The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-22
RIGHT T0SECEDE
WASINALIENABLE
Judge WeIIford's Splendid Address
Before the Sons.
FEAST OF INTELLECT AND MUSIC
The Sons of Veterans Furnish Their
Friends with an Evening Of Rare
Enioyment-JudgeW clIford's
Eloquent Uuerances.

Cd by the large audience WHICH hiieu beo
Camp Hall last night. The sons OF vet
erans OF Lee Camp had arranged a pro-
sramme which comprised an intellectual
and musical feast. and there were pres
ont 20 enjoy It q large number of ladies'.
and many OF the members Of Lee ana
Pickett Camps. while the Sons OF Netei-
ans turned out IN fun force.
The intellectual feast was presented IN
the shape Of an address by Hon. h. X.
Wexford. Jr. judge OF the Circuit Court
Of the city. who discussed In a most IN
teresting and instructive manner the ms
tory Of secession and the causes which lea
mn 10 IL. Judge Wexford is a forciole.
eloquent speaker. and his address was
received With great enthusiasm.
After the formal opening exercises OF
the Camp. the programme Of the evening
was begun with well-executed muslcal
number. rendered by the "Evensen
Brothers" two little sons Of Mr.. Chris.
Evensen. consisting Of Dixie. perform
cd on a violin with piano accompaniment.
NUDGE WEXFORD PRESENTED.
Capt. +. 3. Thomson then presented
10 the audience the orator OF the evening
Judge b. X. Wexford, IN so doing he
called attention 70 the importance OF the
present generation being familiar with
the causes which led up 10 the war. In
order that they might be fully and COM
pletely convinced Of the justice OF the
principles for which they fought. He
paid a well deserved tribute 10 Judge
Wexford as a brave soldier and man Of
great learning.
The most solemn obligation which rest
ed upon a people. said Judge Wexford In
opening his address. was TO preserve the
memory OF the deeds Of its heroic ances-
tors. and the nation which neglected 10
Go that was on the downward path lead
ing 10 dshonor Fillal love and piety. he
said. was the most solemn duty The
command Honor thy father and thy
mother" was the only one in the Deca-
logue coupled with a promise, and in
honoring the memory and perpetuaiing
tho noble deeds OF their fathers the Sons
OF Veterans had a right TO expect long
life
I'm the midst Of the war clouds which
ere now gathering around us" said the
speaker. "and when the arm of every
loyal son may be needed to uphold the
honor Of the Union. the record OF your
fathers will be accepted as an earnest or
what the record Of the Sons will be.
OUR FITZ."
And our Fitz." he continued. In
hurst OF eloquence "a representative OF
Virginia. stands to-day before the world,
a representative of the honor of the ma
ton"
Continuing the speaker said that the
purpose Of Providence in the late war was
TO extirpate the curse Of slavery fasten-
ed upon the South by the greed OF the
traders. Gods hand could be plainly seen
in the pages OF history In accomplishing
this result
Judge Wexford then went on TO discuss
the causes Of the war. The Southern peo-
pie. he said did not fight for the continu-
ance of slavery The war was fought
from start TO finish upon one single prin-
ciple-a principle written in the very foun-
CATION Of government. The people fought
the war for independence. They claimed
the right 70 establish their own .astitu-
tons and 10 remodel them al their pleas
urea right which their fathers had won
Ia the Revolutionary war, and handed
down 10 them.
Judge Wexford then took up the subject
OF history, which, he said. had been in
correctly written His friend. Dr. ]. Will
liam Jones. ne said had written
cellent history. but he had fallen into the
same error Of other historians who wrote
the story Of the country as though all the
States were settled at the same time. The
proper way. he said was 10 take the col
ony of Virginia from its foundation and
to write its history up to the time Of its
union with other States giving the terms
Of that union. The same plan should be
pursued with other States and then a cor
rect history would be secured.
RIGHT TO SECEDE.
The speaker then went back TO the time
OF the settlement Of Virginia and in an
all .ltf4 fl,.
or Importance bearing on his subject
showing deep research and wonderful
memory. lie gradually led up to the
adoption Of the constitution OF the Unit
ed States and drew especial attention 10
the clause concedlng The 'inanenable
right Of State to secede."
He showed how eleven States had
adopted the constitution. while two States
Rhode Island and North Carolina-had
refused.
"Whereupon." he said. the eleven
States Immediately seeded from the two
and according to modern logic were rebel
and seceders from the Union represented
by the two"
Judge Wexford then took up the Bill of
Rights, adopted by the grandest body Of
men who ever assembled, among them
John Marshall, james Monroe and James
Madison the fathers OF the constitution.
Going ON, he explained the adoption of
the constitution. its provisions and de-
clared that II was upon the assurance of
her right TO seccde at any moment that
Virginia acceded 10 II. He then showed
that while the Confederate States had
clearly acted within the constitution in
seeding the Northern States in attempt
liz 70 coerce them wers trampling direct
~ mon the provisions OF that instru-
ment.
In closing his splendid address. Judge
Wexford said that from his brief review
be thought there could be no doubt OF
the right of the Southern States 20 secede.
and that the war against them was wick
ed in the extreme. Re then touched
briefly upon the immediate causes OF the
war and told OF the stormy period just
prior 20 it's declaration.
this is fun subject" he said, "but
the derner we % and the more 1t is probed
the moro justification there Is found for
the action or the heroes OF 1N6i-'65."
He closed with p beautiful tribute TO
the loyalty and patriotism of the women
OF virginia In the tins that tried mems
souls.
The audience testified it's appreciation
OF Judge Weilford's splendid address by
a rising vote OF thanks
MILLER COMBINATION.
Then came the musical rart OF the
programms-the inimitable "Tony Miller
Continuation" which led of with the in
splring tune Downtown Girls. Won't
You Come out Tonight" followed up
BY "A Hot Tine In The Old Town To-
night." and other equally lively airs.
Mr.. Eugene Davis 10 the accompani-
ment OF his banjo caught the audience