The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-01
soUrn1nN II HlI,s II !, Il "a. SOCIETY
fsrth Annual Mceting.
i LARGE GATHERING IN THE HOUSE OF
DELEG ATEs LAST NIeHT-DEAfTh of Az
M1RAL sEMaIEs ANSouNcED-esNE nA.
MoRGANs ADDREss-ANNUAL NEfo ~''.i
! OF THE SOCIETY. SC. &C.

a
WAS his sad duty to announce the death OF
the yice-President OF the Society for Ala,
hama, Admiral Raphael Scmmes. Nenerai
Early paid brief but appropriate and feet-
ing eulogy to the memory OF
THE GREAT NAVAL HERO,
and brought down the house by his sharp
vindicotion of his character and principles.
On motion OF General d. FL. Maury, the
following minute was adopted:
The death of Admiral Raphael Semmes,
the viee-president OF this Society for the
State OF Alabama, having occurred since the
last annual meeting, the Society takes, this
occasion to express its high admiration LOT
the exalted character, eminent abilities, ana
distinguished services OF the deceased, ana
its profound regret for the loss the Society
has sustained in his death-which is ordered
to be entered on the journal.
General Early then introduced as orator
NJ the evening General John I. Morgan, OF
Alabama, whom he spoke OF rs having
served in Virginia as major OF the regiment
Of the lamented Rodes, and rising after
wards to high position by gallant services
in the command OF the great cavalry leader
General y. 3. Forrest. General Morgan
was received with loud applause.
GENERAL MoRGAN's ADDRESS.
He clearly brought out the idea that The
real struggle during the war was for local
seli-eov eminent, and that the results OF the
war decided no principle which was In
yoIved and yielded no right which they
held. He brought out the fact that the
peace OF 1865 was scrup4ously kepS by the
southern people, and especially by the Con-
federate soldiers, and that the peace was
violated in 1867 by Congress, who begun an
- IN
against the people OF the South.
He gave a vivid sketch OF the
-. RULE OF THE "sATRAPs"
who lorded it over the E'miitary districts ,.
of the South, and made all law, justice, ana
right Weld to brute force; and adj y showed
that reconstruction was nothing more
than cruel war made by Congress upon
helpless people. lie clearly showed that
this war was waged for the purpose cf per-
petuating
THE POWER OF THE RADICAL PARTY
and destroying the foundation principles OF
the Constitution. His sketch OF the great
moral victory won by the South by patience
and endurance was vivid, and frequently
brou down the house. The South united
With the North in electing a President
pledged to home-ruIe, and the rival candi-
date who secured the position has disap-
pointed the ultras of his party by standing
firmly on the same platform. lie hailed
this result as an era Of real peace, which he
predicted would be lasting. ,
He insisted that the war Of 1861 was not
a war which had any particular head, but
was war between the people OF the two
sections, and scathingly showed that while
his taller had punished the Confederate
President (Mr. Jefferson Davis in
AWAY WORTHY OF THE INoUIsITloN, -
vet his Judges had never dared to try the
indictment OF treason against him..
His vindicstion OF the South against the
charge OF bad faith was able and eloquent,
while his scathing denunctation and bitter
satire against those who oppose the peace OF
1877 brought down the house in frequent
and prolonged applause.
His tribute to the fidelity OF the Coincide
rate soldier and the devotion Of the women
OF the South was touchingly eloquent.
HIS TRIBUTE TO THE "PooR MEN"
Of the South, whose bravery, devotion, aud
natient endurance OF lardships he wildly
pictured, was one OF the finest passages IN
the speech.
The above is a very imperfect sketch OF
splendid Grafton, WHICH it is regretted there
is not room to publish in full.
THE ANIMAL REPORT
was read by General Maury and adopted, as
fellows:
The Executive Committee have to report
that during the past year they have en-
deayored to keep in view the great objects
of the trust committed to their charge; that
thew have steadily worked for the Interests
OF the Society amid some peculiar difficult
ties. and that there has been most CRAFTY
ing progress in our important work.
The Acknowledgements we have made
from time to time attest that the KIND IN
terest OF our friends has steadily added to
our ~... ...
MATERIAL FOR A TRUE HISTORY OF THE WAR,
until we have now on our shelves a colec-
ton which is widely recognized as one OF
priceless value. The secretary has received
from all parts OF this country and from Eu-
rome numbers OF letters seeking informa-
ton concerning events Of the war, and In
almost every instance he has been able to
furnish from our archives the information
sought. We have given to number OF
writers facts, narratives, &C., to enable
them to elucidate the truth OF our Confed-
crate history, and we have the most crafty
ing assurances that our publications are
looked to as high authority, not only in the
South, but also at the North and in Europe.
Our friends have given us, with cheerful
alacrity, material which could be readily
sold for thousands Of dollars, but which is
OF inestimable value to the cause of truth.
And yet there still remains in private hands
much that ought to be on our shelves.
PUBLICATIONS.
Our monthly has received the heartiest
commentator from the press generally, ana
warm endorsation from leading Confede-
rates, while we number among our constant
readers some of the most distinguished Fed
eral soldiers and some of the ablest military
critics in Europe.
AS to the character of our publications re
have steadily pursued the policy announced
in our last annual report and unanimously
approved by our last annual meetins, aho
we are eratified to know that thls pollcy
meets with the well-nigh universal approVal
of our friends.
We have now on hand copies OF the first
three volumes OF our Papers handsomely
bound 1.-THE 4th volume will be ready 1st OF
January next), besides our Confederate
view Of the Treatment Of Prisoners"
which we beg our friends to help us to cir
culate, and especially to place in every
public library in the country.
We have reason to congratulate ourselves
that in spite Of the unfavorable year we
have had for the conduct OF such an enter
prise we have been enabled to MAINTAIN our