Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-09-15
LEE AND DANIEL AT STANTON.
ICorrespondcucc of the Alexandria GAZETTE.

Correspondence Of the Alexandria GAzETTEl
STANTON, Va, Sept. 12.-The Court
house was filled and packed an hour before
The speaking began, and large number
could not gain access at all. Gen. Lee was
introduced by the Hon. A. III. II. Stuart,
and was received with neutrality-suspicious..
He spoke for an hour and twenty minutes
to an attentive and enthusiastic audience,
many of his old brigade being present, to
whom he alluded several times. His speech
was most agreeable surprise to many-as
thew did not know the General made any
pretentions as an orator, but the universal
verdict was that it was one Of the best
political speeches heard IN old Augusta ior
q long time. He alluded to the fact of his
having been styled the nephew OF MS
uncle" and said he had lived good many
wears and that he had never yet seen the
day that he was ashamed of it, which
brought down the house in cheer after
cheer. He further said he had never known
any man to whom he would say Lead on
master I'll follow thee'; he knew no master,
save the great people of Virginia, who were
going to put him in the chief executive Of
fee, and whose best interests he intended to
subserve and protect. At tho close OF his
sneach o beautiful basket OF flowers was
presented him by Capt. Bumgardner, sent
bv Mrs. Jeb Stuart. The General arose to
express his thanks, but was too much at
fected to do so, and it is safe to assert there
was hardly dry eye in all the audience OF
! 600 peopIe or more. There were a num-
Der Of ladies present who greatly enjoyed
the speeches.
Major Daniel was then introduced amidst
applause, and said that it was an establish
ed fact that wherever the cavalry went
along they never left anything for the in-
fantry, but that possibly he might find a
nubbin in some nook or corner. He took
up these new born republicans and excori-
ated them in the most scathing, sarcastic
manner, as only John Daniel can do, and
certainly il there was republican present
he must have wished he was Of some other
persuasion. He alluded to the little "Ty-
econ" Ia new name for the bossl most derl-
sively, also to S. Brown Allen, and did not
fail to pay his respects to VIM. E. Craig, ex-
delunct collector, too we'll known to require
mention. He paid q glowing tribute to
Fitzhugh Lee, his devotion to his mother
State in the hours when it tried
mems souls-his blameless civil life-his
efforts to restore perfect harmony in re-
united Union, while his opponent was de-
flaming aud vililying Virginia, designating
some of her citizens as murderers and out
laws. He said that four years ago, il be
had been in California, he would have
scaled the Rocky Mountains, crawled across
The American desert and swan the Mlssis,
sippi in order to have voted against Parson
Massey but that now, when he Massey,
Il of htf I0r I'm
share Of this worlds goods, stepped down
and out of fat office, paying 50, 600 per
annum, leaving the strong with all their
gifts, and going to the weak, who had
nothing to offer, rather than bow his neck
to the yoke of Malone, he would now scale
the Rockies, crawl over the desert and
swim both the Mississippi and the Atlantic
ocean, if possible, to vote for the man that
would do as Massey had done. AS for
Rufus Ayers, he was Il young, active, ener-
getic, self-made man, o fine lawyer, man
of brains, and was true representative OF
the sturdy young democracy Of Virginia,
| who were going to sweep the State in No
vember, and bury bossism and Mahoneism
| forever and eternally.
The distinguished speakers left on the 4
| o'clock express. Some enthusiastic demo.
Gratis arranged to carry the General to the
depot in carriage pulled by hand, and all
was made rcady-the famous "Stonewall"
band was on the streets-but somehow the
General got an inkling of what was in store
for him and quietly slipping out Of the hotel
| was making his way to the train, but he was
seen and the carriage came up at the mo
ment drawn by twenty five men, and there
Immediately arose from hundred Threats
the demand, put him in" and General
Lee, seeing the odds were against him,
quietly stepped in and was rapidly drawn
to the depot amidst the most enthusiastic
applause and music from the band. There
never has been such enthusiasm over two
men here as there was to-day shown for
Lee and Daniel, and all concede it was the
grandest day democracy has yet had.
"SCRIPToR"