The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-21

Speeches by General Walthall and
Colonel Oates.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Sept. 20. = Bar
NUNS tent was filled again tonight. There
was a gathering there of the survivors of
the Army of Northern Virginia and that
portion of the Army of the Potomac which
fought at Chickamauga. Gen. z. c. Wal
thall, of Mississippi. presided In calling
the meeting to order he said in part:
ITO be chosen to preside over an assem-
bly, like this Is proud distinction, for
which ! am profoundly grateful. My selec-
ton for such a duty involves the f1attering
implication that ! am deemed worthy to
represent the. soldier Of the South and all
he stands for. The story of the fierce strug-
gle tells what he did and how he suffered
for his duty as he saw il while the strife
was raging, and the sequel shows that
when the conflict ceased the name and
fame he won in bartle were never tar
nished by any breach of a paroled SOL
diers pledge of peace. He raised his hand
against the North because he had been
taught IT was his duty to battle for the
rights and institutions of his State. A SEN
timent he had inherited ingrained in his ma
ture. sustained him through the fierce.
long struggle in which he was destined to
be beaten.
After the lapse of thirty years since
his banners went down, for him, in his
his former foeman, whom he joins in doing
honor to our reunited country's flag True
as yourselves tc the Union now. he yet
dearly loves the sunny land he lives in
tenderly cherishes the memories and ira
ditions of the South, and is proud of her
history and the achievements of her noble
his sword have been laid away forever, but
his army record will always be his pride
and Lee his idol of q soldier and man.
Such he is and such he must ever be, and
as such he would meet you and cordially
would greet you as his friends and fellow
countrymen with whom he has common
interest In the greatness and glory OF our
common country
COL. w. c. OATES'S SPEECH.
Col. w. c. Oates. Governor of Alabama
was the first speaker, and he was greeted
with enthusiastic cheers. In his introduc-
tory remarks Governor Oates referred en-
Enthusiastically to the significance the dedi-
cation of the battlefield of Chickamauga
portended The Union veteran by this GER
emony extolled his own gallantry, by which
alone he was able to triumph over such
determined foes those of the Confeder-
ate army. 1t was complimentary to the
Confederate veteran. i'm this manly way 10
acknowledge defeat, accomplished by over
powering numbers and to strike hands with
his adversaries as honorable men. lie next
nooga, telling OF the heroic fight they
made. Then he spoke of the causes Of the
war. As to slavery. it was contrary to
institution and was so recognized .ty the
Constitution of the United States sBeing
State institution" he said. 1T was a
right of the State In which 1t existed to
continue abolish 1t. The responsibility
moral or otherwise. for its continuance be-
lonced alone to the people of the state
wherein IT existed. The institution had
been handed down through generations. Its
character was not generally understood In
the North. 1t was abused by leading men
of the puritanical type. who abused ami ra-
duced the justice OF the Supreme Court for
deciding that slavery was lawful and who
denounced the institution os slavery and
polyxamy as twin relics of baTbarsm. as
the sum total of all villainy. As league
their doctrines incited = band " fanatics