The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-29
THE EN- CONFEDERATE MEETING
AT FORT WORTH WAS a
RED-HOT ONE.
NOT ONE DEFENDED GOV. CULBERSON
Rut nv n Close Vote His Political Friends
Succeeded in Shaving OFF the lnvcs-
tigation-A Telegram From the
Governor Was Read.


for a meeting of eX-COnfederate veterans
to take action as a result of the charge
on the night of October 10, by Governor
Culberson against Lieut.. Gen. Simon
Bolivar Buckncr, fully 1000 voters as
semblcd at the appointed hour, including
300 of the old heroes who battled for the
stars and bars.
The meeting was called to order by
Can't. Thomas of Martin, who moved that
Mai. ]. NJ. Van Zandt be called to the
chair. Carried.
In accepting the post, Maj Van Iandt
said:
"This. my fellow comrades who wore
the gray, is an extraordinary OCCASION
Often since the close of the war we VINO
fought for the Confederacy have had our
feelings rufilcd, but never before since
the closing of that sanguinary CONNECT
has the spectacle been witnessed OF the
governor of great state, himself the
son of AS gallant q southern soldier as
ever wore the gray, casting aspersiohs
upon one of the most gallant generals OF
the Confederacy. TO me it is indeed
more notifying to witness the spectacle
of the governor of the great state Oh
Texas STOPPING to the level of the pot
house politician TO indulge III the abuse
of one of the brayest and most patriotic
of our Confederate leaders. Comrades,
this is serious occasion. What we do,
Jet us do it calmly and dispassionately
and with the proper spirit. If Cover
nor Culberson did so far forget himself
ms TO lower his dignity and traducc one
of our Confederate generals, we can not
afford to emulate his example. What we
do let us do it advisedly and with Il thor
ough understanding of the high plane
upon which the Confederate soldier
stands today" (Applausel
On motion, Judge John w. Friend was
chosen secretary.
Capt. II. u. Martin said:
Mr. Chairman did not come here
to make an address. l want nothing
done to SAVIOR of passion or of prejudice.
We want no politics in this meeting. We
must act as old soldiers and men. That
one of the leaders of the Confederate
army has been traduced i feel sure will
be evident to every man who will take
the pains to read the seventh volume OF
the first series of the Records of the Re
bellion.' published by the United States.
Let any man read there what is said
of Gen. Buckner by his superiors.
"CulbersOn made his charges against
Gen. Buckner publicly. Let every man
read the report of Gen. John Il. Floyd,
who was Buckner's superior ut the time
of the siege of Fort Donaldson. and then
h;,,g,lf - hn M rpas made hV Gov
ernor Culberson are true or not. The
conduct of Gen. Buckner during the war
deserves better from the son of a gallant
Confederate soldier than this charge
made thirty-four years after the war is
over" Cheers.o
Judge $. o. Noodle moved the appoint
mcnt of a committee of three to express
the sentiments of this meeting. Sec
ondcd.
Judge c. c. Cummings-Before this
committee is appointed | want some dls-
cusson. We want no politics IN tins
meeting. At the meeting of X. f.. Lee
Camp. United Confederate Veterans. last
Sunday, the chairman ruled that the mat
ter was political one. and this ruling, l
think, was correct. This may be po-
litical move now, and 1t seems to me II
is. | am willing to admit that the re-
mark of Governor Culberson was un'
fortunate, but then, my fellow comrades
he has come up since the war. Then
too. we must bear in mind the fact that
historians differ touching the conduct OF
Gen. Buckner at Fort Donaldson: ,,
Here the speaker referred briefly to the
report of that engagement made by Gems
Floyd. Pillow and Buckner, and, saiC
he, II am willing to admit that Gems
Floyd and Pillow, on that occasion lei
Gen. Buckncr with the bag to hold
will go further, and say that had beer
there | would have acted as did Geh
Buckner."
Here the speaker began talking alon:
lines of political nature again, lntlmat
ing that the meeting had been gotten NJ
for political effect.
Mai. ]. J.. Jarvis interrupted with
Mr.. Chairman, | rise to the point OF or
der that this is not Il political meeting
and nasmuch as the speaker is attempt
ing to inject politics in it he is out OF OF
der"
Chairman Van Xandt-The point of OF
der is well taken, and | sustain it,
Judre Cummings-This meeting ha
been gotten up for partisan political pun
poses. IN.
Cant. r. L. Martin. interrupting-Th
gentleman is out of order. Mr.. Chairman
He has no right to make any sue
charges.
Chairman Van Xandt-Thc gentlcma
il out of order. 1t is unbecoming |
Judge Cummings to make such charG
against Confederate comrades. (Al
plause) -,
All this time Judge Cummings held
his hand a telegram, which he did nj
then read. However, he read it later.
DIR. /. L. Van Xandt-Mr. Chairman
to do away with any charge of polite
in the meeting, move that the commi
tee of three to be appointed do not n
port prior to November 4.
Seconded by Judge Cummings.
Several hot speeches followed.
BY this time the meeting was red no
despite all the eloquence advanced !
the shape of appeals for mercy for II
governor the body was impatient 81
ting near the chairman was Col. II.
Wynne. He was agitated and restles
1t was Col. Wynne who had introduce
Governor Culberson to the audience IL
night he made his speech here. Al
dressing the chair and then the body, l
said:
at is needless for me to assure yC
of NV devotion to the Lost Cause.
is not for me to declare that l upho
any mortal man at any time who aspers'
Confederate soldier. While this
true, my friends, let us not be betray'
or led by partisan strife, Let us n
be led into lending our aid to poltlc
party. The leader of the populist par
stood at Dallas and charged IN su