Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-21
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
CONGRESSMAN LANHAM SPEAKS ON
CONFEDERATE TOPICS.
HEARTILY WELCOMED BY LEE CAMP
His Eloquent Address Rouses His
Hearers 90 Enthuslasm--Apoth
Natc soldier and Southern Women.

0i Lee uhW b"'iS-EuioSN Ior ri
Natc soldier and Southern Women.
IN Loo-Camp Hall, which has been the
theatre Of so many events of surprising
interest in their relation to Confederate
history. there was delivered last night
one Of the most scinuIating. nluminative
addresses on the cause Of the South and
It's defenders that has been heard in this
city.
The distinguished Congressman from
Texas. Hon. Samuel w. IT. Banham, was
the orator OF the occasion. He came in
response 10 an invitation from the vete-
rams. which had been prompted by Cap
tain John Lamb, congressman from this
district Captain Lamb had promised the
camp a rare trea. IL his friend could be
induced 10 appear before it, and his pro-
mise was well fulfilled. When the mer-
curry is ranging the nineties that enthu-
sIasm must indeed be spontaneous that
rises above It, and Sergeant Lanham-
for so he delighted TO dub himself-must
have been more than gratiied at the eff
1ect his words produced upon his hear
ers.
The address could not be called "a con-
tubution TO history" but it was the pro-
duct Of a mind that is not bounded by the
narrow limits Of conventionality, and it
detailed impressions gathered by per-
sonal experiences. The audience was dis
appointingy small, a fact that did not
disconcert the visitor or detract from the
enjoyment Of the hour.
PRESENTED BY CAPTAIN LAMB.
The usual business session preceded the
introduction Of the speaker, the only fea~
ture of interest being the election of Cap
tain Jeter Bosher as a member of the
Board OF Visitors of the Soldiers Home
in the place of Nlr. J. b. Mckinney, de-
ceased. Captain Lamb. introducing Con-
gresham Lanham, said:
The highest enjoyment of an earthly
Character comes through the contribu-
lions we are able to make to the COM
fort and pleasure Of our fellows. I'M
PEELED by this sentiment, l have pre-
vailed upon friend and colleague TO en-
tertain you, and am thankful Tor TINS
audience. When the extra session or
the Fifty-fifth Congress assembled, ana
the interesting and somewhat exciting
ceremony Of drawing seats was over
looked around upon my colleagues, ana
could only see three or four faces that
had ever looked upon before On my
I.fl sat a rliddle-aged and digntiied gen
tlcman, who. quickly turning, SAID IN a
pleasant voice: MAY 1 enquire who IS
10 be my deskmate for this Congress-
Giving my innocent name, with the sup
element From Virginia sir, ana the
District he grasped my hand
warmly. and said: Il am glad 10 meet
Virginians always; i love the old state,
and fought all through her valleys ana
over her hilltops." From that DAY 10
this i have found a warm friend ana
safe adviser, and an able representative
in the person Of the distinguished gehtle-
man who honors us with his presence to-
night He comes from the Lone star
srate in which Virginia feels such an /
abiding interest; for under the admins
t-atiOn OF President Tyler the resolutions /
were passed and approved that led TO the
annexation Of the State Of Texas. LIKE /
many OF the sIflendid representatives !
~ that magnificent Commonwealth, ne /
was reared in another state. A son /
and soldier Of the Palmetto State, ne l
.erved his country faithfully, and after !
The war migrated 10 Texas, as MANY ol /
.s saw Coke, of blessed memory, 40 /
md watched him carve his name upon |
DE roll OF fame high among the CIVIC |
heroes OF this age. , 4. |
With sincere pleasure. ] introduce TO 4
,9u The Hon Samuel W. T. Lanham, Oh
Texas.
HOPES FOR PEACE SOON.
Congressman Lanham. briefly acknowl-
adcing this introduction, expressed the
pleasure he always felt in being with con-
tolerate soldiers.
eve are now so absorbed with war That
Il seems proper 10 talk OF warriors.
hone this war will be short, and that the
victory will come 10 our arms anu We
nav have peace with all the nations OF
.he earth ifrbe time has come when II
levolved upon US, as a Christian nation |
10 pluck the Spanish beak out OF the Cu-
ban heart, and ] hope IL may be reserved
Tor your eminent citizen, now MAJOR
he adios Of General Blanco as ne re-
.res from the island. (Applause) 1ruth
Isl stronger than fiction. continued the
.U-aker. 1--WE are making history now.
little did we think thirty years ago ,hat
Confederate general would be made
ederal majOr-general. To-day we nave
.0mmon interests and common enemy
md he drew a parallel between tne coah-
Ion Of the descendants OF Wllnam the
'OnQueror and Harold. OF England ana
he present day spectacle OF a grandson
n General Grant serving on the stan OF
ieneral Fitzhugh Lee.
SPEAK TO OLD SOLDIERS.
His mission. Mr.. Lanham said; was
lot % discuss present conditions, Dut 70
peak 20 old soldiers. He was proud 10
be- a citizen OF the Union, and ne was
oval 10 his citizenship: but he was proud
IF the men Of the past. He spoke OF ms
rst Impressions as a Confederate solulef,
md the causes that relieved him or THESE
IMPRESSIONS as the war waged on: ne
ever could forget. he said the knlsntiy
caring Of the great C3ptain-Genefal OF
De- Federal army, after the capitulatioh
md his simple words Let us nave
CAGE" or the fact that he had CHOSEN
General Johnson 10 be one OF ms p4l-
carers. These things help me, ne salu
and with charity toward all and nance
Vwards none. the worthy ana honoraprs
Dlects Of Confederate camps Will not DC
dyersoly criticised. We should never
ave known the full genius OF Grant
herman. and Sheridan but for the match-
~ genius and herOism Of Lee, jackson,
nd Albert Sidney Johnston" (AppiauSe''
FLAGS TELL THEIR STORY.
In the archives OF the War Department.
e continued may be found te" OF 81
9rn and tattered battlehags, stained WIN
ne blood Of heroes. They tell their own
lory IL Is now more than thirty-tnfee
ears, the average life OF Eenerauon'
ince Robert r. Lee, whose name J az
'ays speak with reverence, and IN whose
essence 1 would stand uncovered, oenF-'