The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-19
General Sanford Made
 Welcoming Speech.
Escorted by Famous Military Com. mand, Richmond Howitzers, the
 Confederates of old Dominion .. Were Cordially Received.

One hundred and fifty gallant veterans of Richmond, Va, escorted by battery of Virginia artillerists, the famous Rich mond Howitzers. stopping over in Mont gorhery for several hours en route to the Confederate reunion at New Orleans, were yesterday morning welcomed to the first capital of the Confederacy by Mont gomery veterans. militiamen and citi- zens.
 The Virginians were in Montgomery but few hours but during that time they were handsomely treaed by Montgomeri- l ans. On leaving the city they expressed | themselves as highly delighted with Montgomery and its hospitality. The party arrived in Montgomery from Atlanta at an early hour yesterday morn- ing but did not leave their special train until about o'clock when they were greeted at the depot by Reception Com- mittee from Camps Lomax and Faikner, the Montgomery Blues, the Montgomery Greys, the Montgomery Mounted Rifles and the Commercial and Industrial Asso- ciation.
 
 mand of Capt. William M. Myers and the committee from the local military com panies, the veterans and the rest of the Reception Committee formed in column of twos and marched to the head of the underpass,- where street cars were board ed.
 The party was taken to the Capitol. On the way the air was made lively by mar tial bugle calls from the instruments of rdi nd D rf1i fa ther and son, who are the battery musi- clans.
 At State Capitol. When the Capitol was reached the party was welcomed by number of State offi- cials. the Governor being absent from | the city. and several minutes were spent | in viewing the relics in the rotunda and in the various offices.
 The assemblage finally entered the hall of the House of Representatives where | it was called to order by c. A. Lanier. chairman of the Committee on Reception. Mir. Lanier said that it was a source of great pleasure for him to welcome the | veterans, the ladies and the soldiers of the last capital of the Confederacy to the | first capital of the ill-starred republic and he assured the party that no more cordial | welcome was ever extended a party of visitors than the one he presented. MT. Lanier said that he would yield the floor to distinguished statesman. brave sol dier. and a gifted orator to welcome the party officially. l-e introduced Gen. John l w. A. Sanford.
 General Sanford Speaks. l General Sanford was greeted entuhsi- astically by the audience. General San | ford said in part:
 Tt is to be regretted that Governor Jelks is not here to extend to you the warm hospitality of Alabama and to ex- press in suitable terms the pleasure your presence bestows upon us.
 NO assembly of people could be more
 welcome than the citizens of Virginia Virginia! There is magic in the name. At ] the very sound of it the burial places of memory give up their dead, and a lau- rel crowned procession passes before us. In 1t we behold from the early days of Jamestown to this bright hour men and women who represent whatever is most daring in adventure; grandest in patriot ism; most heroic in conduct; wisest in statesmanship; most eloquent in oratory; profoundest in science; most exalted in character, and what is most splendid in a womanhood. not surpassed in the an nals of mankind. Therefore it is natural that we, citizens of the first capital of the Confederate States, should welcome with the utmost cordiality you, the sons and daughters of such people and people of the last capital of the youngest and most brilliant republic born of time.
 If anything could add to the joy of this occasion it is the presence of the women of Virginia. accompanied by the re- nowned Confederate veterans and escort | ed by the famous Richmond Howitzers.
 "Iel. Confederate Veterans, are now upon your annual pilgrimage to mingle with your former comrades in a distant city You are more fortunate than the pilgrims of other years. For wherever you march and wherever you rest you are among your kindred in blood, or with your brotherhood in arms. Right in this hall are some who stood side by side with you on many stricken field and crimsoned the soil of Virginia with their blood | Valor of Veterans.
 We have not forgotten your splendid
 valor, and spirit of se'f-immolation. We remembered how you stood like stone wall against the enemies of the Confed- eracy at Manassas. and how you repulsed them at Fredericksburg; and, with your comrades. drove them from the field of Charlottesville, to the music of the rebel yell, and climbed with us the hills of Chickamauga, and scaled the heights of Gettysburg. Your brief sojourn with | fn raIa ta