Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-22
CAUSE OF SECESSION.
JUDGE wELLFoRD DISCUSSED THIS
QUESTION LAST NIGHT.
REFERS 10 GEN. LIB As "OUs PYz.'
The Sons of Veterans and Larss
Audience Listen to che Splendid
Address-occassion EnIivened With
Music.
Music.

1
when Judge Beverly X. Wexford. Jf., de-
liyered before the Sons of Veterans an
| interesting address on the History OF the
| Secession and the Causes That Led Up to
| It," The Judges discourse was a splen-
did effort, and he gave a clear outline OF
| the conditions existing in 1850 and 1861,
! which caused the civil strife.
| The proceedings were opened with
! prayer by Chaplain Cooke, after which
the Evenson brothers. two lads. rendered
a piano and violin duet. when was a very
creditable performance and highly en-
joyed.
Captain +. 3. Thomason introduced tho
orator OF the evening. In doing SO no
stated the objects of the camp one OF
which was TO see that the true history of
the great struggle was told to coming
generations. 1t was with the latter OBJ
ject in view that Judge Wexford had
been invited to address the organization.
BEAUTY OF FILIAL PIETY.
Judge Wexford. when the applause with
which he was greeted had subsidized, said
that the highest of all social positions
was hlial piety. Accepting that duty as
its landmark. the camp had a right to ex-
pect long life to their organization. There
had been time. said the speaker, when
he had finished his Introductory remarks.
when the South had not been given her
due, but now, when the war-clouds wera
lowering over the country, there was no
hestant voice upon the position witch
the Sons Of the South would occupy, and
the vilest South-hater accepted now "the
records of your Confederate sires as a
guarantee of the records which the Sons
Will make I'm the hour OF need" And
this whole South,' said he, from the pa
cltc to the Atlantic. from tie lakes To-
the CULTS, thrills with patriotic pride and
gratitude 10 that typical Confederate
general holding up at his post the inter-
ests of this country. our Fitz, another
representative of Virginia, stands to-day
before America and the wonld as the rep-
resentatve of the honor Of the American
nation" Great applause)
LET HISTORY BE TRUE.
The purpose OF the organization which
he was addressing, he said, was TO make
true record of the past. you mean
to Insist that history shall be planted
Apph Nht bfd-ibSh ttcfnbl Inc
people OF the South" said he. did not
fight for the perpetuation OF slavery,
In the very act OF secession they
abandoned all idea OF extending the area
OF slave territory. They gave no all the
territories to the North; they inserted In
their Constitution an inhibition against
the Importation of slaves. The United
States Constitution LETT It permissive with
Congress To tolerate the slave trade. BUT
AZ
upon one single principle. a principle
which commends itself TO the conscience
and 10 the brains Of every American
citizen, which Is written I'm the founda-
ton of the American Government, and
to which, up to 1861, the people OF tho
United States were pledged by every
ltterance Of it's government, and by every
act of the Executive, or Congress. The
people of the South fought this war for
They claimed the right
10 establish their own institutions and
10 remodel them at their own pleasure.
They claimed IL was a right which their
fathers had taught them was the natural
right of mankind They claimed IL as a
light that their fathers had assured and
gon for them. and at the same time won
or the States OF the North. in the Reyo-
utionary war"
OUR BILL OF RIGHTS.
The trouble at present was, the speaker
vent on to say that the history was in
correctly written He thought DR.. j.
William Jones (who was presenO would
gree wsth him in the statement. Judge
Wexford showed that under the Virginia
Ban Of Rights, "the first bill OF rights
yer adopted by free people" that tho
PEOPLE of this State had just grounds
or protesting against the action OF the
Worth.
This Bill of Rights was adopted and
eaffirmed," said he, without the dotting
4 an 'P' or the crossing Of "t" by
hat grand convention OF Virginia states
nep, the greatest body OF men that ever
at upon the American Continent, which
ssembled here and adopted the Consti-
ution Of 1879, among them John Mar
hail. James Madison, and James Monroe.
he fathers of the Constitution"
Judge Wexford covered at length tho
auses of the late war, and stated the
rounds Of the Southern States for seced-
lg.
In concluding, the speaker said there
ould be no question that secession was
right, and that when the Gulf states
hose 10 secede, IL was a matter OF choice
18th themselves, and their decision OF Ii
loula have closed the question. war
gainst them" said he, "was wicked"
Judge Welfords remarks were long
nd heartily applauded, and vote OF
ranks was rendered him for his splendid
fort. Upon the conclusion OF the ad-
ress. the Tony Miller Combination en-
'rtained the audience for about half an
our with the rendition Of several in
selections, including a number
old-fashioned jigs and "break-downs."
at set many a foot moving 10 the tune
the lively music.