Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-26

OF secession. ana ytY1uiy uaontu VctVfo tu9
audience the lending events that brought
made Mr.. Davis president OF the Confed-
crncy.
and illustration; dramatic In many OF its
parts, and was heard with profound atten-
ton. only broken by tho cheers which
answered some well-roundcd period or
echoed the orators patriotic sentiments.
YDMUHps AND DANIEL
Three minutes before 8 o'clock Hon.
Paul @. Edmunds. member. Of Congress
from the Sixth Virginia district and one OF
tho jolliest. best, and most popular men IN
this old Commonwealth. walked out on
tho stage aud took seat near the 'front.'
and not far from the box to the right OF
the stage. As the immense audience that
packed the house from orchestra TO garrett
caught glimpse of this portly and familiar
frane hearty cheers were sent up, and the
genial congressman acknowledged the
flattering ovation with u profound bow and
q cordial smile. :,
The outburst Of enthusiasm that greeted
Mr.. Edmunds hardly subsided when the
entire house broke forth in great demon
stration OF applause and cheers.
This meant that the orator OF the eve
ming was making his appearance. he was
accompanied by Hon. X. III. Cardwell,. OF
Hanover (who had been selected to preside
over the meeting) and Senator L. W. har-
rison, OF Winchester, chairman OF the Com
mittec of Arrangements appointed by the
Legislature. The ovation to Major Daniel
lasted several minutes.
MANY PROMINENT PEOPLE.
Not in many years has there been assem-
bled in Richmond an audience embracing
so many prominent people.
There were perhaps two thousand per-
sons in the house, including those stand
ing in the orchestra and dress-circle alsles
and near tho doors. And the assemblage
was truly representative of the best type
of southern men and women.
There was perfect order throughout the
evening and the vast concourse was cha
racterized by an air Of thoughtfulness and
dignity eminently BETTING the occasion.
On the stage were seated members OF the
General Assembly and invited guests to
the aggregate number of 225. and the boxes
and iOqes were filed with Representatives OF
the chiyalric youth and the beauty OF W.
ginia.
THE STAGE.
The stage was very prettily set.
All Of the cumbersome scenery was
moved back out of the way and only such
was in view as combined with the drop
curtains presented q bright woodland
scene illustrative of a season when nature
is rich in her verdant fields and full-leayed
forests.
The guests who were expected to occupy
stage seats were admitted through O side
door and were thus saved the discomfort
OF having to press through the dense crowd
that thronged in front of the doors from
o'clock until an hour or two later.
SOME OF THOSE PRESENT.
The left proscenium box was set apart
for Governor Mckinney's party, which EN-
braced Governor and Mrs. Mckinney, Mr..
and Mrs. Philip Haxall, Mr.. and Mrs. w.
Miles Cary. Mrs. W. W. Crump, MIR. Willie
Parrish. and Mrs. John II. Guy.
In the opposite box were Major James ID.
Patton (whose guest Senator Daniel is)
and wife, MIR. Alexander Cameron and wife,
Mr.. James Il. Pace, DIR. Isaiah IL. White
and wife, Mr.. A. L. Donnan aud wife, Mrs.
Lula Cardoza, General Charles j. Ander-
son. and Miss Marsh, of New Jeraey.
One of the upper boxes was occupied by
General Joseph Il. Anderson and MIR.
Wyndham X. Meredith aud ladies. and the
other by Senator Lovenstein and wife and
friends.
Senator Little. Delegate Ryan, and one
or two other members of the House and
their lady friends occupied the toge on the
right and other members of the Legislature
and their lady friends filed the loge oppo-
site.
Among those on the stage were General
Jubal A. Early. of Lynchburg General
William b. 1aIiaferro, of Gloucester; Rev.
DIR. Charles Minnigerode, of Alexandria;
who was Mr. Davis's pastor while he lived
here and visited him frequently while he
was imprisoned at Fortress Monroe; Gene
raj Joseph Il. Anderson, General Charles
J. Anderson, Lieutenant-Gov j. Hoge
TYLER, Judge Il. A. Hancock, of Chester
field Judges William |. Clopton and John
II. Ingram, of Manchester; Attorney-Gen-
eral X. Taylor Scott. General Dabney H..
Maury. Hon. Henry II. Pollard, Mayor j.:
Taylor Ellyson, President Dickerson. OF
the Board of Aldermen; President Camp
bell, of the Common Council; Captain
Meade White, Commonwealth attorney
of Augusta county; Thomas Martin. Esq,
of Albemarle; Mr.. NJ. Nj. Gillian, jackson
Guy, Esq, chairman of the City Demo-
cratic Committee General w. Ii. Payne,
of Fauquer, besides members of the Gene
raj Assembly and numerous invited guests:
Senator Harrison, who, as chairman OF
the COMMITTEES. worked so earnestly to
make the meeting success, occupied O
seat near the speakers table and looked
with satisfaction upon the elimination OF
his labors.
THE ORATOR PRESENTED.
Just as the city bells were about to toll
the hour of Speaker Cardwell advanced
to the front, called the meeting to order,
and said:
Ladies and Gentlemen, 1T is the pleasing
part of my duties to welcome you on this
occasion--especially pleasing because the
presence of this magnificent audience de.
iuonstrates that when the present General
Assembly of Virginia invited one or her
g. her a1
deliver in this. tho capital city of the late
Confederate States OF America, IN Grafton
on the life and character of the lamented
jefferson Davis, they but voiced the wishes
OF the people whom they have the honor
| TO represent. In 1865, nearing the close OF
| the Confederacy's short life. the General
Assembly OF Virginia addressed an open
letter to President Davis III which
| it declared Its desire in this criti-
eestions as occur to them and by the dedl::
cation, if need be. of the entire resources oil
| the Commonwealth TO the common cause,
| to strengthen our hands, and to give sue
cess to our struggle for liberty and inde-
pendence."
In reply President Davis said: Your as.
| surance is to me q source OF the highest
J qualification; and while conveying TO you
| my thanks for the expression of the conh-
| dence of the General Assembly in my SIN.
cere devotion TO my country and ITS sacred
cause, must beg permission IN return 70
bear witness to the uncalculating. unhesi'
tating spirit with which Virginia has, from
| the moment when she first drew the sword
consecrated the blood of her children and
| all her material resources TO the achieve
ment of the object of our struggle" lap
plause.l
Our sacred cause" was lost. and after
long years Of vicarious suffering, through
| all of which he was true TO US and to oul
| dead, our chieftain has passed away. but the
love for the principles for which we con.
tended and the memory of him who con-
! tributed so much TO make our record IN
that struggle glorious will live forever IL
| the hearts of all true men and women
throughout our southland. 1t is our pur'
pose on this occasion TO review the bril-
| liant life and spotless character OF Dir. Da-
Wis, and in selecting as the orator that fear
less son of Virginia whose eloquent words,
as enduring as marble, have held up Tor re,
view by coming generations the life and
character of other of our great leaders who
have crossed over the river" we again
have given approval, and,his name is so III
delibly written III our affections that youi
reception of him here tonight will further
! demonstrates that IL is needless task FOL