The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-08
REASON FOR
THE: Lee Bill
Offered to Cement Friendship
Of North and South.
THEY STRONGLY FAVOR 1T.
THEY STRONGLY FAVOR 1T
Senators Wickham and Hartman Make
Ringing Addresses for Placing a
Statue Of General Lee in
Statuary Hail.

Two great speeches were made in the
Senate yesterday in favor OF the Halsey
bill protiding for placing a statue OF
General Robert E. Lee In the Statuary
Hall in the Capitol at Washington. One
was delivered by Mr.. Wickham and the
other by Mr.. Harman, the one a Demo-
crat. the other Republican.
Mr., Wickham is the oldest Senator in
point or service,
He is,always listened to with the closest
attention. for he never speaks unless he
has something interesting to say.
The debate Of the day before had
aroused great interest, but it remained
Tor Mr.. Wickham to "clinch' the ar
guments In favor Of the measure. He
never made greater impression upon
an audience in his life. While he was
speaking not a Senator left hts seat.
Each one stopped reading or writing. All
conversation ceased. When Mr.. Wick
ham had concluded his address. the SEN
ate chamber rang out with applause, even
the pages Joining In. The Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor could hardly restrain himself. and
came very nearly Joining In the hand
clapping. even though he occupied the
presiding officers chair.
MIR. fIAFMAN'S ADDRESS.
When Mr.. Wickham had taken his seat
Mr.. Hartman was recognized. To follow
such a man as the Senator from Hanover,
and such a speech as he had made. was
no easy task, but when the Tazewell Sem
ator. one of the new members, tall, rath-
err sparely built with a flowing mustache
and alfred In the garb Of clergyman.
commenced his remarks another hush
fell over the body. Not a word was
spoken by. any one sare by the Senator
who was addressing the body Mr.. Har-
man received. at the close Of his remarks.
an ovation that almost equalled that ac-
corded Mr.. Wickham.
After the bill had been made the spe-
cIal continuing order for next Thursday.
the Senate Immediately adjourned. There
is hardly a shadow of doubt that the
bill will pass.
WHY ACT WAS OFFERED.
Mr.. Halsey wishes 1t to be understood
that his bill was not offered with a
purpose, or with the object Of offending
the Northern people, but. on the con-
trary. In q spirit of reconciliation OF the
two formerly divided sections OF the coun-
try. The best people OF the North. and
the great majority OF them. he is con-
vnced mean what they say when they
profess friendship for the South. Give
just. praise to the Southern heroes. and
manifest a desire to let past differences
be forgotten.
WICkHAM's FINE ADDRESS.
Mr.. Wickham's splendid address was
as follows:
Mr.. President:
81 realize that there is possibility
OF misconstruins the vote that will
be cast upon the question of the pas
sage of the pending bill which has
as Its ultimate purpose the placing of a
statue of General Lee in the Capitol at
Washington. This misconstruction may
e be made by those who profess to see a
vainglorious effort to thrust upon a sit
uation the representative of ideas out
of harmony and inconsistent with the
leading motive Of the place: and II may
also be made by those on the other hand
who do not desire to see an idolized
sentiment find expression where 1t may
s be exposed to insult and contumely.
Were l to act upon my own unaided
Judgment, | might perhaps have deemed
2 1t unwse to have inaugurated this
movement at this time. But In the light
of information, opinions and expressions
of others, II see my way clearly now
tosgive this bill the support of my vote
and III order that my vote may not 10
misunderstood / desire to present to the
Senate the reasons which impel me to
this vote.
slIfiIl i'oL dlleulUlt any eulOSNr upon
the life and character OF General Lee
any more than Should attempt to eu-
logise any of the dvinely appointed
leaders Of the chosen people, whose his
tory was taught at my mothers knee.
Every Southcrner has that same rever-
entail feeling towards General Lee.
am not impelled by any feeling Of
vanity whatsoever. whether It may be
termed laudable or otherwise, of vanity
either OF General Lee or to eXalt the
South. And on the other hand, neither
am impeled by any desire TO thrust
upon the North that which may be OBJ
jectionable to the sentiments of some OF
them.
| do not think the word vanity is n
mt word In the presence of this discus
sion, which Is occurring not only here
in the Senate of Virginia, but in the
broader forum Of the opinion of the peo-
! pie of these United States.
NO FEELING OF REVENGE,
know the feelings of rancor and re-
yenge are absent from the hearts OF all
I, right-minded people, North ms we'll as
South. and ] do not believe that the few
/ misguided fanatics who are attempting
to fire the Northern heart will be able
to succeed,
do not base my vote upon tho legal
right OF Virginia to select whom she Will
Of all her sons although ain satisfied
t"'y ~ my oWli 1ii|li I'D 40 'leI WI GIN
complete power and right of cholcs.
But ] shall cast my vote now for this
measure because firmly believe that 10
defeat this bill now would be against the
Interests Of the people of Virginia and 90
far towards uplifting the hands of those
VINO seek to do us wrong and towards
weakening those In the North who by
their professions and their acts have
shown themselves our friends, Tho de-
reat 81 this bill Will be taken mt onGe
TO mean that deep down In its heart Of
hearts the South Is stillns hostile 10 the
government of the United States as Ii
was in 1864 AZ s5st 81 y s f5 =