Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-12
very largely attended. but was deeply in
tcrcsting
ONLY ONE SESSION.
winnie Davis Memorial Exercises
Wheeler's Address.

crcises. at the conclusion OF which an adj
tournment until 10 o'clock tomorrow was
taken. The announcement that General
Joseph Wheeler was to speak filled the
auditorium, and the hero of two wars
was given a rousing reception by the i'm
mense audience.
The delegates and visitors devoted the
afternoon to excursions to nearby re-
sorts. trips down the bay and social fInc-
uons ana tonight a concert was given
at the auditorium, whore a superb or
chesira rendered programme OF south
ern war songs.
General stephen d. Lees resolution. ac-
cepting President McKinley's suggestion
that the Federal Government should as
sumo the care Of Confederate graves, is
now In the hands OF the Committee on
Resolutions, to which 1t was referred
early In the forenoon. The committee
held protracted session, but reached no
final action. They will meet at s o'clock
tomorrow morning. and 1t is probable
the matter will be disposed of during the
morning session Of the convention.
The election Of officers will occur to-
morrow. General John Il. Gordon has no
opposition for reelection as commander
in-chlef, and his election will be- unani-
nous.
Perfect weather conditions continue,
and the reunion Is pronounced one of the
most ENJOYABLE and successful OF all OF
the eight that have been held. With re-
spect 10 the crowd. there have been no
disorders or accidents. and the police ar
rangements are In keeping with other
preparations made by the city for the re-
ceptiOn ana entertainment or the Vete-
rams.
The convention was slow in coming TO
order. IL being II 05 when the gavel fell.
II was opened with the doxology. follow
ed by a prayer by the Rev. DR.. Smith OF
StOnewall JacksOn's staff The prayer
was a most appropriate one. the Divine
blessing was invoked on the convention
and its rapidly-aging members. and Gods
blessing was asked on the widows OF the
cause
The recommendation of the members
of the Committees on Credentials and
Resolutions were called for The COM
mittees are as follows:
Committee on Resolutions-T. W. Car
vile, South Carolina; Colonel Benton H..
Young. Kentucky; General George REESE,
Fiorid Colonel Boiling Virginia; W. p.
Talley. Tennessee; James T. Coffin, Ar
kansas: Thomas Spaight. Mississippi; r..
W. Hunter District Of Columbia; James
r. Grove. Alabama; Colonel Davis Fable,
Louisiana: Colonel j. S. Sanders. Mis-
souri,; Colonel Green. Texas; James a.
Laffan, West Virginia; c. -. Rainwater.
Maryland: f. H. Busbee. North Carolina.
Committee on Credentiais-Major J. @.
Anderson. West Virginia; General Charles
c. Beaver. Texas: Major f. r. Blake,
Maryland: J. W. Noyes. louisiana; Colo
mel w. \. Gordon. District OF Columbia;
General Sam Pryor. Mississippi 7. f..
Stanley. Arkansas; General 5. g. Han.
North Carolina: T. A. Hamilton, Ala
bama: Samuel +. ClaybroOk, Tennessee;
General Boiling, Virginia; w. X. Cooper
Florida; James A. Hoyt. South Carolina;
James w. Bowles. Kentucky; General Jo-
seph Harding, Missouri.
A committee TO wait upon the Sons OF
Veterans was also appointed.
A committee Of Confederate veterans
appointed by the General Assembly Of
Florida. headed by Colonel Durant. pre-
scented 10 the body resolution of the
Florida Legislatures, urging some action
looking TO uniformity in the method or
granting pensions by the different states
TO disabled veterans.
ENTHUSIASM OVER WHEELER.
After some further general business
the feature OF to-days session took
place. Ii was General Wheeler's address,
and the scene that attended the Generals
was one OF frantic enthu-
siasm.
Advancing to the front of the platform.
General Gordon held up his hand, ana
absolute silence fell upon the vast audi
ence as he said;
Comrades have here a real treat
for YOU If should tell this convention
there is here the hero Of Santiago'-Gen-
eral Gordon could get no further. a wild
burst of applause Numbered forth, "rebeF'
yells split the air, and hats, canes, and
handkerchiefs were waved as the great
audience rose to its feet
Finally. securing quiet, General Gordon
spoke OF General Wheeler as 1.-The man
who at Santiago. held to the front place
the army and flag Of America"
Again the applause Numbered out, and,
rising. the assemblage continued cheer
ing until the scene was one OF the widest
that has ever marked a reunion Pro-
ceeding. General Gordon designated
Wheeler as zone of the widest wizards
Of the Confederacy." and then repeated
the apochrypal story Of the famous little
cayalryman. when ar Santiago he ex-
claimed. as the Spanish lines broke, For
ward. boys, the Yankees are running"
and again the applause broke out.
WHEELER WEARS SPANISH COLORS.
The audience rose as General Wheeler
stepped forward, apparently much affect
ed He wore a black Prince Albert
suit, with badges on each lapel of his
coat. one was yellow, by chance. and
the other was red. He spoke deliberate
ly. calmly. and clearly. the audience Civ
ing him close attention. His reference
TO the general sorrow caused by the death
OF Winnie Davis affected many TO tears.
General Wheeler said in part:
WHEELER's ADDRESS.
1.-The history of our country. when
compared with that OF all the eras that
have preceded US. shows that our civili-
cation has produced the highest class OF
men and the nOblest type Of soldiers. The
very idea OF liberty nerves the soul and
fires the heart Defeat but exasperates,
adding desperation TO vigor and energy
10 determined resolve.
1T was the teaching Of fathers and
mothers who fed from the oppression OF
caste and class braved the unfathomed
ocean. and landed upon these shores. con-
fronted By wild beasts and savage In
dams. that the highest honor and great
est privilege was 10 fight Tor country, us
safety. and its honor.
III the people Of the North excel IN
some qualities, IL is also true that those
OF the South excel in others IL has been
said that tenacity OF purpose. thrift ana
perseverance predominant in the northern
character. This may probably be so. but
II Is also true that other characteristics
are more noticeable among the people OF
the South"
General Wheeler declared that the mill
ltary history of the southern people has
been q prominent feature in history from
the first settlement Of this country. lie
cited Washington and the other southern
Of the Revolution; Winfield
Scott. Andrew Jackson. and the other
heroes OF the war with Mexico, and then
to the war between the states he
said: -
NO GREATER HEROES.
"The battle-scarred veterans. who.
during four years OF bloody warfare daZ-