The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-31
6. Combined by honor's sacred ne,
Their watchword. laws and liberty" =

do battle. For this they .drew sabre a,ra-.--;
Their wstchword. laws and iiberiy." 100
Grave views OF the philosophy oil our
struggle, or of its bearing upon. the future
of the country; were lily obtruded on tbs
occasion of sacred memories and OF chas-
tened nirth. Thus much, at least, the sen 3. !.
fiment suggests ia the watchword il
ntters-for laws and liberty" for consti-
tutionaI freedom-our war was the grand
est protest century has witnessed, and its
principles will prove the only sure bulwark
for that freedom through centuries yet to
come. Deep down, beyond the fate OF
nassipg issues, the upheaval OF local
institutions, the tottering OF fair
social fabrfc-broader in import, I'M
diminished in vitality-repose these
principles, universal, eternal. Before the
government was born they were. .Ihey
rocked the cradle Of Liberty on this cont.
nent. and when they perish Liberty Will
have found her grave.
For ono cannot, in the light OF the sacred
mast. remit the future TO the chilling counsel
Of a desolate despair. Nay, rather. from
tbe altar OF our memories would kindle
the flame OF our hopes, and in these Gre
unionsu pour annual libation to the truth
that "had Its being" incarnate In our cause.
Truth, subjected to mock trial and con-
demua,lon, scourged and spitted on, be-
traycd by secret foes, denied by ayowed
friends, staggering under its cross, and
sealed to-day in its sepuIchre, bursts to-mor-
row the gates of death, rises with the
crown, triumphant reigns throughout the
world.
In our momentorls struggle, what part
/" the cavalry" bore the tongue OF your
minstrel alone might fifty tell; representa-
tiycs at home and in distant States, among
the living and the dead, proclaim the stun
whereof It was made. Its chief glory is
that it shared the glory OF the Army OF
Northern Virginia. But discrimination
may be made Of peculiar excellence where
comparison would be as odious as impossi-
BILE. We watched while others slept, and
snuffed the first breath Of hostile approach.
We were now in the van-Eow in the rear.
Active movement often "multiplied our
presence" Uhquity scarce filled the mea-
sure of our duty. Eyes were we for those
that were blind-ears for those that were
deaf-without US. Aud the hundred hands
OF Briareus, though, moved by q giants
arm, were DoWeriess without the hundred
eyes of Argus to see where they should
strike.
But sense OF sight and hearing and deli
cate touch were not all. What has been
truly SAID in general Of the Individuality OF
the Confederate soldier, with special force
applies to the cavalier. The training OF an
establishment of regulars may give power
to machinery in obedience, moved even by
mediocrity In command. The unavoidable
absence of such previous training for our
war left greater scope for the unaided re-
sources Of individual genius in command
ers and individual valor in men-the native
prowess and intelligent obedience OF pa
triotic soldiery combined by honors sa-
cred tie." The Virginia cavalry was "born,
not made" The soil OF this State seemed
to be its habitat, and ut the call OF war 1t
" Rose from the ground like feathercd Mercury,
And yaulted with such ease into Its seat
AS II au angel dropped down from The clouds
To turn and wind fiery regasnS,
Ana witch the world with noble Workmanship"
When, In the Syrian desert, place where
no man meets friend, Saladin and knight
of the Red Cross met and prepared them
for deadly encounter, the Sedan OF Egypt
and Syria, ere the crusaders mace could be
hurled Mt him, with matchess dexterity,
turned his barb and thrice rode around his
Donderous enemy. But when, in these lat
ter days, like black clouds in the armament
Of heaven, surcharged, sulphurous, and
ready to burst on the hushed, eXpectant
air, great armies, not men, stood facing for
the desth-grapple, in sight of this fair city,
then the peerless leader OF "the cavalry
as on winged steed, like another Saladin.
with magnificent sweep encircled the foe
and blazed the track OF his coming doom.
The prophet Elijah with bis garment
parted the waters Of the Jordan, and passed
in whirlwind from the sight OF Elisha,
ed upon the waters his Masters miracle
But on the banks OF another stream, now
| become historic, when our Great Captains
great Lieutenant had fought his last fight
and was making ready to dot the habili
ments Of earthly command, a successor TO;
that Held 1t was the glory OF the cav
airy to 3urnish-a successor who, q!
we heard In the Capitol tonight
with the very ring Of the fallen hero
metal, ordered the men, when ammunition
had failed, to s. bold their ground with til
Ibayonetf AVID thus did the spirit OF tb,
great Elijah, who vas passing from th
whirlwind OF that battle out OF his follow
Iers' sight, rest upon Elisha, aud Stuar
bore the mantle Of StoDewall jackson
Among the legends OF ancient Rome wa
oHc lHat al ILIS UutClc Ok tut LAKE heSltlQ
the victory was due to the twin sons G
tbundesEng dove. who were seen to ride il
the fight.
i There be twain still with us, bearers Of ],
name--We utter with reverence because o
the HlHsaioRs dead-a name that thrille,
with electric power devoted followers
I drew the pfaudits Of the civilized world
and Wrang from foes even the tribute o.
X 7rs,1r fncv rot
peat to the latest posterity as borne by ont
the model OF all that vas God-lfke In man
name the name OF Lee--there b. these
twain, not brothers, indeed, according tt
the flesh, hut sons OF brethren, our orator
OF the Capitol and our absent president
who rode in the SIGHT like Castor add Pol
Ink. To your sentiment, Mr.. Chairman,
% the cavalry z responds with these