The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-09-27
ARemarkab!e Petition From Brig
adler General o: the ConfedeT-
ate ArrsI.
fGlaie snrlnG liiireu /

AHemarkable Petition from {.
adler General O: the ConfedcE-
ate ARM.
6l.le Spring cili-en.l
In those dark days hat tried mems
souls, when the blood had hardly
dried on the battle fields, when the
dust Of war was yet upon the sol
dier's shield, when brave and chlv-
aIrons people were sorely pressed by
tie iron heel OF their conqnsrors.
When the lost cause which repre-
-entcd the hopes Of a nation had pol
ished.
When men in their devotion rose
to the sublimity of the herofc IN
maintaining that though we gore
over come by she tremendous odds
Numerically against US that we
fought for principle tnat was right
and just and eternal.
We submitted to the arbitrament
Of war and accepted. the result upon
the terms Of an entirely new agree
mcnt.
1t was Just then in the July day.
of 1868 that Brigadicr General in
tie Confederate Army wanted an Of
fee. bat la6orins under the Gisab;li-
ties imposed upon him by his con
o,,erers he was Ineligible to the Office
to which 4c aspirel. 0fice hungry
t9ten as now, he at.lres.ol 4 petition
to the Powers that Re, hun0!y beg
eing pardon aad c'ingingly ac-
knowlcdsing his error in sSPops'"g
and slYportingthe curse gfsccesS'on.
What old soldier will not blush to
speak his name, aud recollects those
days when Virginia was made : Dis
net sol and the carpet Dagger was
sor,neIy entaroDed Il. power and
whoa on. people suffered all the IN
dicnit;es to which they were
subjected.
Let us turn from this unpleasant
picture and commend to or fellow
citizen and the youth Of our land Che
admiration Of those mca who, tried
and true, stood like the rocks Of Gi-
bra!tcr, "likc Stone Wall" for the
principles of the Constitutional Gov
eminent Of their Fathers, which prin
ciplcs were thrice tlearer to them
than life or any Office of men, and in
whose defense They yielded up their
lives a wiling sacrifice on the alter Of
principle and equal justice. The
memory Of those men will grow
brighter with the roll OF years, com
mandin. tie admiration 81 friend
and foe. while those who deserted the,
ranks and are guilty Of sycophancy
and trucking subscrviency
will bring them only dishonor, de
feat and everlasting shame and obliv-
ion.
We invite your perusal Of the fol-
lowing document that General James
A. Walker, addressed 70 The Prcsi-
dent Of the United States:
70 His EIcellency .4edrem johnson,
President Of tie Unitcd tStotc@:
The petition of James j. Walker,
of Pulaski county. Va, would res
pectiul!y represent that he is lawyer
by profession, IS 81 wears Of ace, has
. wife and three children, that his
means arc very limited and his fani
II therefore entirely dependent upon
labor in his profession for support.
At the commencement OF the re-
beilion and for some years prior
thereto he resided, and soil resides,
IN the county Of Pulaski, Va. and
WAS captain Of a voluntary company
organized in tho year 1882. and
vas, at the commencement Of taa re-
oelIion, ordered, With his company,
into immediate service, by the Gov
crnor of Virginia. That he entered
service as captain, and was regularly
promoted to the position Of Bliga-
der General, which position he held
at the time Of the surrender Of the
army Il Northern Virginia.
loaI petitioner believed IN the
right OF secession, and, consequently
favored and supported the cause Of
the South doing only what at the
time, he sincerely believed to be his
duty, but that he at all times in the
discharge of the duties Of his several
positions, paid strict regard TO the
usages OF civilized welfare, protected
and treated with Uniform kindness all
prisoners Of war that were at any
time in his hands.
That he at no time engaged iii or
encouraged The pcrsecutios Of Union
men.
}om petitioner acIro,y7cdges his
error IN eSpousi@q and s0pportiag the
cauSc Of secession and ayows his pur-
po29 in good faith to resume and con-
tinuo aiieg ance to the Union, to
which he has taken the oath of alleg-
iance,as wi be seen By ? copy there
Of herewith exhibited and asks your
i,xcel!ency to grant him full pa.don
and amnesty, and your petitioner DC
Signed J. A. WALKER.
-
THE PRESS.
JoszsgrtE VlEclSIAS: Walker
COIL hot e,.,, nm, IL, rn,.r L..