Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-05
HONOR TO THE TROOP
Cornerstone Laid for q Monument 10
POYhatan'S CaYalrymeD.
BIG DAY AT The COURTHOUSE
Large Crowds Go Up from Richmond,
Manchester, and Chesterfield.
JUDGE rLouRNoY THE ORATOR.
lie Discusses secession and slavery
and Defends the Course of the
Mssons and Military.

Inc CofltE-Stonc OF the HiSt iloHuiltHN
erected in Virginia to the memory OF
fsllen members of the cavalry branch Of
the Confederate service was laid at
Powhatan Courthouse yesterday with both
Masonic and military ceremonies, and in
the presence OF a very large audience.
The occasion was one Of unusual in
tsrest. and drew together a great crowd,
In which those who wore the gray proba-
bly, prcdominated. The memorial thus
begun is a tribute from the survivors
Of the old Powhatan Troop. now organ
ized as veteran association, TO their
comrades whose lives were sacrificed for
the southern cause.
OF the one thousand or more persons
assembled about the courthouse perhaps
four hundred or more went from Rich
mond Manchester. and Chesterfield on
The special train run under the auspices
Of the POwhatan Troop Association.
Among these were a number OF the sur
Sivors Of the troop now engaged in bus
ness in the two cities. The Masonic an0
military organizations that took part In
The impressive ceremonies went UP on this
special and returned last night.
The exercises were not the only pleasant
feature of the day. When they were over
a good dinner was served. and in the ar
.ernoOn Polk Miller and the Howard
Quartette entertained the company
THE CORNER STONE LAYING.
CAPTAIN Joseph Hobson called the as
temblage 10 order, and prayer was offer
I'd by Rev. j. Hardy Harrison.
Seats upon the platform were reserved
Tor the following Charles old. majo,
Fourth Virginia Cavalry; Joseph Hobson,
president of the Powhatan Troop Asso-
Ration; John X. Goode, treasurer; Au-
Eusiine Royal. business manager; Hon.
Henry w. Flournoy orator Of the occa-
sion: Frank u. Hill. secretary of the as
ISOLATION. Judge T. NJ. Miller OF the
County Court: Rev J. Hardy Harrison.
chaplain Of the association: Judge Samuel
J.. Coleman, OF the Circuit Court. X. 5.
Reams chairman Of the supervisors;
James Il. Werth, chairman Of the Monu
ment Committee, and James T. Gray, of
Lee Camp Richmond.
The Masonic ceremonies were conducted
by Manchester Lodge, No. IA. y. r. ana
A. NJ. Hon. John II. Ingram being wor-
shpful master After the conversions
was placed in position the work was for
mally accepted by Captain Joseph Hob
son. president Of the association.
JUDGE FLOURNOY'S ADDRESS.
Hon. Henry w Flournoy. ex-Secretary
OF the Commonwealth. was presented as
the orator Of the day He was cordially
received. and lib rally applauded through
out his excellent speech. Judge Flournoy
said:
The object of this assemblage is to lay
The cornerstone Of a monument to be
erected 10 the memory of the soldiers Of
the POwnatan Troop of the late war be-
tween the States. The cornerstone is
laid, and now IL becomes my duty. at the
Of shuf ~ frrRg 4
citation. 10 tell why this memorial shaft
is 20 be placed upon the public square Of
this county.
We are not here in any spirit Of com
plant about the results Of the great
struggle between the States. We do not
propose 10 open old wounds. We do not
propose 10 rekindle the fires OF passion
and hate. In all fairness we mean TO tell
the truth and do justice. The arbitrament
Of arms does not always decide the con-
fiict in favor OF the right. 1t was main
tained by the people of the South that
their rights under the Constitution Of the
United States were violated Ihey had
no remedy except in withdrawal from 1.-THE the
Union. They did this peacefully. They
formed new government. believing that
they had the natural as well as c0nsti-
tutonal right 10 withdraw from. gov
eminent controlled by a party which de-
ciared in plain language that the admin
tratiOn of the government by the Re
publican party would De IN conlllct Win
The Constitution OF the. United States, as
framed n and by tn" courts Of last resort
which We're framed under that Constltu-
ton. The Constitution OF the United
States was the Magma Charta which de-
fined the rights II the States. and when
that charter was violated. in the very
nature Of things there could he no rene
dy except the one which was adopted by
the States which formed the southern
Confederacy. The Interpretation OF the
Constitution by the Republican, party. as
embodied in language by Mr.. Lincoln.
ha eH0 t,NNgrDmguf
government Of the people, by the people.
and for the people. The doctrine OF al
parties which had preceded the Republi-
can party in the administration OF the
government was that the Government on
the United States was government OF
The States. by the States. and Tor the
States and the governments OF the states
were governments Of the people by the
people. and for the people
KNEW WHAT WAS RISKED.
So necessary to the peace and happiness
Of this country was the l mon that every
possible effort was made 10 hold the gov
ernmens 70 the limitations of the Const-
tuition. The people of the South recog-
nized fully that secession meant war. and
counting their own limited resources
against the almost unlimited resources
OF the North, they withdrew from the
Union with full knowledge OF all that
was risked by the act. This Is especial
between the North and the South; She
knew that fhe great struggle would De
fought out upon her soil. She knew the
terrible consequences that would come 10
her either In victory or defeat. She KIN
that victory would leave her exhausted,
and that defeat would leave her desolate.
And so her convention. which adopted
the ordinance of secession was composed
OF her wiscst and most experienced citl.
zens who deliberated for months until
every effort was exhausted TO save the
Union under the Constitution. Then. with
dignity, calmness. and courage she walk
cd out of the Union, with all her children
about her in solid phalanx. She knew
that her act meant war. and she stepped
upon the arena Of that fearful strife with
the violated charter Of her rights in one
hand and the sword Of defence In the
other. How she maintained herself. how
she suffered. how she lost her liberties.
how she has borne the results OF defeat
is what the soldiers who fought for her
liberties desire the world 10 know.
More than quarter OF century has
passed since the fearful conflict ended.
More than two thirds OF the soldiers who
fought under her banners are laid TO rest
forever. and those who survive are all
old men. But they are fathers. and II Is
hut natural that they should desire that
their children and the generations which
are Ia come after them should know the
truth respecting that period in their his
lifiae OF lie for liberty and justice. The
world has been told that the people OF
the South fought 10 hold and perpetuate
the institution OF human slavery. 1t Is
true that slavery was the cause of the
war between the states. but it is not true
that II was the cause for which the people
of The South fought. The soldiers Of Nir-
ginia stood IN steady ranks upon her
borders without the spirit of Invasion
but filled with the purpose OF defence
and struck only when the people of the
North invaded her soil with deadly wea-
pODs IN their hands, and deadly purpose