Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-13

Washington, D. c., In which an offer Of
life.size portrait Of the late Hon. Alex. H.
Stephens is made to the Georgia Historl-
cal Society. On motion, the Library Com
mittee was authorized to take the propo-
sition into consideration and to report at
a future meeting Of the Society.
There being no further business the So
ciety adjourned.
THE ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS.
At 8 O'Clock in the evening a large
audience assembled in the library room
of Hodgson Hall for the purpose of listen
ing to the anniversary address delivered
by Hon. P. W. Meldrim. The speaker
was introduced by Gen. Sorrel in few
appropriate remarks.
Mr.. Meldrim took for his subject "The
Trial of Charles Its Causes and Con-
sequences" and for over an hour gave
his auditors the pleasure of hearing
most schOlaly and eloquent discourse on
the trial of the great representative of the
house of Stuart. He gave graphic
account of the early history OF the
accomplished, calm, grave and dignified
King, who to the end of his life adhered
to the autocratic ideas with which he be-
gan. He showed how great master
Charles |. was or dissemination, and how
dictatorial he became. The authority
which he assumed begat opposition in
Parliaments which were successfully dis
solved, until he finally undertook to rule
without a Parliament. 1t is Impossible
to give a detailed sketch of Mr..
Meldrfn's address within the limits
of this notice, but he explained
what the effect of the Kings rule was,
and to what extremes the people were
forced against their monarch. The Purl-
tans were led to believe that the King
and his primate were about to reintroduce
a form of religious worship to which they
were inimical. The Irish were driven to
the verge of rebellion by Wentworth and
his political schemes. Wentworth, as
Lord STAFFORD, was sketched by Mr.. Mel
drim, who referred to his great ability
and his unscrupulOusneSS The causes
leading to the invasion of England by
Scotland, and the worse forms of tyranny
which followed in Church and State was
described, and the weakness. as well as the
vacillatiOn of the despOt commented up
on. From the history and cause of the
trial Of Charles the speaker advanced the
proposition that the death of Charles was
necessary to the birth of liberty. The
court was a tribunal without law to JUS
tify the death of Charles until law was
enacted to meet the conditions OF the
case, and when he finally went to the
scaffold his demeanOr was as firm
and dignified as it ever had been. The cX-
ecutiOn of Charles was a triumph for the
people. To the influence of that event the
speaker attributed the growth of the spirit
of liberty subsequently in America under
George the Third, and in Poland, Hun
gary, Sweden and France.
Mr.. Meldrim concluded by remarking
that the great problem of to-day is to in
sure the liberty Of the people and the
safety of the State, and finished by appeal
ing to the gentlemen of the historical so
cieties of the land to devote them
selves to the elucidation of
the plan by which the masses might have
the greatest amount of liberty, and So
ciety, as represented by the State, every
assurance of stability.
Upon the conclusion of the address,
which commanded the undivided atten-
ton of the audience, Mr.. Meldrim was
warmly congratulated by the members of
the Society and all who had the pleasure
hearing him.