The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-23
mitchell MEMORIAL MEETING
R.lCHMOND'S TRIBUTE TO THE
IRISH HERO.
SYMPATHETIC RESOLUTIONS.
Speeches by Governor Kemper.
Mayor Kelley. Major Dooley,
Judge Crump, and Gene
raj II. A. Wise.

The friends and admirers of the late john
Mitchell, comprising people Of all nationali
ties. met at Assembly Hall last night in large
numbers to do honor to his memory. Gen.
eral Z. r. Moore called the meeting to order,
and proposed that his Exce!ency Governor
james L. Kemper be elected president. The
motion was unanimously agreed TO. As
Governor Kemper advanced TO the front OF
the stage he was cordially greeted by round
of cheers.
Governor kemper, In accepting the chair,
spoke with warmth of John Mitchell, whom
be knew intimately. He said Mitchell was a
man of as winning genteness OF manners as
ever adorned woman or child yet In
every struggle where right or principle was
involved he rose to the sternDess of a Roman
hero. OF his services 10 the Irish people, OF
his suiferings as political prisoner, Of bis
uncompromising defence every where Of the
doctrine OF Home Rule, and Of bis affection
for the struggling Confedera!es. Governor
Kcmper spoke tenderly and eloquently. In
closing his remarks, which were we'll re-
ccived and enthusiastically applauded, Gov.
ernor Kcmpcr appropriately referred to
Mitchefs grand defence Of the Confederacy
in declaring to the world, when assaled be-
cause he sympathjzod with the "rebals,''
that
a" THE BEST PEOPLE SAW IN AMERICA WERE THE
CoSFEDERATEs OF TIE SOUTH"
[Applause.]
AT the grave of him who lived and died
for his country's good !; over the ashes Of John
Mitchell, the Irish patriot, let q monument
arise. and on it let the inscription be: GO,
81. Nd f.l tbn of IrplauI | lie
bere, martyr to the liberties and tie glory
of the Emerald Isle."
SECRETARIES.
The President having announced that The
next business in order was the election OF
secretaries, Mr.. John Nj. Higgins nominated
Mr.. James A. Cowardin as secretary, anC
| the other representatives, Of the press pres.
ent as assistant secretaries. The motion was
| put and carried.
vICErRESIDENTs.
The secretary read the following list oi
| vice-presidcntS:
General Henry A. Wise, Mayor A. NJ
! Kelley, Judge William W. Crump, John
| Ahern, Esq, Hon. James Lyons, eX.Go-
| vernon G. {. Walker, James Haves, Esq,
| (president of the Ancient Order of Hiber-
nians,) F. J. Reilly, E>q., (pre>ident OF the
Catholic Beneficial SocclyO Thomas Cox
| ESD, president Of the Catholic Total Absti'
ncnce Society.) General Joseph R. Ander'
son, Captain William English, Judge Robert
| w. Hughes, John EuderS, Esq, Thomas
Branch, Esq, General z. Il. Moore. Joseph
L. Whitaker, Esq, Alexander Delaney
| ESD, Daniel Hauucgau, Esq, Colonel W. FL
Palmer. John Purcell, Esq, Thomls Potts
| Esq, John N. Higgins, Esq, Henry
| Miller, Esq, DR.. John MahoDey, w. II
Ward, Esq, Captain p. &. Coghlan, E
p. Murphy, Esq, Rev. Henry Wall, D
D., Robert ker>e, Esq, Major Frederick
X. Scott, +. =. Braunan, Esq, ". &. Paine.
Esq. John X. Molloy, Esq, James II. Doc
lev, Esq, James Necson, Esq, Leigh K. Page
Esq, DR.. J. 5. ID. Cullen, GeLecal Bradley
L. johnson.
The vice presidents were Invited upon the
stage.
| RESOLUTIONS.
| Onmotion, the President appointed MeSsrs
| A. NJ. Kelley, w. w. Crump, Henry A.Wise
James Il. Dooley, Frederick K. Scott, X. H.
English, and John Purcell committee on
resolutions. The committee retired from The
| stage to Que of the dreSsing.rooms, and after
a few minutes absence returned and report
| ed the following resolutions:
The death of John Mitchell on the morn
ing of the Goth Of March, 1915, has awakened
sentiments of regretful sympathy wherever
the English tongue is spoken. When man
| falls whose life was consecrated TO an aim sc
noble as that which inspired John Mitchell
an aim pursued with such generous ardor.
such courageous fidelity. and such absolute
unselfishuess the world feels that goodness
and greatness have encountered callmity
that honor and truth have been smitten; that
public virtue and private worth are beretf.
In Il long and conspicuousiy active life,
passed in constant warfare with power, IN
many peris and perpetual defeats, when
wealth would have followed, dignilies re-
warded treason, he not only scorned as well
silence as betrayal, not only sacrificed every
worldly prospect and promise, but staked
upon the issue of a hopeless fight every pos
session that makes life valuable or desirable,
paying the forfeit of his failure in dis
rupted family, in the destruction of social
| ties and professional advance, in poverty,
imprisonment, public oblOquy, and almost
perpetual exile.
These virtues and this fate challenge every
J true mans admiration; and sucn OF Us as
| were not bound TO the lamented patriot by
| the tie of common origin in the generous
| land which gave him life, and 10 Wnlch ne
returned all of that life's tine endo~menls
and great energies, feel none the less warm
admiraliou for bis genius and patriotism, bis
unSpotted character, bis daunteSs herolsm.
| Nor are the people of Richmond without
special reason for uniting in every honor TO
Mtchel's memory as they recall the fact
that with zeal second only to that which
Irelands cause ever inspired in bis breast
| he gave to us throughout the late civil strife
his heartiest sympathies and most active and
enthusiastic support the cause oI selfgoy-
ernment ever commanding his homage in
whatever land or with Whatever ceremonies
| its altars were served. Therefore
Resolved, 1. That the people Of Rich
| mond, without distinction of nationality,
desire to unite with those who mourn the
death of John Mitchell in giving voice to
their admiration of the patriotism, courage,
| and unselfshness which distinguished bis
public career, and the honor and honesty,
the candor, gentleness, and Kindness, which
| equally marked his private life.
9. That lhe noble iortitude with which he
shared the perils and privations of the South
| in our late civil strife, and the conspicuous
ability with which be vindicated ber cause,
deepen our respect for bis memory end lend
| melancholy interest to the regret even of
those among US who have no share in the
sentiment of nationality which inspired the
chief labors and commanded the chief ener.
gies of his life.
8. That neither the name Of "felon" nor
any other term of political reproach can sully
the fame OF one whose only crime was an in
ordinate thirst for separate nationality for
bis fatherland, and whose only vice was
boundless zeal and sacrifice in seeki0g it.