The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-04-25

lose sight OF the great principles for which
we fought G g., the rights of the sovereign
states), and should so deeply impress them
upon the minds and hearts of our children
and this generation that they will be per-
petusted and handed down to the genera
tions that are to follow us. This should
be doue. as far as possible without malice
toward those who differed with us in opin-
ion and fought to compel us to remain in
the union, when We felt that our griev-
ances justified, and our self-respect de-
manded our withdrawal from it; and let
US enter our declaration to-day in the
poetic words of true patriot, who said;
''The principles of seventy-six,
Though lost upon the field
Are yet sustained in faith by ue,
Who cannot, will not YIELD"
gallant dead in perpetuatipg these princi-
pies:
SHOWN the ages yet to come,
Their spirits will glory shed,
When yictors and the vanqaished shall
Alike be silent with the dead;
And we who gather here to-day
May yield the tribute of our tears
For those we loved who wore the gray,
And bravely fought for four long years;
And in honor to their memories,
up 10 your rect, uncover all,
We've guests we cannot see,
The dead have heard our long roll call
| And answered 1t with Lee.
They're here, soul cries 1t mo soul,
They see and love us yet;
Living and dead together stand,
And neither can forget.
And, as far as | am concered, have no
desire to forget, for, while l entertain a
proper soldierly respect and regard for
every officer and soldier who fought us
CALAMITY and conducted himself honorably
towards us during the last war, candidly
confess to feeling of contempt and dis
like towards every officer and soldier who
sanctioned or perpetIated an act OF OPP
preston upon an unarmed citizen, de-
stroyed private property wantonly, or
shamelessly plundered and outraged help
less women and children; none but a ty-
rant and cold-hearted coward could sane
tion such acts as those, and it is not III my
heart to entertain other sentiments than
contempt for those who perpetrated them
whether they wore the "blue or the gray"
Comrades, the war is over, and as We were
true to the government of the Confeder-
ate states we are and will be true to that
of the United States; pledge ourselves
collectively and individually to discharge
our whole duty to that government as
long as it is administered according to
the Constitution, and that we will defend
its flag against all foreign foes, and that
we again pledge our sacred honor and our
lives to stand by Texas united and indivis-
able now and forever.
ROLL GALL.
The roll call of officers and members
was then called, and the following an
swered to their names:
Henry E. McCulloch, of Seguin, colonel,
commanding regiment, president.
NJ. M. Bogges, of Waco, captain Com
pany II, first vice-president.
Will Lambert, of Austin, lieutenant
complny d, secretary.
W. A. Pitts, of Austin, captain company
B, officer of the day.
Lieut.. d. @. Thomas, of Lampesas,
company A.
Felix G. Crawford, of Dupree; @. Perry
Day (the artillerist), of Austin, and Ig-
naoio F. Serna, of San Antonio, COM
pany B.
First Sergeant P. L. Hopkins, Of Aus
tin; E. j. Parent, of Waco, and Bernard
Streuting, of Fiskville, company d.
E. ]. Morris, of Bartlett, company f.
w. 81. Harris, of San Marcos, bugler,
company Fl.
Wilbur F. King, of Wrightsboro, COM
pany l.
LETTERS OF REGRET.
The following letters were read by the
secretary: -..
BEAvo1R, Miss, March 20, 1889.
Will Lambert, secretary, ETC.:
Dear Sir-Yours of the 18th inst, invit,
ing me to the reunion of the First regi-
ment of Texas Mounted Rihemen, has
been received. 1t would give me much
pleasure to meet the survivors of that gal
liant band of patriots and of the other
Texans who may unite with you on that
occasion, but it will not be practicable for
me to be present as invited. Allow me
however, to congratulate you on the re.
currence of these meetings of the survivors
of those who staked all and lost all save
honor to renew the memories of deed
done foE the maintenance of constitu
tional rights. Frsternally,
) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
NEW ORLEANS, March %, 1889.
Gen. q. E. McCulloch, President First Texa
Mounted Rifemen, Austin, Texas:
Dear SRI thank you for your kind in
vitation to the reunion of the First Texa
Mounted rifemen at Austin on the 20.h
April next. regret very much that M,
a engagement at that time will not permi
! me to be absent from here. You hav
my best wishes for the success and enjoy
q meut OF that brotherly meeting.
t am, very truly, G. I, BEAUREaARD.
/, Letters were also read from Jas. A. Hol
q comb, of Bolton, j. W. Bigham, of Elem
a ing, j. Z. Beck, of Sayers, and Lieut., v
A. Wallace, Of San Antonio, Whose viii
D was taken sick Friday while going to th