Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-12-13
Address of Mr.. Barclay Before
Camp Frank Paxton

Camp FRANK RaALOn
The address Of Mr.. a. Tedford
Barclay before Camp Frank Pax
tor Sons of Coniederates, deliver
ed at the meeting OF the camp last
Wednesday, December 9th, was an
interesting feature of the gather /
ing. Mr.. Barclay discussed in an
entertaining and fOrceful way the
causes that led to the Civil War,
and emphasized the lessons that
the Sons of Confederates should
preserve OF that great struggle.
Mr.. Barclay was a member of the
Fourth Virginia Regiment during
the war, and much of his address
partook somewhat of personal
"reminiscences. He said, in part:
Sons of Confederates of Rock
bridge;
You have a priceless heritage
and sacred trust. A heritage of
valor and constanoy won by your
fathers from Manassas 10 Appoma
tox. A sacred trust, to preserve
the memories and the deeds OF
your fathers. their fair name and
their patriotic cause from oblivion
or Misrepresentation.
Were your fathers rebels and
traitorsS SO was George Wash
ington and the heroes Of Valley
Forge; 90 was William of Orange
and the patriots of Holland; so
was William Tell and the noun
| taineers of Switzerland; so was
Cromwell and his rounaheads. So
have ever been those who dared to
strike a blow for cor stitutional
government and the rights OF
man, to defend their affairs and
their fitesides from the ruthless
hands Of a despotic foe. There is
a God-impIanted instinct which
impels a man to defend his own
hearthstone. With him is right,
before him is duty, behind him is
home.
Did Virginia take up the guage
of battle to perpetuate African
slavery Whatever may have
been the attitude of the extreme
Southern States, Virginia never
went to war for slavery.
Even before she was a separate
and sovereign State, when in the
swaddling clothes of an English
Colony, she protested time and
again against the importation of
African slaves.
In 1887, against her protest, at
the instance of the New England
States, the slave trade was con-
tinued. Jefferson and Madison
both urged the policy of emancipa-
ton. In 1888 the Legislature of
Virginia considered resolutions
looking to emancipation and many
of the foremost Statesmen of Vir-
GINA advocated the passage Of
laws looking to gradual emsncipa-
ton of the slaves.
In this locality the older men
recall the Ruffner pamphlet, and
the debates in the old Franklin
Society. Ali our history proves
that Virginia was enduring and
suffering, under protest, an evil
in iicted upon her by the slave
traders of England, the slave-deal-
ere of New England and Dutch
merchantmen Of New York.
General Robert 4. Lee gave
freedom to all his slaves before the
war ard the great bulk of Virginia
volunteers who followed him
through the four trying years of
the sixties never owned slave.
The immortal Stonewall Brlgsde,
composed of Valley and Southwest
Virginians, were not slave holders.
Were these men fighting fer the
perpetuation of slavery
Sons of Confederates of Rock
bridge, surely you have goodly
heritage. Be true to the trust
committed to you. You have al
ready done much. trust amcng
you there may be some future
historian of Rock bridge who will
place upon record in more detail
incidents Of personal heroism that
distinguished so many of the rank
and file Of the Rookbridge soldiery.
We are guaranteed in this hope
by what has already been done.
The Jackson and Lee Camp, with
the aid of some of your members,
has placed upon the records Of our
county u complete roster of the
Confederate Veterans of Rock
bridge. The commander of your
camp has been conspicuc US in zeal
and labor with pen and voice; be
hap ever been true to his heritage
and his duty.
One of your members, Mr.. W.
G.. Mcdowell, with characteristic
earnestness and m m e n d a b lie
fidelity, has accomplished a large
work in data pertaining to Rock
BRIDGES contribution to the great
struggle, but there is large and
as yet unoccupied field in the
record of personal deeds and ac-
tione by the rank and file, you
should not willingly let die.
This IL the message have for
you today. This the truth l lay
before your consciences and upon
your hearts. Organize your camp
for q complete and thankful his
tory of Rockbridge. In every
Il