Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-07-08
Third and Last Day.

Ten thousand copies Of it will be issued
and distributed
Third and Last Day.
RICHMOND, July 2.-Never before IN
its history, not even upon the occasion
Of the unveiling Of the Lee monument
In 1890, has Richmond seen such @
crowd within her limits az that which
assembled here beneath perfect sky to
witness the laying Of the cornerstone OF
the monument to the memory Of Jefer.
son Davis. 1t was the last and greatest
day of the sixth annual reunion Of the
United Confederate Veterans associa-
ton, which has brought to Richmond
altogether about $4,000 veterans besides
thousands of other visitors. The days
exercises have added $4,000 visitors and
young soldiers to the vast throng.
The convention, was opened at 1C
O'Clock with prayer by the Rev. Dr.. J.
P. Smith Of Stonewall Jackson's staff.
The session was very short. General
Gordon made brief address praisine
Richmond's hospitality. A memorial
was submitted asking that the name OF
the United Confederate Veterans be
changed to Confederate Survivors asso.
citation. A request that the memorial
be sent to all camps in the association
was adopted
An invitation was extended from the
Philadelphia brigade to attend the re-
union of the blue and the gray at Wash
inpton Sept. 16, when o monument to
the brigade will be unveiled at Antie-
tam. General Gordon said the invita-
ton would be sent to the various camps
for action.
The Rev. J. William Jones was op-
posed to it on account Of the fact that
this was the brigade that kicked up the
row in Richmond about marching be-
hind the heconfederate flag. General Cor
don replied:
Dear Jones belongs to a church that
believes in conversion. Our friends
have long since repented their action" "
A petition from Fredericksburg, IN
reference to national park on the bat
tlefeld near that place, was approved.
After resolutions of thanks to Rich
mond and General Gordon the conven.
tion adjourned
Laying Of the Cornerstone.
The formation of the parade began
about 10 O'Clock. Before noon the streets
along the line Of march were almost
completely blocked. -,
There was a general parade OF mill
tary, Masonic, civic and veteran organi'
cations, led by a band Of 1000 uni.
formed children of Richmond, sons and
daughters of confederate soldiers, with
25, 600 men in line, on foot and on horse
back, to the place where the cornerstone
was to be laid.
After prayer by Bishop Cranberry Of
the Methodist Episcopal church, the
cornerstone was laid by the grand mas
ter of the Masons of Virginia, ATTENDED
BY his grand lodge In full regalia, anc
escorted by commanders Of knights
Templar in full uniform.
At the conclusion Of this ceremony
salute of l3 guns was fred by the ia
nous Howitzer battalion Of Richmond
The orator Of the day, Lieutenan
General Stephen D. Lee, was introduced
by Private J. Taylor Ellison, vice presl
dent of the Jefferson Davis Memoria
ASSOCIATION. General Lee said:
General Lees Speech.
We are here today to honor the memor!
of Jefferson Davis; to lay the cornerstone
of q monument to one who needs no mon
ument in our generation beyond that tr
the hearts OF his countrymen. But W
think it due to erect one that posterit!
NAV know the reverence felt for the grea
leader of cause that failed. . 1t Is lifting
that he should rest here in Vtrgtnia-tha
greatest of all states, the battle scarret
producer OF warriors and statesmen nt
ting that he should rest here among he
immortals. But for her generosity in ce
ding her vast territory to the Union, Ken
tucky would still have been hers and h'
would have been born her son. Man!
presidents, statesmen, soldiers, lie In Vir
ginia's soil-from Washington to the pres
ent time-none greater than Davis. bu
more fortunate.
Fame has no trumpet for failure. Th
world hears not the voice OF the van
ouished. Yet his glory might teach u
strange things of men who failed ant
causes that are lost.
He followed with review OF Davis
career and the issues which brough
about secession, and continued:
cannot hold him wise who would will
ingly wound the patriotism OF any citizel
of the republic: To brand such men q
Albert Sidney Johnston, Stonewall JACK
son or Robert E. Lee or Jefferson Davis a.
traitors is not to stain the whiteness o
their lives, but rather to spoil the word TO
any useful purposes; to make traitor
title which Hampden or washington
might have borne as we'll, had the for
tunes of war gone against them.
jefferson Davis, he said, stood tn
test of true greatness; he was creates
to those who knew him best.
He was opposed to disunion and d1'
his utmost to prevent the step. AT tn
conference called by Governor Pettus o
Mississippi of the representatives. o
congress of the state in 1850, Mr. Davl
declared himself opposed to secession a
long as the hope Of a peaceful remed.
remained.
AS president, Mr.. Davis may hav
made mistakes. He was constitutions
ruler, not q revolutionary chief. H
could not work miracles. In closing
the orator said:
In calmer years, when the last emper o
sectional feeling has burned out and tn
last word OF love has gently found tb
hearts of all Americans together, father
will bring their little children to this spo
and tell them the story of pure, grea
man, who suffered for his people and TO
the right as they understood 1t, and 10
this they loved him as they loved no Other
AS long as yonder noble river shall roll 1t
tide to the sea it shall behold no man NOR
kindly. He was very perfect, gentl
knight. May the story OF his life be swee
i'm days to come, when at last all me