Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-09-07


Rockingham, fol- Congress.
INTERESTING REC0LLECTIONS
At the Confederate Veterans reunion at I'm
ion, Monroe, West Va, General John Echols
who was a citizen of that place when the civil
war came on, was one of the speakers The
following extract from his address, we take
from the report of the Monroe Waterman of
Friday:
You remember, comrades, continued the
speaker, that at that time this was a strong
Union county. Your delegates from Monroe
to the Virginia Constitutional Convention,
Caperton and Echols, were both pronounced
Union men. When the Convention met, an
overwhelming majority were for the Union.
Very early in the session member from Anne
liza county, offered an ordinance providing for
immediate secession and it was hOpelessly
defeated. The Convention was composed of
the ablest the wisesJ and most experienced
men in the Commonwealth. Its course was
guided by the careful counsel of such great
minds as George Summers Of Kanawha VIM.
ballard Preston of Montgomery, John Tyler,
ex-President of the United States, George
Randolph, A. II. II. Stuart of Augusta and
many other grey-headed statesmen, all mem
bers of the Convention. 1t was resolved to
send Peace Commission to President Lin
coin and see if something could not be done
to avert the strife which seemed to be impend-
ing For this important mission were chosen
VIM. Ballard Preston, A. II. II. Stuart and
George Randolph, three of the ablest purest
and most scholarly men in Virginia. These
went to Washington while the Convention
awaited the result Of their efforts. The very
manner in which President Lincoln received
these Commissioners foreboded the hopeless
ness of their task Mr.. Lincoln was a great
man and in many respects a good man. He
would have proved valued friend to the
South in her sorest need had he not been cut
down by the red hand of an assassin. But
Mr. Lincoln was man of strong prejudices.
His quaint humor was often betrayed in UNI
expected ways. This commission, of the ut
most dignity and Importance, come upon the
high errand of reconcilinga divided country.
he received with singular POPULARITY.
"Why, Preston, how dye do?" he eXclaim-
ed in his drawing tones as the Commissioners
approached. "Preston, see you have caught
the specs. like myself, since last saw you, %
(referrng to his eye-glasses). "And this is
Stuart! Why, Stuart. you're longer man
than l am AS the stately Randolph was
presented, Mr.. Lincoln drawled, "And this
is Randolph, Randolph OF Virginia, George
Randolph original secessionist, wants to
go out before breakfast in the morning" This
was the sort of buffoonry with which this dig
niied Commission and the grave subject of
which they came to treat were received.
Everybody knows of their failure to extract
the least comfort OF concession from Mr.. LIN
coin and when at last brought face to face
with the question he told them plainly that he
had nothing else to offer them. With down
cast mien they came back to the Virginia
Convention and sorrowfully reported the
failure Of their intermediation for peace and
their fear that the country was lost. But still
the Convention hoped on against hope and
strove yet to guide the ship OF State away
from the maelstrom Of war.
But presently came the thunder of the guns
at Fort Sumpter. South Carolina having Sc
coded, undertook to reclaim the territory and
property which as member Of the Union she
had granted the United States. This logical
claim was resisted, enforced by arms, and
Sumpter fell. Instantly Mr.. Lincoln issued
his call for u. 900 troops to drive the seeding
States back into the Union. Thus arose the
great question as to whether this was central
lied Nation or an assembly OF Sovereign
States. Virginia was called upon to furnish
her quota Of the 10000 troops called for by
President Lincoln. She was thus confronted
with the dreadful alternative of either with
drawing from the Union or else assisting to jn-
wade and subjugate her sister States OF the
South. She loved the Union and had striven
by all honorable means to preserve it, but
should Virginia turn her sword against her
Southern sisters to whom she was united by
every bond of affection and interest? No, 10;
she could not, she could not. Such were the
considerations which induced the Virginia
Convention, originally strong Union body.
to adopt finally the ordinance of secession
That instrument was introduced Oh the 18th
of April, 1851, by William Ballard Preston
with tears in his eyes. Each member of the
Convention felt the tremendous consequences
which hung upon their action; and as the roll
was called and the solemn and unvarying re-
Spouse came back, "Aye:" "Aye" "Aye!"
the hot tears fell fas.., until at last the Con-
vention was transformed into an assembly of
weeping old men.
You OF the older generation well remember
how these valleys and hills thrilled with ex-
had seeded. Throughout all the Southern
fro M IN +l,,l ,l torc
of the Gulf there was great rejoicing. Vir-
ginia understood we'll its real significance.
She knew that it meant that her bosom was to
be offered as the sheath for the Northern
sword. The quarrel was not of her own
making, but she never for a moment faltered.
Governor Letcher called for troops to repel
the threatened invasion of the State. Among
the FIRST to respond was the Monroe Guards"
consisting of '104 gallant young fellows, the
flower of this community. Who that witness
ed it Will ever forget the day of their depar-
ture from Union? Mothers and sisters, and
wives followed their loved ones to the very
ranks to bid them a last farewell. The air
was tremulou; With excitement and the sound
of weeping was heard in the land. That faith
full and devoted man OF God, the Rev. DR..
samuel Rutheff0fd houston, buSy With good
works, was conspicuous figure of the scene
md his blessings and his prayers followed
very member of the command. The compa-
ny was taken to Stauntpn, thence down the
Valley to Harper's Ferry, and there formed
into the 9th Regiment Here the men first
met the stern soldier with wht m their fame
afterWard became iDSeparately linked, then
Col. jackson. The First Brigade was soon
organized the 9th forming one of its five reg
iments, and jackson was placed in command.
Z <
Proceeding, the speaker took up the charac-
ter of Stonewa1l Jackson at once the most
singular and brilliant of the war. lie knew