Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-20
SENATOR DANIEL AT STAUNTON.
His Grand Grafton Before the S.onewsll
Camp on Lee at Gettysburg.

4 Sffnp on Lee Ut NettysDuTSs
STAUNTON, VA. January 19.-(Spe-
al.)-The old Confederates. their wives.
and children filed the Opera-House to-
day. the occasion being S.onewall Jack
son Camp Confederate Veterans cele-
| bratlon Of General Robert L. Lees Birth
| day.
The day, the theme. the orator made
| an attractive trinity. awakening the au-
| dience 10 a high pitch OF enthusiasm.
| Senator John W. Daniel. the orator OF
| the day, arrived Fri3ay night from
| Washington. and was the guest OF Major
| Jed Hotchkiss.
At an early hour this morning the city
was in holiday attire. Senator Daniel
| drove to the Opera-Hoise in a handsome
| carriage, drawn by four beplumed spank
| ing bay horses. belonging TO Colonel Ed
ward Burke one of the Senator's ad-
| mirerS.
The programme was an elaborate one.
| The Stonewall Brigade and the Black
ford Cornet Band played popular south
ern airs. including the march. "Senegam-
| bia," by Voelker, OF Richmond.
a picked choir OF forty voices rendered
General Lees favorite hymn, How Firm
| a Foundation, Ye Saints OF the Lord"
Shumanns quarteite. occupying one az
dered some splendid professional music.
A ROUsING WELCOME.
A beautiful prayer was offered by the
Rev. A. NJ. Fraser. Major Jed Hotchkiss
then introduced the soldier Senator, and
the audience, which filed the theatre
from pit TO dome, gave rousing well
come TO Major Daniel. The orator spoke
two hours and held his audience spell
1, ,bx Of
spoke OF Lee as the embodiment Of what
ever can be loved and hOnored by man
kid. Parents would point TO Lee as the
great character in history. 10 be taken
by their sons as an example; veterans
point to him as the model Christian SOL
der and patriot; busy men Of affairs point
TO him as most worthy of trust, and the
impartial historian would point TO him as
the grandest. noblest name of the CEN
fury. There is no refined assemblage in
all Christendom who would not honos
Lees name. Many have criticised him,
all have admitted his ability, none guess
ton the nobility of his motives. Behind
the guns opposed TO Lee there was not
numbered one who was his personal ene>
my. Stripped Of rank and power, Lee
| lost no dignity. Losing his home every
door swung open to welcome him; losing
wealth, riches pressed Nself upon him,
craving the honor OF his acceptance.
Kept busy after the war declining prof
fered positions of profit and honor h,
lost his army, but retained the affection
| of every man of them. Not his TO wear
| the wreath Of victory, yet no victor's
| wreath Is so bright as the fame of Lee
With marvellous modesty he was always
busier casting the cloak of charity over
| the mistakes OF others than in efforts for
| personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The orator
| then impressed on his audience the ne
| cessty for preserving the war records
| Of the Virginia soldiers.
AT GETTYSBURG.
| Referring to Gettysburg, Major Daniel
| wildly portrayed the movements leading
| up TO the great three-days' battle. He
| spoke eloquently OF the great prominence
| of Virginia in the battle, and said Aus
| gusta county had more men mustered NJ
| Gettysburg than any other county in the
| South. handsome tribute was paid to
| Jeb Stuart. The disastrous delays of the
| Confederates getting into action at Get
| tysburg and the failure TO occupy Little
| Round-Top and Culp's-Hill were referred
| 10. The speaker did not pretend TO FIX
| the blame. and declared that this secret
| was forever buried in the casket OF Ro>
| bert r. Lees great heart. Lee never laid
| the blame on mortal man. Picketts im-
| mortal charge throughout the shower Of
| shot and shell was told with an elo-
| Quence which brought tears to the eyes
| OF his hearers The address was admi-
| rably delivered Major Daniel left for
| Lynchburg, where he will spend Sunday.