The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-06-23
CONFEDERATE VETERANS

Hold n Reunion ~ the NaIhviIle EEPo'i
ttoa Juhsr HssEan's AddFSsS on the lie
sults Of the War-Ho Defends this Action
Of the aoaih aud Rs'snt' the APp''ea,
tion Of the Terms "Rsbsl and Traii'F''
NASHVILLE, Tenn. June 22,-Many
special trains arrived to-day with eX-
Confederate soldiers and friends who
some for the purpose of attending the
annual reunion OF the noted confeder-
ate veterans The regular trains were
run In sections In order to nccommo-
date the very heavy demand for trans
portatlon.
Rain fell during the morning. but che
weather cleared somewhat toward
noon. The ex-Confederate soldiers
spent the morning in attending the re-
union at the tabernacle and meeting
old comrades.
Prominent among those who were
seated on the platform were General
stephen d. Lee. OF Mississippi; Judge
]. II. Reagen of Texas. the only sur
ylying member OF Jefferson Davis cab
met; Colonel A. S. Colyard and DR..
Thomas Menecs. of Nashville. and Hon.
j. d. c. Atkins. surviving members of
the Confederate congress; Hon. Marcus
]. Wright. of Washington; General 81
mon b. Buckner. OF Kentucky; Colonel
Henry c. Myers. Colonel Lake, Colonel
Helm, OF Memphis; General Z. p.
sykes, OF Mississippi; Colonel Howard
Of Georgia: General Moorman, Of New
orleans; Colonel Baxter smith,of Nash
vile; General W. B. Bate. Colonel John
H. savage. OF Tennessee; Or. William
Jones. chaplain OF the United ConLeder-
ate Veterans. General Clement Evans
OF Georgia. and General Joseph Wheel
er. OF Alabama.
Robert Z. Lee. jr., a grandson OF
General Robert r. Lee. also occupied a
prominent place on the platform. a
son OF General Hood was also present
Both OF these young men were shown
marked attention by the veterans: Gen
eraI John r. Gordon, arrived during
the morning and was given an enthu-
slAstlc reception.
The assemblage was addressed by
Judge Regain, OF Texas. who said, In
part:
teFesting occasion calls up many mein-
cries OF great events-earnest discuss
ion which preceded the year 1851 the
action OF the southern states IN pass
ing the ordinance OF secession; the or
gnn!zatlon OF the government OF the
Confederate states: the commencement
OF hosulities: the enthusiasm on both
sides; the assembling OF mighty ar
mics; the greatest war OF modern
Why all this strife and suffering and
death between a people OF the same
country. the same race. and In geneF-
al way, OF the same political and rellg-
Ious opinions? An inheritance from the
governments OF Europe and from our
ancestors had raised a question inVolV-
ing too much OF property ve!ne 10 ad-
nit OF adjustment in the ordinary
methods OF negotiations and compro-
mise. and its decision was therefore
submitted 20 the a.bitrament Of war.
The facts OF the storm Vindichte US
against the charge OF being either re-
bels or traitors. and show that We were
not the authors OF "a cRuseless war.
brought about by ambitious leaders
hut that our brave men fought ana
suffered and died. and our holy men Of
God prayed. and our noble women sui
fered patiently and periodically all the
privations and horrors OF a great war
cruelty forced upon US. for the purpose
OF unfolding the constitution and laws
OF the United States. as preserving the
rights OF the several states TO regulate
their own domestic policies and OF
protecting the people against spollaton
and robbery by a dominant majority
some Of whose members because the
Holy Bible sanctioned slavery. declar-
I'd that they wanted an 'anti-slayery
Bible and antl-slavery God and who
because the constitution OF the United
states recognized and protected slav-
cry. declared that It was league VITA
hell and covenant with death"
Whatever may have been said In the
past in the defense OF the institution OF
slavery. and whatever may now be
thought az the means by which i was
abolished In this country. the spirit OF
the present ngc is against It. and It has
nassed away. and l suppose no one
wishes It's restoration II that were practi-
cable. Certainly / would not restore It
N / had the power. I think II better
FOR the black race that they are free
and I am sure It is better for the white
race that there are no slaves.
The restoration OF peace, good gov,
eminent the rule OF law. and OF good