Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-25
GRAND COMMANDER MAURY's
GPEEEH

10 his response 10 the epeecn OF wei
come extended the Grand Camp Con-
federate Velersns by The Mayor OF
Petersburg on Wednesday Graad Com
mander X. L. Muury seid:
1T is susely good fer US all to be
mere. This sssemblsge il 40 object
lesson fruitful Of struciion 10 every
bsholder Whcn caunOt out impress the
minds OF all, or fail TO remove many aD
erroneous belief. and correct many o
h,lse aching. You do well to invite
us to your st, and TO do US honor
t~us conspicously 10 the sight OF your
children.
Tns results Of the war we're such ss
TO seen TO mauy to discredit the Wis
d om Of our course. Supreme az had
Deen the thort, exalted the patriotism,
glorious the struggle and imperishsbe
our reputation as warriors. no other
fruits were manifest. To many, death
and destruction, poverty and ruin,
seemed 10 have been VirgiDia's only
portion, the only tangible results. Ma
lersl loss, and the long and terrible
COT 9 CT midst hardship and privaiion
which followed, perverted and warped
ne judgmen. of many whose whole at
teutlou was given 10 the channels OF
work, rather than of thought, leaving
90 time FROM daily struggle for daily
bread for the consideration OF matters
past aud gone.
Mid such surroundings in these years
a generation hes Ihatured, accustomed
TO attribute hll their many trials aod
much of tie suffering and destitution
wDich appeared on every hand, to the
IS 5 # tao war, without psrceiviDg
10y bens fiis ettsiUed thereby, Who not
nooatuTslly have inclined TO cou de mn
that winch brought such suffering aod
10 censure their fathers for resorting to
arms as unwise, foolish aud unprofta.
bic, tbai our foes we're as good soldiers
az we, feeling and often declaring sat-
sfsctIoD that they failed.
The charges Thus made 10 the house
OF our friends, hsvs served as strongest
argument to sus ain the victors' tre-
quent cain that We were turbulent in
aurgents uUsble to decide for ourselves
what was btst for ourselves, In sense-
less rebrllion sgsiDs. the best OF govern
meut psternally protecting US from our
lwn cross ignorance!
Suoh conclusions though not openly
conct ded are the necessary consequences
Of " ba. so ma Y feel and say and there
fore veterans ers glad of every oppor-
uoily 10 publicly protest, by gathering
publicly together as CoDfe lerates
against such sspeTsions and by their &c
lions to manifest their pride 10 spot
ess record never surpassed. Had they
been foolish 10 youth would not age have
aught them betler by uow2 Surely none
ara more qualified to judge their CON =
rsdes aud counirymeD, than these gray
deads VINO were tbemselves OF the times
10 which they lived, aud so Of best IN
derstaudiog of passing events, than
| any now can be, and whose worldly In
| leTests III the past are all too slender 10
prevent their judgment Dow. Their
| coming here from lll parts OF the State
| 10 these numbers, feeble aud battered
IS th are, speak volumes. They were
me Veritsb . actors 10 tbess awful
| umes, they are those who did and
dared, who Suffered most and Lost ell,
who on the briuk OF 1be grave, with H.
creasiug ibditi 5rence TO ali worldly mat
ftrs, suli declare that their lite in The
var was the best of their days, and
that never since have they been trutr
TO duty iban then. They are not ssham'
ed, but proud, and feel that their rich
| eel heritage TO children is the record Oi
their faithful service in defence OF Vlr'
| SiDia.
gneir ptesepce here today AID your
,utstre,cn' d h.uds 10 meet ,bsm now,
esIly If 0ouor, bravery, true patriot
| islD, vi all tnal Is uest aud nODlest, and
most convluce many youth of error
/ no judgment and send him to the book
| for truth wn+re be will learn as ma, }
even 10 the North are learning and ao'
kno v ed siug that the VIrgiOians sftel
exnsusting every NE rs for pssceabl'
settlement OF fiereu ces Of years. Were
compelled to stand 10 defense OF tbeii
and d their liberties as they hsC
expressly reserved the right TO do
when they jliDed the UuioD; that they
| ala 81 VA a Dhuuci uuoui paScSu ~ hto
tory for WISDOM, pure patriotism, de
Voion and skill, and 10 doiOg so @er'
msnifesIly defending the coustitntioI
aud the laws OF the Uni.ed States a
written, and as Interpreted by th'
Supreme Court, against assaults. which
successful then, have encouraged other
sloce, uutll now that sacred instru
ment v 0icl V,rgigisns msde, no longe
controls aud scarcely restrsins.
If Virginia tbeo were not worthy o
v,oerstiOu, honor and imitation, coulC
this commuDity then gather to thei
praise and lsudstion, or would tn
head of the nation which hitherto hs
mslivped US ss rebels ard traitors car
10 declare In the North that be glorie
10 the deeds OF bis Confederate kir
and that our peerless Lee was peerles
iDdeed7 Had other people done wha
our men and women did, honor, dc
cora.iops, pensions and promotion
would have been the reward OF ever
cider man and woman you see. Their
are but a few of the former nc
SCARED with several wounds, or Ngh
haYe not done many deeds OF perseni
Idsring which kings delight to bono