
which took place at Norfolk. last week, was
the occasiou OF s. meeting of -Confederates
aud other citizens. at the Virginia Opera
House last night to do honor to his memo.
ry, to recall to the public mind his services
and virtues, and to express sympathy with
his bereaved family and relatives in the loss
| they have sustained. # e'--
Owing to the heavy storm which preceded
the meeting, and the threatening clouds
crossing the heavens at the hour fixed for its
commencement, many ladies and gentlemen
who earnestly desired to be present were
prevented from attending. As it was, the
number there, representing all classes OF our
people, was sufficient to demonstrate what
hold General Pickett bad upon the affections
and admiration Of our people.
The meeting was called to order by Gene
| raj Dabney 81. Maury, on whose motion Gen
| eral James L. kemper, Governor Of the
State, was elected chairman.
GENERAL EEMPsR's SPEECH.
Generals R. Lindsey Walker, P. T. Moore,
and j. d. Imboden we're appointed to wait
upon the Governor to inform him of his
election. The committee having performed
! that duty introduced the Governor, who in
| accepting the chair said:
Fellow-citiZeCs,- You have assembled to.
night to render the last sad testimonial of
honor to the memory of soldier and pa
! trot. It is well for us that we are called
! upon to pause in the midst of the excite.
| ments and the jostliDg strifes OF the hour.
\ It is a nournful event which now speaks to
| the stormy passions Of men and bids them
peace, be still! It is not merely domestic
but public affection, wrought by the hand
of the Most High-an honorable life cut
down in its vigor and priIne-wbich SOL
emnly summons US to behold the example it
has left lis, to profit by the lessons it teaches
us, and TO honor and cherish the deeds and
virtues which adorned it.
| II is not for me now to recite-it would be
premature at this time to portray-the life
] and services Of George E. Pickett. Lis re-
cord as soldier will 20 down to the coming
generations as part Of the history OF bis
country. / cannot yet trust myself to de-
scribe the qualities and achievements Whlcn
! shed lustre upon his career. The heart feelS
| most when the lips move not. Through
series of fierce and bloody ordeals he was my
commander, my comrade, and my friend. IL
! ia the man, rather than the soldier, that we
contemplate now. If were called upon TO
name the one quality which shone conSplcu'
ously above all others in his private life,
az well as in his public relations,
would point to that ardent and over
flowing generosity OF temperament, That
beautiful unselfshness of heart, which pre-
| ferred the cause OF bis country to bis own,
and his friend to himself. In 1861 he held
by a secure tenure disappointment of
honor and emolumept ia the army OF the
United States; but without a moment of
hesitation, on account of any interests or for
tunes of his own, he forsook bis most cher
ished hopes and aims; DE instantly gave up
all at the bidding of Virginia, and taking his
| life in his hand be threw himself at the critI-
cal moment on the side of his native State,
in the hour of her deadly and fearful strug-
gle for existence. The path OF duty, then
as In every greet Hisis, was the path OF self
sacrifice, ana suttsfing, and sorrow and he
pursued it without falteriDg to the end.
In the midst Of the sternest trials bis heart
oyerfoWed with sympathy and affection for
others. Amid the closing scenes OF battle
he was seen to sob and weep with unre.
strained anguish over the dead and wounded
of his command.
! At the close of the war, when deprived OF
his profession, Stripped of fortune, ana
pressed BY adversely, he proudly refused to
depend on the protfrred aid Of friends. Al
though for Years he battied sorely against the
grim fend Of want. although he Wrlthed
under the whip and stings of poverty, YET
he abated no jot of heart or hope, but win
genial, cheerful, and courageous spirit ne
| struggled on to the last, not for wealth, not
! for "sums Of gold in sealed bags" but for
"the glorious privilege of being indepen-
dent"
Let those who are striving solely to heap
up riches behold the simplicity, the modesty,
and poverty which marked the later llle OF
the patriot and hero. The very sacrihces,
the wants and privatiens. which ne tnus
courted and endured constitute nobler urea
sures of wealth-a far richer and more
enduring inheritance for his son-than Inc
sum of the gold of California added to all the
gems of Samarcand. Let the ut'lltarlan
spirit of the times stand rebuked beside the
| bier Of Pickett Let the ingenious youtn
Of the land take warning that there are 'ar
purer, loftier, and richer aims and rewards
Of life than are found in the groyelling pur-
suit of gold. Let them look to the end OF
him who has made wealth bis altar and MS
god-see him as he goes down
TO the vile dust from whence he spSuug,
| Unwept, uLhOnored, and unsung;
and then let them turn to this dead soldier,
made poor blythe sacrifices OF q patriotic. lie,
and behold a Commonwealth bending over
his tomb in mourning, in tears, and IN love
| He sleeps well; he sleeps gloriousiy-foreVer
embalmed in the hearts Of his country men.
Peace be the whlte-winged guardian of his
ashes and his memory
| Soldier rest, thy warfare o'er,
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking;
Dream Of battle fields no more, =
| Days Of danger, uights Of waking. 4"
| Sergeant E. II. Chamberlayne and Lieu.
tenant L. 6. Edwards were elected secreta.
ries of the meeting.
| RESOLUTIONS REPORTED.
Major Stiles moved that a Committee of
| Nine be appointed to draft resolutions.
Agreed to.
| The Chairman appointed to constitute the
committee Msjor Robert Stiles, Hon. X: NJ.
4. Hunter, General D. q. Maury, General D..
| D. lmboden, Captain Il. D. Danlorth, Cap
tain W. X. Martin, DR.. James Beaie, MI. Il.
Baldwin, Lieutenant L. McC. Jones. :.
The committee after retiring and consult
ing. through their chairman, Major Stiles,
reoorted the following resolutions
| Whereas an allwise Providence has re-
moved by death our distinguished fellow
citizen and friend Mljor-General George E.
Pickett from family circle of which be was
at once the stay and support and the gentle,
affectenate head; from comrades who ad'
mired and loved him and from commu-
nity that honored him and was honored by
him be it therefore
Resolved, That in the death OF General
Pickett Virginia mourns the loss Of son
who never failed to respond to her call with
patriotic devotion, and whose sword ever
f .shed in the van In defence Of her honor
and her soil that in his career as q soldier
we recognize the hero of two wars and many
| battles nhnse nam me and fame are indissolublY