The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-14
THE OLD SOLDIERS.
CONVENTION OF CONFEDERATE VET
ERANs MET YESTERDAY
New Orleans Turned Over to the Gallant
Warriors Happy Speech Making and
Fraternal Love Feasts-To
Pension hrs. Davis.

New ORLEANS, April S.-The Con-
federate veterans have been blessed
with beautiful sunshine for their re-
union which begins today. A feature
of the day was their meeting at
Washington Artillery hall which they
term as convention. The hall pre-
sented patriotic appearance at II
o'clock when General w. j. Behan,
for the Louisiana division United Con-
federate veterans, called the meeting
to order. He made brief and elo-
quent address, welcoming the dele
gates, many of whom came from a
distance. "God seems to have well
coined the veterans said General
Behan, "by giving them such a beau
tiful sunshiny, balmy day, typical of
their Louisiana ling skies for the
first day of their meeting
AT the conclusion of Gen. Rehan's
address Rev. Mark ham offered fer
vent prayer.
Maj. Wright Scaumberg, secretary
to Mayor Shakespeare, moved that
Virginia, not being represented by
the usual number of camps that dele
gates from that state be invited to
seats on the floor without, however, a
right to vote.
Mayor Shakespeare was then intro
duced to the meeting by Gen. Behan.
A round of applause greeted the
mayors rising. His honor voiced his
pleasure at extending to the delegates
the hospitality of the city. He said
he could not call them strangers, but
mem bers of one family.
The chairman asked if Governor
Nichols was present, but there was no
answer.
Gen. J. B. Gordon was next intro
duced. Tremendous cheering fol-
lowed his introduction. Gen. Gordon
in loud resonant voice, said: 1.-TWO
thoughts impress me as L stand here.
First the Astounding wealth of kind
ness and affection extended to us by a
golrious people and second our power
=
Here are gathered from all parts of
the South griZzled veterans; of that
once memorable and forever immortal
Confederacy". Loud applause.
Gen. Gordon spoke of Lee, of Hood,
and others caused the veterans to dem
onstrate their vigorous appreciation
Of his eloquence. He next spoke of
the valor and loyalty of confederates.
The old flag has been furled forever,
The cause of separate national exis-
tence lives now only as memory; old
things have passed and new era has
come and now we ara all Americans"
deafening applause. General Gordon
concluded his speech and took chair
. and called to order the convention of
united confederate veterans.
The following committees were APP
pointed: On order Of business, b. f.
Jones of Louisiana; A. p. Watts of
Texas; S. ID. Lee of .Mississippi; w.
H. Jackson of Tennessee; w. l.. Ca
houn of Georgia. On credentials, w.
l.. Thompson, E. M. Hudson, Geo. P.
Gill, F. l.. Roberts.
The chairman announced the pres
ence of General George Stewart, ma
jor general of the division of Mary
land. The general was invited to
participate in the proceeding. Gen
eral Richard Hope, commander Of
tie North Carolina division, and Gen
eral Haywood of Columbus, s. c.,
were also announced. II. M. Ward of
Texas, Chairman r. NJ. Howard Of
Arkansas, S. d. Lee of Mississippi,
Rufus Baringer of North Carolina,
Capt. John l.. Gault of Indian Terri
tory, J. M. johnson of Alabama, John
Hill of Tennessee, George Miller of
Florida, w. L. Delaney of Kentucky,
John C. Underwood of the Western
division, John Glen of Louisiana.
Several resolutions were offered
and they were referred to
the committee on resolutions.
A resolution was offered by General
| Gordon as follows:
Resolved that it is the sense of this
convention that the late Confederate
States grant small pension each to
Mrs. Jefferson Davis, widow of the
president of the Confederate States,
and we earnestly recommend the leg
islatures ofthe following states to vote
an annuity pension Of five hundred
dollars each during the remaining
years of her life, tO-wit: Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Car
Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkan-
sas, Tennessee, Indian Territory
Kansas and Missouri.
On motion of Colonel Mullen of
Mississippi, the resolution was not re-.
ferred to the committee on resolutions
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