Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-15
THE SWORD OF vON BORCKE.
sY GEN. wIcKnAM.

in the senate Yesterday mr. uurt IN TIE
cbsur) MIR. Thurman. from the Committee
on Privileges and Elections, reported bill
dividing The counties and cities OF the
Commonwealth into districts fer presiden-
tisI electors. The districts are exactly the
same as the congressional districts, and II
provides that hereafter the congressional
districts shall be, ipso fdcto. the electors
districts.
The bill was read to the Senate at length
ny request Of Mr.. Thurman, who said that
later on he would have motion to subm..
Subsequently the bill was reached on the
calendar and had its second reading. Two
thirds having voted "aye," the bill was
then put upon It's third reading. and when
read by ibe Clerk. Mr.. Koiner, with the
Acts Of Assembly before him, followed the
reading, End asccrtained that, as 10 dis
tricting, it WAS copy OF the congressional
r. Apport,onment, except that Charlottes-
VILE is not referred to n a city-an error
in the other bill-and Roanoke City IL
named by thot title. He made point
that the bin did not state what elect
ors were referred 10. Thereupon Mr..
Thurman amended his bill so as TO read in
the title for electors for Pre-. ident and
yico.President OF the United States"
Mr.. Wickham said this Is necessary
piece OF legislation; the districts are q
mere matter OF form and igment. It isn't
like dsirictiEg for Congress, where there
may be gefrymonder. In this case q man
votes for all the electors-the ten named by
districts and the two for the State at large.
The bill was unanimously passed-most
of the Republicans ard all the Democrats
voting for it.
CHATTER OF LYSCHBURG.
Mr.. Digs, from the Committee on COun-
ties. Cities, and Towns. reported bis bill TO
amend the charter OF that city so as TO al
low the City Council TO run electric lights
for public and private benefit.
WISE vs.. BIGGER.
A communication was read from John
Bell Bigger, Esq, Keeper OF the Rolls, &C.,
giving an account OF the mdndqmuS ease
Of Wise rs. Bigger.
Referred TO Finance Committee.
FINANCIAL MEASURES.
Mr.. Wickham offered the following bills.
which were referred:
Bill amending the RiddleberSer bill so
as 10 allow no funding OF interest after
July /. 1891, and forfeiting all coupons
and interest that mature between Juy /,
1854, and the date OF exchange.
4 hill amending section 81 OF chapter
Of the tax bill 81 1884, so a TO make the
penalties OF that section apply TO the whole
act instead OF chapter , alone.
A bill to amend section OF the apprO-
priatiOn bill OF 1854, so as TO allow the
commissioners OF the sinking fund to pur-
chase 3 per cent. bonds with unmatured
coupons attached. [Corrects clerical
error in the bill.l
A bill TO provide for the intercOnyersion
OF coupons and registered per cent.
bonds.
THE SWORD OF Won BORCEg.
General Wickham. at ~ request OF some
Of his friends Of the Army Of Northern
Virginia. offered the following resolution:
Whereas the Il. +. Lee Camp, no. 1. Of
Confederate Veterans, recently requested
Lieutenant Colonel Ileros Won BOrckc. for.
merry inSpector-gencral OF the cavalry
corps Of the Army Of Northern Virginia.
10 present the sword worn by INN during
tie war 10 the SAID Veterans, 10 he by them
presented TO the State OF virginia; and
whereas This weapon j. valuable historic
col relic associated with the personal and
military achievements Of General J. +. i.
stuart, on whose staff Colonel Won Borckc
served with great distinction; and whereas
the said sword has been presented to the
Lee Camp rs proposed, and is now in the
hands OF their committee 10 be presented
TO the State; therefore be ii
ReSOired by the General assembly, That
the State OF Virginia. approaching the high.
manly qualities and virtues OF Lieutenant
Colonel IleroS Won BOrcke. accepts the
sword. and hereby directs the Secretary OF
the Commonwealth to place it among the
relics preserved in the puJIic library.
The rue requiring the resolution to lie
over one day was suspended.
Taking the sword in hand Mr.. Wickham
said: Mr.. President, | m little of my
foot this morning from the severe labOrs In
the finance work before Us. vet | could
not deny myself the pleasure OF being the
medium OF communication between my
old comrades and this Senate. This, sir
holding up the long sabrel, is the sword
these gentlemen desire to present in the
name OF IIerOs Won Dorcke to the state Of
Virginia. You see it is not child that
carried that sabre. Well, sir. do remcm-
Der when he, a mere youth, came to lis
seeking the bubble reputation at the can
fortunes OF the Southern Confederate.
Well do | remember the many actions
where he, but . youth, welded this stout
sabre as if il were 4 thing OF straw. We'll
do | +, member that time aud time again,
in The line OF duty, he was seen ever in the
fr, Mt in the charge and always in the rear
in the retreat. No man, sir. in the Con-
fCderato army ever did more faithful service
than Heros Won Borcke. As soldier OF
the southern cause, a the companion OF
the gallant Jeb stuart, he bore himself
brayely and well.
Ii was on the eve OF the battle Of Seven
Pines be made his way through the block
AIDE and offered his services and this sabre to
the President Of the Southern Contederacy.
He was assigned TO duty with General Stu
art, where seekers for adventure or fame in
arms were sure TO find their way; for il
was well understood that those who had
merit would soon have opportunity TO put
IT 10 proof. and those who had not would
soon find their level and seek some other
field. ] may say that the cavalry service
tested the hardihood Of any man. As my
friend Governor Ramsey, OF Wisconsin,
some time ago explained to me the robust
ness Of some OF the children OF that State
despite the severity OF the climate, saying
that only the healthy and hardy could
stand the winters. and only that class sur
yived, so only the bravest and the best were
able TO keep in the line OF Jeb Stuart's
cavalry, and those alone could remain.
Won Borcke from the time he was assigned
10 that command till the hour he was forced
by wounds from active service was q good
soldier and true. From the flight Of Seven
Pines, when Stuart first wrung his hand
and told Won Borcke their path Of life
should know no separation, they fought
side ly side; and that declaration was pro-
phetlc, for in the arms OF Won Borcke, stu
art breathed his last.
Colonel Won BOrcke went to the city OF
London and did worthy service to his Con-
federate comrades by publishing series OF
articles rejecting with credit and pride
upon the Army Of Northern Virginia.
At later day. though still suffering
great pain from his wound. he took service
with Prince Charles Frederick, and have
read nothing with greater pleasure than
the action OF the cavalry at SldOwa, espe-
cialy when found that PrlIsslsn cavalry
could.get out q hand as well a. the cavalry
q the Confederacy-a proof that the strict
est discipline cannot always maize mere
machines Of cavalry, and that it WAS no
shame Tor Confederate cavalry to be some
Times Oft OF order.
After That time Won B0rcke retired 10
his fam, as | may term it. and has lived
since that date, as we do-plain. hard.
working farmers. having all the interest,
feeling. and aspirations OF the agricultu.-
ISIS end tillers OF The soil,