The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-05-06

The Chatham Artillery Centennial
opened at Savannah on Monday with
great eclat. There were two brigades of
about six thousand troops in line, and the
parade was witnessed by seventy thou
sand people The soldiery were from ten
or twelve States, and among them vari-
Gus commands of artillery and cavalry.
Ex-P President Davis erode down the line
amid tremendous cheering" and the col
umn was reviewed by Governor
Mcdaniel
At the night banquet at Chatham Ar
tillery Hall, Capt. Saunders of the cold
Guard" of New York, proposed Gin the
name OF the State of New York the
health of Jefferson Davis and three
cheers for him, which were given with
great emphasis, the band playing "Dlxie.
MIR. Davis responded as follows:
Captain Wheaton, members of the Chatham
Artillery aud military and civilian guests You
have met from many states to celebrate the cen
tennia of the Chatham Artillery but, sir, your
organization is more than one hundred years
old. The principle of sefgovernment existed
before the war of the revolution, before the Dec
laratinn of Independence, and your Georgia ar
tillery fought for liberty before the Chatham
Artillery was organized You celebrate the
centennial Of your organization, but not the or
ganiZation OF your volunteer artillery in the
State Every part of this country has sent dele
gates here to celebrate your anniversary. Here
they meet like many streams and flow along to-
gether like the waters of Georgia. You are not
confined to any section. Your streams flow in
to the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Atlantic.
The twin waters of Georgia mingle with those
of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and
with those of Massachusetts and New York.
That State of New York, whose ships of COM
raerce dot every sea, the State which responds
to liberal sentiments and which knows no par
ticular section she comes to you to be present at
this meeting of Chathams, and to do your or
ganiZatiOn honor.
This is glorious occasion, because it repre-
sents you as it should. Organized after the war
of Independence it first appeared in suppressng
domestic Instruction. Next it appears in the
war of 1872 and il reappeared in the conflict be-
tween the States, and now II appears when peace
exists between the States and il would be the
first to raise its arm to check invasion ON this soil
Georgia is proud of her volunteer soldiery.
was certainly proud, yea thrilled, when | saw
two days ago, part Of the JEFF Davis legion.
Surely no State, certainly no city, could have got
such military organization together as saw to-
day. You have passed through troubles and
you have come out of the fiery furnace pure as
steel, which no rust can corode.
The question is often asked, "Should a State
have standing army" Why should she need
a standing army? Here is standing army
of true Christian men, who stand ready to defend
their principles to the death. My friends, my
heart has certainly been deeply stirred from the
time entered your State three days ago under
The shield of your Governor. l feel that stand
among the noblest people whose deeds history
has ever chroncled. speak this not in any idle
compliment, hut say it in honor OF you.