Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-07-25

CORNERSTONE LAID FOR 4 MONT-
MENT TO POWHATAN'S
CANALRNMEN.

vi
The cornerstone of the first monu-
ment erected in Virginia to the
memory of fallen members of the
cavalry branch of the Confederate
service was laid at Powhatan Court
house on the 18th of July, with both
Masonic and military ceremonies,
and in the presence of very large
audience.
The occasion was one of unusual
interest, and drew together great
crowd, in which those who wore
the grey probably predominated.
The memorial thus begun is a trib.
ute from the survivors of the old
Powhatan Troop, now organized as
veteran association, to their com
rades whose lives were sacrificed for
the Southern cause.
JUDGE FLOURNOY's ANDREss.
Hon. Henry w. Flournoy, ex-
Secretary Of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, was presented as the ora
tor of the day. He was cordially
received, and literally applauded
throughout his excellent speech.
Judge Plournoy said:
The object of this assemblage is to
lay the cornerstone of monument
to be erected to the memory of the
soldiers of the Powhatan Troop of
the late war between the States.
The cornerstone is laid, and now 1t
becomes my duty, at the invitation
Of the Powhatan Troop Association
TO tell why the memorial shaft is to
be placed upon the public square of
this county.
We are not here in any spirit of
complaint about the results Of the
great struggle between tho States.
We do not propose to open old
wounds. We do not propose to re-
kindle the fires of passion and hate.
In all fairness we mean to tell the
truth and do justice. The arbitra-
ment of arms does not ALWAYS de-
eide the conflict in favor of the
right. 1t was maintained by the
people of the South that their rights
under the Constitution Of the United
States were violated. They had no
remedy except in withdrawal from
the Union. They did this peace.
fully. They formed new govern
ment, believing that they had the
natural as we'll as constitutional right
to withdraw from q government
controlled by party which declared
in plain language that the admins
tration OF the government by the
Republican party would be in con-
fict with the Constitution Of the
United States, as it had been inter-
preted by the men who framed it
and by the courts of last resort which
were framed under that Constitution
The Constitution of the United
States was the Magma Charta which
defined the rights of the States, and
when that charter was violated, in
the very nature Of things there
could be no remedy except the one
which was adopted by the States
which formed the Southern Confed.
erGcy. The Interpretation of the
Constitution by the Republican
party, as embodied in language by
MIR. Lincoln, was that the Federal
Government was government OF
the people, by the people, and for
the people. The doctrine Of all par.
ties which had preceded the Repub.
can party in the administration OF
the government was that the Gov.
ernment of the United States was q
government of the States, by the
States, and for the States, and the
governments of the States were gov
ernments of the people, by the peo
pie, and for the people.
KNEW WHAT WAS RIsKED.
So necessary to the peace and hap
piness Of this country was the Unior
that every possible effort was mad,
to hold the government to the limi
tatiOns Of the Constitution. Tn,
people Of the South recognized fully
that secession meant war, and count
ing their own limited resource
against the almost unlimited re
sources of the North, they with
drew from the Union with ful
knowledge Of all that was risked b,
the act. This is especially true o
Virginia. She stood midway be
tween the North and the South
She knew that the great struggle
would he fought out upon her soil
She knew the terrible consequence
that would come to her either il
victory or defeat. She knew tina
} victory would leave her exhausted
and that defeat would leave he
! desOlate. And so her convention
r which adopted the ordinance of sc
cession, was composed Of her wis
est and most experienced citizens
who deliberated for months unit
: every effort was exhausted to saw
l the Union under the Constitution
: Then, with dignity, calmness, an,
T courage she walked out of the Un
ion, with all her children about he
3 In solid phalanx. She knew tina
, her act meant war, and she steppe
upon the arena of that fearful strif
with the violated charter of he
rights in one hand and the sword q
defense in the other. How sh
maintained herself, how she suffered