The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-21
LEE CAMPS
GREATEST
MEETING
Never Such Eloquence
and Audience There.
.KEMPER,s PORTRAIT
is PRESENTED
Coils. W. E. Cameron and c. I.
O'Ferrall Chief Speakers.
FORMER GOVERNORS
MADE FINE SPEECHES
aeneralLee stlrs Brilliant Audience to
Highest Pitch Of Observation-Disclosures
Tyler and General Eppa Hunton
Are Warmly Greeted-An
Ovation to Or.
Smith.
Cols. W. e. Cameron and c. T.
O'Ferrall Chief Speakers.
FORMER GOVERNORS
MADE FINE SPEECHES

- Il
Lee Camp had the greatest meeting last
night In all Its history. Nothing like iii d
was ever seen in the hall before.
The occasion was the presentation OF the
portrait OF General James L. Kemper,
formerly Governor Of Virginia and gall
liant Confederate soldier. The four ex-
Governors Of the State now living were
present, and all made magnificent adj @
dresses. Governor Montague, the present
Executive. spoke briefly, and was fol-
lowed in a speech OF great power. stirring
the audience to remarkable enthusiasm.
by the only former United States sena-;
tor now living-General Eppa Hunton.
The audience was one of the most dis.
stingutshed ever gathered In Richmond.
In some respects was absolutely with
outla peer or parallel. So far as any one
recalls, never before in the history OF the
State had all her living former Governors
been gathered at a, meeting and rnado
speeches where the incumbent Executive
was also present and spoke. Every cul~s
itivnted class of Richmond and Virginia
people was representet { in this notable
company. It included ministers. many
members OF the General Assembly OF
Virginia. leading lawyers and physicians
of the city, a host of the most Representa-
tive men to be found in Richmo ond. which
boasts OF her gentility and ultlre. iss8
Many ladies of the gentlest birth in
aristocrtio old Richmond and Virginia
were present, the fashion and beauty OF
q city noted beyond the ocean for her
handsome women, were gathered within
the honored halls of Lee Camp head-%
quarters.
slLvER-ToNGUDD ORATORS.
Z This splendid audience heard addresses
from silver-tongued orators. stirred toathe
depths OF their beings by the great occa-
sion of which they were a part-addresses
brilliant and flowing with a rythm and
eloquence rarely heard In these days OF /,
money-Gettins and business activities.
One OF the most striking features of this
meeting. brirnful Of striking features. was
the ovation given Rev. DR.. James P.
Smith. the commander OF the camp.
This was the result of General F'itz 4
Lees relating the noble deed of Dr. Smith
in shielding Stonewall JaclSson's body \
with his own when the former was fa-#
tally wounded at Chnncellorsvile. The
brilliant audience cheered DR.. Smith
again and again until this brave and
true man was vsibly affected and the
tears of gratitude for the recognition and
Kindness weled into his eyes.
But other incidents were equally nota-
ble Former Governor Cameron said In
his address he had no regret that tha
war ended as 1t did. and now that. as III
was all over, none would. If they could.
bring back the conditions before the war.
He was gratifed that the result OF tha
struggle was as 1t was.
This sentiment was greeted with somG
FIRE FROM LEE.
When General Lee was called out hA
ma WAN r1y
able statement, stirring up widest en-
thuslasm. that he would never rejoice in
the consequences Of the war Before ha
would express such q sentiment. or 1t
such a sentiment was In his heart, ne
would head q mob, and going to the V
West End. would tear down and scatter
to the winds the splendid statue OF r.
e. Lee ; he would so to the Capitol SQUARE
and mutilate and break to powder the
bronze statue, OF Jackson: he would say
| to the ladies who are holding fairs and
| bazaars in their efforts to raise money
| with which to honor Confederate heroes:
Cease from your lehors. 1t Is useless
and your heroes are now worthy, "a
He would never say that IL was not
best for this country to have two re-
publlcs instead of one. He declared that
! IL Gettysburg had been won, and u would
| have been won he contended, had tho
orders OF General Lee been obeyed-ths
South would have been VICTORIOUS ana q
two republics would have risen In place
| Of the present government. or, at least.
| the South would have gotten the recogni-&
| tion her due
| These sentiments We're reiterated by for-l
mer United States Senator Eppn Hum
| lon
| HUNToN's HOT RsJOINDER.
General Hunton declared that he did
| not want to see the man who even now
did not want tho South to win and would
| not hava anything to do with sueh a one.
| lie was a Confederate and would die
ono He would die tomorrow in the de-
tense OF the truth and righteousness OF
the Southern eaEse. As he said thaAa
words his eyes brEghtened and flashfd as
those OF IA young man. and Install form
lowered over those around him. A few
moments later, when he had concluded.
he had to he assisted to his seat. near the
front no longer the youthful soldier.
fighting over the battles again. bur a
feeble. though distinguished looking, old
Virginia gentleman. the very soul OF
Kindness and gentlenass,
1t was nearly II O'Clock when the sreas
meeting WAS declared at an end, and an
evening of rare h enjoyment, thrilling \
anecdote and eloauence, passed into his
| tory, and a company OF loyal Nirginikns.
| representing the best stock in tha old
State, the descendants or the great msa