Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-01

for four vears-from 1861 to 1s65-between
! himself and General Porter, and cha
racterized General Grant as man who
! didn't indulge in bombastic utterances
after the surrender. lie paid high tri-
butte 10 the deceased northern General,
who had stood between the Confederate
officers and death when they had been In
dicted for treason. He spoke Of his COM
mission 10 Cuba, and said that since he
had been ordered to 30 to that country he
had been studying Spanish. Q.aughter)
Reverting TO the subject OF his toast,
General Lee spoke of the work accom-
plished by Washington, and said that his
every act showed him to have been
great chieftain, and man or military
forethought and skill. No marble, he
said. was white enough on which TO carve
the name and fame OF the Father OF
His Country.
The next toast New England was
responded TO by Hon. Edwin . Barrett.
Of Massachusetts, who, in most ornate
speech spoke Of the Sons and Daughters
OF the Revolution standing shoulder TO
shoulder (as far as the big sleeves would
permiO i'm perpetuating the memory Of the
deeds Of their forefathers, which had
gained for America and Americans That
independence of which we now boast.
He told in graphic language the suifer-
ings of the American Continentals, anu
closed amid great applause.
HE SPEAKS FOR VIRGINIA.
Hon. Waller II. Staples, Of this city,
I'm responding 10 he toast Virginia, the
Mother Of Colonies and Of States" MADE
one of the finest speeches Of the evening.
He spoke with great snap and vim, ana
was heartily applauded. The Judge sald
when the chapter of the Sons OF the
Revolution was established in this city
last year he was requested TO become
member. This request was based upon
the idea that he could give proper ahces-
trail references. He had hitherto laheh
very little trouble to investigate the
claims Of his forefathers, but they hau
been heard from. and he was glad TO
say they had participated in the ReVoiu-
tionary war. 1t was natural, said Judge
STABLES. that Virginia should take the
deepest interest in such an association,
and on her behalf we were proud TO
have SO many distinguished representa-
tive men here from a distance, and felt
ourselves highly honored in having the
meeting Of the national congress at this
,,lace. The gentlemen having the man
agement Of this affair had deemed II not
at all improper or amiss, under the cir
cumstances, that a special toast snouid
be given to Virginia. and he had been
appointed 10 respond to that toast.
SOMETIMES CRITICISED.
"Vjrginia speakers and orators have
been Frequently severely criticised for
their extrayaeant encomiums on their
state. i'm season and out of season. ana
there can be no doubt that there Is Just
ground for such criticism. one thing,
however, may be said, that the people oil
Virginia are never reluctant to bestow
praise where 1t is justly deserved. HOW
ever extravagant the laudations or our
own State may be. we are always READY
to pay just tribute to the citZehs anu
people of other States.
The Judge, reviewing some of Virginia
causes for being proud. referred TO Wash
ington. jefferson, Patrick Henry, and
other distinguished sons, to notable
events in the States history, and, con-
tinuing, said we must ever maintain that
the first General Assembly, composed OF
the representatives Of the people, that
ever met on American soil. convened at
jamestown on the Goth July, 1872 to
enact laws for the people of Virginia.
This has been well declared by my hon
ored friend. the Hon. William Writ Hen
nv. to have been the beginning of the
free institutions in America. The speaker
said he could not refrain from mentioning
another fact, that Virginia had very lit
tie pecuniary interest in the question
which led to the war of 1872, but no
sooner did the tocsin sound and the
alarm was given than Virginia stepped
into the arena ready to take sides in the
great struggle in defence of the great
principles established by the Revolution.
DELUsIoNs AND PREJUDICEs.
Judge Staples took up the question of
secession, and, referring to the civil war,
said: There were extraordinary decisions
and prejudices on both sides of the line.
The people on the North had been taught
to believe that the South had been so
enervated and demoralized by the In
stitution of slavery, by vicious and lux
urious habits, that they were incapable
of conducting a protracted struggle, and
that the North could readily suppress
rebellion within thirty or sixty days by
an army marching to Richmond. Four
years of war has removed these delusions.
What examples of self-sacrihce,
what lessons of high-souled patriotism
standing out in undying fame to show
to all the world how 1t is that the people
may perform great deeds and submit to
great sacrifices when influenced by the
cause of liberty.
but JUSTICE requires IL 10 DE Sdlu
there were very unjust prejudices and
glarng decisions on this side of the
line. also. Many of our people had been
taught to believe that one southern
man was equal I'm combat to three Yam
KEGS that cotton was king; that war
Of three or four years duration would
cause the grass to grow on the streets
OF the northern cities, and that a revo-
luton would occur in England, which
would shake the British throne to its
foundation. A long and protracted con-
test has removed these decisions, also.
Let us ALL" said Judge Staples, "thank
God that the struggle is over; that
the great tempest has subsidized; that the
pillows Of the great commotion have
rocked themselves TO sleep; that
the morning of peace has broken forth
gloriously on land and sea, and that the
old ship of state stands serene and firm
on calm and peaceful waters. We trust
and believe a redeeming spirit has
gone forth from the bloody chasm TO
sanctify and 10 save the Union and the
Constitution. and that the Sons of the
American Revolution South and the Sons
OF the American Revolution North will
ever be found in maintaining the cause
OF constitutional government on this con-
tinent."
THE VICE-PRESIDENT SPEAKS.
When Judge Staples took his seat he
was loudly applauded. and as soon as the
connection subsidized POSTMASTER Henry
introduced Nice-President Adlai r.
Stevenson. who was greeted with cheer
after cheer Mr.. Stevenson said:
IL accepted with great pleasure the in
vitation so cordially extended me to be
present upon this most interesting occa-
sion. No place more hitting Tor TINS pa
ed. than the capital city OF the Old Do
minion.