The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-09-26

| and fame he won in battle were never tarnishet
| by any breach of psroled soldiers pledge o.
| peace.
"Ho raised his nano against the Nortn be
cause he had been taught it was his duty t.
| battle for the rights and institutions of hi:
State. A sentiment he had inherited, in
grained in his nature, sustained him through
the fierce long struggle in which he was des
tined to be beaten.
after the lapse of 30 years since his banner:
went down. for him. in his name, it is my pride
and pleasure to greet his former foemen. whom
he joins in doing honor tn our -eunited
country's flag. ert
True as yourselves ~ 1ne Union now. he
yet dearly loves the sunny land he lives in
tenderly chershes the memories and tradi
tions of the South and is proud of her history
and the achievements of her noble men and
women. His tattered banner and his sword
have been laid away forever, but his army
record will always be his pride, and Lee his
idol of 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 Governor of Alabama, was
the first speaker and he was greeted with
enthusiastic cheers. In his Introductory re-
marks, Gov. Oates referred enthusiastically to
field of Chick amauga portended. The Union
veteran by this ceremony extolled his own
galantry. by which alone he was able to tri-
umph over such determined foes as were those
of the Con federate army. 1t was compliment
ary to the Confederate veteran in this manly
way to acknowledge defeat, accomplished by
overpowering numbers, and to strike hands
with his adversaries as honorable men. He
next recited the action of his men at Chatta-
fall IF thn fob bnv do
Then he spoke of the causes of the war. AS
to slavery, it was contrary to natural right
but it was a lawful State institution, and was
so recognized by the Constitution of the United
States.
Being State institution ft was right Of the
State in which it existed to continue or abol-
ish it. The responsibility. moral and other
wise, for its continuance belonged 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 and traduced Justices of the Su-
preme Court for deciding that slavery was law
full, and who denounced the institution of
slavery and polygany as twin relics of barbar.
ism as the sum total of all villainy, as league
with death and a covenant with hell, until
their doctrines melted a band of fanatics to be-
lieve that they were inspired by Heaven to
light the torch of revolution in Southern homes
and to invade a Southern State for the purpose
of inciting the slaves to insurrection, arson,
and indiscriminate murder of white people;
and when the chief of these mslefactors was
executed church bells were tolled in some of
the Northern cities to canonize him as
martyr.
These were the Irritating causes which
aroused the feelings of Indignation and pre-
pared the minds of the Southern people for
secession from the Union.
It was not for slavery the South fought, for
the majority of the soldiers were laboring men
and never owned black. 1t was the horror
of seeing 100000 slaves turned loose the in
vasion of their rights to local State Govern
ment. They fought for the right as God gave
them to see the right,
Continuing he told how the North had un-
limited credit and resources, while the South
had none; how the North had an army of
2, 100000 men, the South little over 100000
lnen. Superiority Of Numbers enabled the
North TO win. But for four years the immortal
stood their ground. But when all
their strongholds were captured, men half
200 600 dead, when widows and Or
phans became numberless then their sublime
courage failed.
Col. J. A. Williamson, Of New York. and Col.
L. B. Stegnan, of New York, also spoke, after
which the meeting adjourned.
At noon to-day the citizens Of Chattanooga
paid their compliments to Gen. II. V. Boynton,
who originated the idea Of making National
Park out of the battlefield of Chickamauga. A
nuniber of citizens, headed by Capt. Ii. d.
Chambers, Chairman of the Executive Commit
tee. of Chattanooga. and Hon. Adolph Ochs, of
the Chattanooga Times, went to the Generals
office in the Government Building and pre-
,ented him with silver dinner set containing
225 pieces. 1t was a complete surprise to the
veteran, and he was so overcome
that he could scarcely express his thanks.