Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-23
MANY SPECIAL TRAINS.
Prominent Confedcrates in Attend
ance-Judge RcaGan's Address.

NnCf-JudEe hfNAHn
NASHVILLE. TENN. June 22.-Many
special trains arrived to-day with ex-
confederate soldiers and friends, who
came FOR the purpose Of attending the
annual reunion Of the Confederate vete-
Iars The regular trains were run in
sections. in order TO accommodate the
very heavy demand for transportation.
Rain fell during the morning, but the
weather cleared somewhat toward noon.
The ex-Confederate soldiers spent the
morning IN attending the reunion at the
tabernacle and meeting old comrades.
Prominent among those on the platform
we've General stephen l.. Lee. Of Mis-
sssipp.: Judge j. n. Reagan. Of Texas.
The only surviving member Of Jefferson
Iavlss cabinet: Colonel \ 5. COlyar and
Dr. Thomas Mendes. Of Nashville, and
Hon. j. d. c. Atkins. surviving members
~ tine Confederate Congress; Hon. Mar
Gus d. Wright OF Washington; General
Simon b. Buckner. Of Kentucky; Colonel
Henry c. VI. Meyers Colonel Lake, Colo
mel Helm. Of Memphis: General T.. p
Skies Of Mississippi. Colonel Howard
Of Georgia: General Norman. Of New
Orleans: Colonel Baxter Smith. of Nash
vile. General W. +. Bate. Colonel John
~ Savage. Of Tennessee; d.. j. VIII
lam Jones. chaplain Of the United Con-
Tolerate Veterans; General Clement
Evans. of Georgia. and General Joseph
Wheeler Of Alabama.
Robert r. Lee. Jr a grandson Of Gene
RAJ Robert =. Lee, also occupied promi-
nent place on the platform. and a son
of General Hood was present. Both of
these young men were shown marked
attention by the veterans.
General John y. Gordon arrived during
.he morning. and was given an enthusas-
lc reception.
The assemblage was called to order
by General Gordon. and prayer was Of
Tered by DR.. Jones. the chaplain. Cover
nor Taylor delivered an address OF well
come in behalf Of the state; Judge Fer
OBS spoke for The county and Bishop
fitzgerald. who represented Mayor Nc
Carthy. spoke for the city. Captain J.
D. ORrisn. chairman OF the Executive
Committee. made some announcements,
inl also welcomed the visitors. General
iofdon spoke briefly.
Judge Reagan then delivered the fol-
lowing address:
JUDGE REAGAN'S SPEECH.
Judge John H. Reagan, OF Texas. said
iu part. This great assemblage and
Obs interesting occasion call up many
memories OF great events-of earnest
discussion. which preceded the year 1851;
ihe action OF the Southern States IN
passing ordinances of secession; the or
gal.zauon Of the Government OF the
Confederate States; the commencement
o. hostilties the enthusiasm on both
sides: the assembling Of mighty armies;
tae greatest war OF modern times. Why
'l This strife and suffering and death
between a people OF the same country.
.le same race. and. in a general way,
Of the same political and religious
opinions? An Inheritance from the gov
arnmcnts OF Europe and from our an
resfcTs had raised question involving
100 much OF property value 10 ADMIT
o. adjustment IN the ordinary methods
Of negotiation and compromise. Ana us
decision was. therefore, submitted 10 the
arbitrament OF war. The facts OF his
tory ylndicate US against the charge OF
being either rebels or traitors. and snow
Thar we we're not authors OF "a cause
less war" brought about by AMBITIOUS
leaders but that our brave men, foush'
ana suffered and died. and our holy men
o. God prayed. and our noble women
suffered patiently and periodically all
the privations and horrors OF great
war, cruelty forced upon us. for the pur-
pose Of UNFOLDING the Constitution and
laws o. the United States. preserving
ihe rights Of the several States 10 regu-
late their own domestic policies
and OF protecting their people against
Hpolation and robbery by domi-
nant majority, some Of whose mem
bers, because the Holy Bible sane
toned slavery, declared that they
wanted an "ansl-slavery Bible and an
sn'i-slayery Cod and who. because the
rons'inrinn OF the United States recog-