Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-02

Maryland band stopped play y4ng Mary land, My Maryland,' the band in the stand struck up Dixie" and then there was repetition of the widest cheering and genuine southern enthusiasm. When General Gordon had succeeded in restor- ing order Dr. Curry resumed his most in- tereSting address.
 pr. Curry concluded his address amid great applause. Resolutions of thanks were unanimously passed and 10000 cop ies of the address will be printed for dis tribution.
 General Gordon then announced that the regular business of the convention was in order and reports of committees would be heard.
 Gen. Stephen D. Lee then moved that the reading of all reports except the im- portant one of Adjutant General Moor man be dispensed with, which was adopted and the adjutant generals re- port was read.
 Adjutant Generals Report.
 It dealt in detail with the work of the general organization and the work done during the year. It showed that great progress had been made, that the number of camps had been largely increased and that the United Veterans were now in @ more fourishing condition than ever. It wound up with numerous recommends tions as to the discipline and work of the United Veterans, which, if carried out, will result in great benefits to the general body.
 During the morning there had been nu- merous calls for Gen. John c. Underwood of Chicago, and in view of the valuable services he had rendered in the great western city Gen. Stephen D. Lee moved that the constitution of the United Vet erans be so amended by unanimous con sent that the department of the north" be restored. The vote was put and there were several noes. One of the delegates made a speech against the restoration of the department of the north. The subject was finally disposed of by the chair ruling that the proceedings were out of order being contrary to the pro vision of the constitution for the amend ment of that instrument.
 Calls for General Underwood. were again renewed, and a committee was appointed to conduct him to the stand. He was presented in a very grace full speech by General Gordon, and was referred to as man who had taken care of more Confederate soldiers buried in the north than any other man. General Underwood made stirring patriotic speech, in which he pictured the condi- tion of the graves of the 5000 Confeder- ates buried in Chicago several years ago, and contrasted 1t with the beautiful spec tacle which the plot of ground contain ing those heroes presents today. He re- ferred to the fact that the first service he did in the Confederate army was in Richmond, city he came to as boy to defend, and where he cast his first vote. General Underwood gave a most interest ing account of his work in the preserva- tion of the graves of the Confederate dead in Chicago, and of the erection of the monument to their memory there about @ year ago.
 General Underwood is a native of Ken lucky His family were union people, os, h. " fn crh the south. He now lives in Chicago, and it was due to his efforts that the monu- ment was reared in that city in memory of the 5000 Confederate dead buried there. General Underwood is fine speaker, and made a beautiful address.
 When General Underwood had con- cluded, General Gordon, in a handsome speech, introduced
 Corporal James Tanner, maimed union soldier, who was present. He said he met him on one occasion com- ing to Richmond, and he asked him if he was not afraid to go there among those dangerous Johnnes. MT. Tanner said No, I'm not. A man ought not to be afraid to visit his own graveyard. l left two of my legs in Virginia, and think have right to go back to see where they are buried"
 eral Gordon then said: Comrades, you have pull a ball through his legs in the past, and now you will not put a ball through his heart"
 The corporal was cheered to the echo, and the band played Yankee Doodle" and Dixie"
 The scene in the convention at this time was one of the most inspiring and of the reunion. The corporal made a speech characteristic or the man and aroused the old Confederates to the utmost degree of excited patriotic feel ing. He began, My Fellow Veterans, and this was a hit. He related numer- ous anecdotes, beginning with stories of Malvern Hill and coming down to the present, all of which were humorous and exceedingly touching. He referred to the speech of General Underwood and the monument at Chicago, and said when he heard of the idea of erecting monu- ment over the 5000 men who rested on the shore of Lake Michigan he thought 1t was the best thing they could do, and he was glad to say that he would touch el- bows with them in so good cause. He then paid a most eloquent tribute to the women of the south-the now wrinkled women, but whe were still the girls or the south
 Speaking of the reunited country, he said he would like to see Gen. John B. Gordon in the White House. (Great cheers and prolonged applause) And ne believed if he was there that It would o@ institutions and government would be -banished from this hemisphere. He hoped that in the near future he would see a free and independent repub- lie in the beautiful island of Cuba. (Cheers.l
 The conclusion of Corporal Tanners speech was beautiful, touching, sublime and intensely patriotic. His appeal to the young people who are succeeding the veterans as the owners of the republic was extremely patriotic and well re- ceiyed by the big audience. and when he concluded the house rang again and again with cheers and the band played "Yankee Doodle and Dixie" This was the great event of the day and Tanner will long be remembered in every DOT ton of the south.
 General Cabell of Texas then read the report of the Davis monument commit tee, which included all that has been done up to the present in the way of collect ing funds selecting design and locat- ing a site in Monroe park, in the city of Richmond. for the monument This was and the report was adopted.
 Made Him Colonel.
 The next scene was the introduction of Mrs Jefferson Davis by Gen. Peyton Wise and Hon. J. Taylor Ellison. The band played Dixie" and Mrs. Davis, ac-