The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-02-07
WEARERS OF THE GRA
MEETING OF THE EX-CONF ED
ERATE SOLDlERS.
Mr.. Julian s. Carr makes a Patriotic
Address to the Old Teterans-In-
tetesting Proceedings.
raleigh State Chronicle. ]

We would pen this paragraph with
silent honor for the manned but gal
liant heroes who assembled in our Capi-
tai City last Tuesday that they might
renew their bonds of love, talk of the
dangers Of the past and ask the people
Of North Carolina to smooth their
pathway to the tomb.
That evening, to the familiar music
of tine fife ana drum, they once more
formed in line of march, and though
some were blind, some were armless
and others without leg, still the
sound they had SO often heard stirred
them once again, and they marched to
the Capitol, where their friend the
Governor, greeted them each by a
warm shake of the hand. At this
junCture some one of them shouted
"Hurrah! the rebels have taken the
Capitol" Indeed they could but feel
at home, for they were North Carroll
mas gallant wounded and North Caro-
linians were proud OF them.
At 7 O'Clock that night they met in
front OF the Metropolitan Hall, from
whence they proceeded to the House of
Representatives where an immense
crowd had gathered to do them honor.
At Jas Col. l.. l.. Polk raped the
house 10 order, and in a much deserved
remark presented the soldiers loving
friend, Mr.. JULIAN S. CARR, as Presi-
dent Of the meeting. He stepped for
ward and said:
Mr.. CARR's ADDRESS.
FELLOW W-SOLDIERSO OF A CAUSE WE ALL
LOVED, BUT Which WAS LOST, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN:
Ny position burdens me with en-
barrassment, especially SO since the
honorable gentleman, our fellow sol
ditr, who presented me, and who am
proud TO tell you was as gallant and
brave upon the field of battle as he is
pl;mentary and courteous upon the
platform? has found it in his heart 10 say
such kind things about me, and, be
cause, since your complimentary invi-
tatIon to preside over this honorable
convention came TO me, have scarce
ly had an hour that | coul call my
own.
Aided to this the further fact of my
ineNperlence IN presiding over public
meetings, l trust your patience and
ri, no ,n,,,,a1 to \ ..
evening, at least to the extent of my
frMlities.
When the gallant General Ramscur,
one of the best soldiers of his grade
that ever fought under the immortal
and peerless Lee, had made that splen
did and successful assault upon the
lines of Hooker at Charlottesville, on
Sunday morning l believe it was, and
then viewed his thinned ranks, having
left SO many of his brave men dead and
dying and mutilated on the bloody
field, it was reported hat he wEpT.
The bravest have the tendercst hearts
Lee had the heart of 4 woman 50 far
as sympathy went. What was noble
trait IN such warriors as Lee and Ram
seur is surely not unworthy Of any one
who calls himself MAN.
When | stand in your presence, vet
Grams of the great war, and occupy
the chair to which your kind partiality
has called me, and look into your face:
bronzed by exposure, and see yor
MANNED or disabled by the conflicts Of
the past, and with whitened locks thai
tell of advancing years, | feel like the
noble and chivalrous Ramseur mus
have felt on the day of triumph, wheE
/ the tears of sorrow flowed down mani,
cheeks flushed by the thrill of victory
| recall the past with all its heroic
deeds and high forttude and noble de
votion-the past that witnessed SC
much of splendid courage and grea
endurance and terrible sufering-tht
past, hallowed by So many sacred anc
precious memories-the past, illumin
ed by the watch fires Of armies and ths
light of burning Cities-the past tina
did SO much to bring out the grandest
most self-saCriticing, most Chivalrou
qualities of the noble men and womel
of our dear Southland, and in the cru
cible ofsufIering and tribulation to fash
ion people equal to any known K
history, a people who displayed har
dy and invincible courage equal te
Gseek at Thermopylae, or the Roman
at Pharsalus, or the Engllshman a
Cressy, and who showed virture il
after events and trials that were equa
to any calamity.
1t is dot mere pride Of State or par
tiality for my own people that lead
me to pay this tribute to the South. l
is Just to them. Their bearing in troub
lous times, and in the midst OF a tire
mendous war that shook Continent
was such as to evoke the praises @
many generous Englishmen and to evel
awake the sweetest music from tn
harpstrings of more than one mlnsue