The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-29
The Blue and the GRAY.
serenade to Gen. william F. Bartlett.
EX-CONFEDERATES RETURN HIH THANKS
FOR HIS LEXINGTON SPEECH.

for several years, actively engaged in busi
ness, aEd thus daily brought into coutac
with our people, asthe Lexington centenna
4 banquet, in response to a call made uDol
him, spoke very kindly of the zeg-C -Conkde
rates and very canditFy and correctly O
public affairs in Virginia and the South
Being an ex.Federal officer of distinction, 0
man of high reputation in his native State
and noted as o close and careful observer, hi:
words had great weight and were heartily
appmuded at fhe time they were uttered,
and since have received the almost unaai-
nous commendstion of the press of the
country without regard to party affilistion.
| Generai Bartlett long ago won the respect OF
| this community, and 10 business and socia.
circles bolds high place. When his Lex
lngton speech was read, the desire to thank
him for it became general, and the public
| wish was last night shaped into serensde.
a large number Of eX.Confederates, inclu.
ding general, field, ana staff officers, aud pri-
vate soldiers, met by agreen ent in the Capt..
tol Square, just west Of the Washington
monument. at 8 O'Clock. The First Regi-
ment band bad been secured, and after play
ing few popular pieces in the Square the
crowd marched up the street to General
Bartletts residence, southwest corner of
considerable number Of gentlemen had
already congregated, and many ladies occu.
pied the porches and balconies of the neigh.
boring residences of this fashionable tho.
roughtare. The band played "Hail to the
Chief" and after that General Bradley T.
johnson, the representative of the ex-Con-
federates, advanced into General Bartletrs
porch. General Bartlett came out OF the
door and bowed in recognition of the com.
pliment and the cheers.
GENERAL JoaNsoN's RE1ARKs.
General johnson thus addressed Gensral
Bartlett:
GeneraL-We have called to pay our re.
spects to you in person and to thank you for
the wise and brave words you spoke at Lex
ington last week. My friends here, who are
your friends too, are old Confederate soldiers,
and they desire me to express to you per-
sonally and as representing a class their
appreciation and respect for you and those
honorable and chyaric Union soldiers who,
themselves actuated by patriotism and sense
of duty, respect and appreciate the same
qualities displayed in their late adyersaries.
i We desire to convey to you Our reciproca-
ton Of tue sentiments you have so well eX
pressed. We believe with you, and bare
always believed, that the only foundation for
q permanent and solid reconciliation was on
the basis Of mutual respect and confidence.
We all know that no two bodies of men
ever respected each other more than the
armies OF Lee and Grant at Appomattox, and
may say, further, that no victors ever bore
themselyes with more knightIy courtesy to-
ward the vanquished than your comrades.in-
arms did towards mine. The belief OF those
armies then was the verdict of history, and
1t was that great and strong republic
needed body Of true and self-respecting
citizens. equals and peers of all, and not
suhect-nation of branded and DISTINGUISHED
people, without future because without a
past. 1t was then the belief Of all that the
Confederate soldier should becomea free citi-
zen, without stain on his honor or blot on
his escutcheop, and that the welfare of the
Union required that he should do so.
You and men like you have kept the origi-
nal faith and understanding, and we claim
that we have done likewise. ...l.. ".
You have proved true to the parole Which
was then given and received, and so have
we-a parole between soldiers as equals and
as honorable men. And when the passions OF
the time pass away posterty will honor ge-
MUS, and patriotism, and chiyalry without
regard to the flag under which 1t was eXhib-
tied or the uniform it wore. We join you
now in testilying our respect for it on both
sides and either side. The speech made the
last winter in Rhode Island by the former
commande-.n-chiefo of the Army of the Po-
tomac, likewise at Lexington, we believe, iSx
but sending in advance Of that judgment
which the future will pass upon Us all. We
haye kept our faith bright in this belief, that
as history all over the world has done full
Justice to that Virg ginian who drew his sword
against his king in defence of Massachusetts,
SO will she deal, at no distant time, with that
other Virginian who drew bis sword against
the Union in defence Of Virginia.
1t was lust hundred years ago this week
that the fiery cross from Lexington, speed.
ing through this old Dominion, found her
sons I'D and armed, marching under Captain
Patrick Henry on royal Governor. Then
the heart of all Virginia with one impulse
proclaimed that the cause of Boston was the
cause of all. Let us hope that now, and in
the hundred years coming, the sons OF Mas
sachusetts will feel and think that the cause
of Virginia also is the cause of ALL and so
standing between two centuries, the two
grand old CommonHealths, at the head OF the
great procession OF the coming States, may
look proudly at the past, happily and more
Ifondly to the future, as they teach the world
that with them and with their sister States
it is and it will be all for one and one for all.
GENERAL BARTLETT's RELY. .
The band having played "Dixie," and
General Bartlett having been heartily
cheered, he replied to General johnson
as follows: While I appreciate deeply
this mark OF your esteem and approVab.
| cannot allow you TO give me UNDUE
credit. l cannot allow you to suppose that
it required any courage TO tell that vast au-
dience, then and there, the truths that came
to nv lips. Had it been. ny lot to telLthem
UNPLEASANT truths that might mar their: JOY
or excite their indigration-had s been
forced TO admit that the war was not yet
oyer-that q northern. man could not live
peaceably at the South and be true to bis
.conyctions-th the Iaen of the South, hsV-
ing appealed to the dread arbitraion OF the
sword, had, regardless OF honor, refused to
abide by its stern asefee-then, { grant you,
y'task would have been heavy; my courage
would have been tested. But, sir, the truths
that uttered Were the most welcome udlngs
they received sn that day oil jubilee; ana
what you now approve anA confirm hls al
ready been most heartily endorsed oy the
people and press of the North. only spoke
the hopes and feelings Of my people. The
chord of love and harmony was there, ana
only waited for the touch. tApplause.l
The sarne cord was touched, but with an
adler h.aud-by one Of your own orators, Id
recent address delivered ia Baltimore ls
behalf of the "Lee Memorial Association -
an address full of sloquenee, pathos, ana true
pai ,riotism-in which he demands tnat you
grant to others tie same honesty OF coA'lc'
e .knn fhnt