Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-21
THE THIRD AND LAST DAY The Historic Occasion at Chatta-
 nooga Is Over. CITY TENT WAS THE MECCA Vice-President Stevenson and General Scho6eld
 Review the Imposing Parade. SENATOR BATE TALKS OUT lN -MeETIN' The South Fought for What She Believed to Be Right-GovernorO Oates Speech
 Was Contribution to
 
CITY TENT WAS THE MECCA
SENATOR BATE TALKS OUT lN- MeETIN'

Chattanooga, Sept. 20.-The, proceed ings of the third and last day of the ded- ication of the Chickamauga and Chatta- nooga National Military park judging from the throng whichbmh bmh bmhm from the crowd which thronged the streets were the most attractive of the series. This was the case possibly, how ever, for the reason that there was noth- ing going on at the battlefield, and every ones attention centered upon the meet ings in the city tent. Another fact was that military demonstration by regulars and state militia in camp here was an attraction that drew to the city many residents of the surrounding territory who had not previously been present during the dedicatory ceremonies
 There was a slight relief from the op pressive, almost overwhelming, heat of the past two days, whereby existence was rendered somewhat more comforta- ble to sweltering humanity.
 The procession formed on Market street, the principal business thorough fare of the city, and was characteristic of the situation. First came a platoon of police, then United States troops, foot and artillery, in camp at Chickamauga park, under command of Colonel Poland. These numbered all told about 1900 men. There were battalions from the Sixth, Fourteenth and Twenty-third infantry and Battery F of the Fourth artillery. Then came the Ohio ma tional guard, with Gov Mckinley and staff at the head. Including companies from Cleveland and Columbus, the latter on bicycles. The Capital City Guards of Georgia, Capt. w s. Hewett commanding, follow d. These troops marched to the dedication from Atlanta arriving here Tuesday The national guard of Tennessee, Col. E. F. Peters commanding, were next. A company of this body which attracted much attention was Captain Carnes' bat tery of Memphis, composed exclusively of Confederate veterans. The rear or the column was under command of Capt. r. H. Phillips. The procession marched through the principal business and res idence streets to Grant university, in front of which the reviewing stand was erected. The streets were decorated With a great profusion of national colors in all conceivable designs, and as the troops marched under and by them they were accompanied by the almost tremendous cheers of assembled thousands
 Gen. F. S. Fullerton, president Of the park commission, was grand marshal.
 On the reviewing stand were Lieuteh- ant-General Schofield and Vice-President Stevenson. The reviewing officials ana a large body of distinguished Visltofs ana prominent citizens in the procession dis banded shortly after passing the review ing stand and the battery proceeded 10 Orchard Knob, on the summit of which was fired the union salute Of forty-four guns at noon. At that hour began the exercises in the tent intended to com memorate, in connection with the dedi- cation, the battle of Chattanooga proper Vice President Stevenson presided.
 The proceedings were opened With prayer by Rev. Samuel J. Nicolls. D. D., of St. Louis. <]Ion. George w. Ochs, Chattanooga's eloquent executive, was introduced to welcome visitors to the Mountain City.
 Gen. William B. Bate. senator from Tennessee, was the first speaker. His address presented the southern view of causes leading to the war. After express ing his pleasure that the lapse of more than thirty years had mitigated passions, allayed excitement and disposed the minds of all surviving contestants of these great battles to look back at the past with those moderated convictions which are due to contest in which each party held principles and convictions to justify contentious, Senator Bate sa d:
 '"rhe great war in which we were ene- mics found not its cause in resolutions of fanaticism, nor in 'Wilmot provisos,' nor in the fire bell at night of the Missouri compromise. These were indeed aggra- yating incidents disposing men to re- sort to violence where reason and consti- tutional rights were denied but they were not the cause of our conflict. Their annoyance had been endured for more than half a century. and might have con tinued in provoking irritation for many circle of years without leading to actual conflict. It was only when long train of circumstances tending to the same end had divided our country into section al parties along the line of demarkation which denied equal rights to equal states, 1<. t<%t ..lNt of war. All things come to the man or people that wait, and so with perfect con- fidence in the rectitude of our motives, in the correctness of our views of the federal constitution and of the propriety of our acts and in the past. we surviving Confederates for ourselves and in behalf of our dead comrades. offer no apology or excuse for our course in 1S61-5. but frankly and firmly avouch the facts of our conntry's history and the teachings and writings of the fathers in justifica- tion of southern states at the bar of inn partial history.
 "Whatever may be right or wrong. the south believed she was right. and the principles in defense of which the south accepted battle after peaceaby seceding from the union were found in the consti- tuition and taught by our forefathers The south claimed and asked nothing more than equal rights. not of persons only, but of states. equal privileges in all parts of the union. equal protection wherever the flag fioated to every per- son, to every species of property recog- ned by state. An appeal to the court of, last resort between sovereign states be- came absolutely necessary. In its forum the states joined issue and when its de- cree was found against the south we bowed to 1t as final without consenting to it, as just or righteous. It's irrevoca- ble result will not be again questioned but accepted with a solemn sense of duty to maintain the government with true faith and defend the flag of our country with the same courage and de- votion that we gave to our little cross of St. Andrew.
 "Our civil war esta hIished beyond com