Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-21
THE VEIL DROPPED
FROM THE CONFEDERATE MONU-
MENT AT PARKsLEY.
EASTERN SHORES GREAT DAY,
A vast Crowd In Attendance-The
mastery Grafton of Hon. II. II. Num-
'orh-Dinner servcd-CaIIinr the
Roll of Heroes

/ ONANCoCK, VA. October 2o.-(Spe-
cial)-A faultless day brought together
an immense throng Of people from ali
parts Of the Eastern Shore to witness the
ceremonies connected with the unwilling
OF the Confederate monument at Parks
ley. Special trains we're run both from
the North and South and great numbers
Of persons came in by wheeled vehicles
OF every kind. a large Confederate flag
Heated from pole seyenty-fve feet high.
Confederate flags were everywhere, q
battle-fiag waving in the breeze from the
speakers stand.
mo exercises began with prayer from
Rev. Mr.. Griffith, an old Confederate SOL
der, after which the orator of the occa-
sion, Beverley Il. MunfOrd, of Richmond.
was introduced by j. c. Weaver and de-
liyered to an intensely interested audi
ence one Of the most mastery addresses
ever heard in this county He reviewed
the history Of the country, and particu-
larry the part taken by Virginia from its
origin as an independent government up
to the close of the great civil war. He
spoke particularly Of the framing and
adoption Of the Federal Constitution, and
Of tho right Of the several States under
il, and declared emphatically that all tho
powers OF the Federal Government were
delegated. and were not inherent. lie
treated in a most comprehensive manner
of the origin Of secession and the ques-
ton OF slavery, and denied vehemently
the oft-repeated assertion that the south
ern soldier fought TO maintain slavery.
He also declared as untrue the common
iy-accepted theory that Mr.. Lincoln
waged the war in order 10 crush the in
stitution OF slavery. On the contrary, he
said, he was willing that the system
should continue in part or the whole Of
thu seeding States, If thereby the Union
could only be perpetuated. 1t is impossi-
BILE here to present an adequate review of
this great speech, but it is no disparag-
ment to other great speakers, who have
made on the Shore addresses of q similar
character, 10 say that this was one Of the
strongest and most comprehensive state
ments of the southern view of the great
questions that arose before and during
the war ever listened 10 by an audience
on this side OF the Chesapeake.
Mr.. Munford was often heartily ap-
plauded during the delivery of his ad-
dress, and was warmly congratulated at
ito close.
At tho conclusion OF the grafton by Mr.
Munford dinner was announced by Rev
Mr.. Grimsley. The dinner was served by
the ladies of Parksley, assisted by many
from other parts from the State after
which Mr.. Grimsley made a short address
and appealed to the vast audience for
contributions to aid in defraying the cost
OF the monument. The people responded
generously TO this appeal, and quite a
handsome sum was contributed Imme-
diately after this the adjutant OF Harm
son-West Camp, John II. Wise, called the
incomplete roll OF tho southern soldiers
from this Shore from the base OF the
monument. OF this partial list OF about
800 souls there were but comparatively
few 10 answer to their names Instead OF
tho answer present" there was often
heard In response from some comrade the
words dead. killed before Petersburg, kill
ed at the Crater Malvern Hill, Cold Har-
Dor. Gettysburg, or Seven Pines; died in
hospital, and so on.
After the muster OF the veterans Miss
Margaret West, daughter OF General NJ.
w. West, recently deceased, and sister OF
Ohio X. West, one Of the war heroes, for
whom the camp is named, assembled the
platform, and, pulling n card. unveiled
the monument amidst the cheers of the
multitude and the boom OF the cannon
stationed at its base. A description OF
tho monument has already appeared in
tho Dispatch.