The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-08
The Civilian Leaders Of the Confederacy
BY John Goode, of Virginia.
Sometime Member Of the Confederate Congress Of the Virginia
Secession Convention Of the Congress OF the United states and
President Of the Virginia Constitutional Convention OF l9o-z

mans greatness or isvicicnsncss may
1 he traced. No man Cor history Is false)
has ever won the worlds applause for
noble deeds, for self sacrificing efforts,
around whose infant brow n mothers
hands have not placed the chnplet OF
virtue md honor, or upon whose heart
! hcr love or the affections of sister
or the attachment of a wife have NOT
Impressed the indelible lineanents OF
true greatness.
.t'rhe influence OF wonar1--it can
hush the harsh and discordant notes
of passion; In the cause OF ancctlon
or duty II has q charm TINT can arrest
| the murderer's hand and stay the tide
Of vengeance. And that influence Us
working in our midst. There Is not
heart that has not been nodded or
that will not be directed by the same
potent spell. AS irresistibly as the
beautiful moon sways the ocean tides,
bidding them. to ebb and flow. so does
the light of womnn's smile compel the
currents of mans heart to flow on until
they cover the barren rocks OF selfish
ness, the desert spots OF crime, making
the glad soil rejoice and blossom. And
so, also, can the cloud OF woman's
frown drive back the genial tide until
that heart will be ouce more as sterile
as the rocks OF Pekta or as Sahara's
arid sands"
Hts Contest with Footc.
In the fall of 1851 there was unusual
political excitement throughout Mis-
sisstppi. and Mr.. Lamar. having entered
the lists, encountered In debate most
formidable antagonist of large expert
ence as n public debater--no less man
than Henry S. Eoote--who was known
throughout the entire country for his
great forensic powers. Mr.. Foote ap-
peared az the champion of the Union
party, composed in great measure or
Old Line Wings, who had been rein
forced by considerable number or
Democrats. Mr.. Lamar was then only
.twenty-six years of pge. but IN obedi-
ence to the earnest solicitation OF MS
friends, he accepted the gage OF battle
and by common consent won his spurs
in the encounter and bore off the palm
of victory.
In the fall of 1853 he was elected
to represent the county OF Newton in,
the General Assembly of Georgia, and
came to the front at once as an &C
,knowledgcd leader OF men. In July,
1857. he was nominated for Congress,
and conducted joint car--1ss with his
competitor. James L. Alccrr, the result
OF which was his triumphant election
to the Thirty-fifth Congress. in which
he made his first speech on the 18th
day of January, 1858; a speech that
gave him great prestige, not only in
Congress, but throughout the country
at large.
The Wig Restored Good TIumor.
1t was during that Congress that
scene occurred n the nights at Feb
ruary 9TH and 9Th which caused a great
deal of hard feeling. Some time before
2 o'clock in the morning Mr.. Grow,
! Republican member from Pennsylvania,
left the Republican side and went over
on the Democratic side. While he was
there Mr.. Quitman, OF Mississippi.
asked permission of the House to make
| objected Nhereupon Mr.. Keitt of
/ South Carolina, asked Mr.. Grow why
he did not go back to his own side
of the House IL he wished to object?
Mr.. Grow replied that 1t was free
A hall, and that he would object from
any point in 1t which he pleased.
Whereupon keitt called Crow Black
Republican puppy" and the latter re-.
torted that she would not allow any
niger driver to crack whips around
his ears"
There was great ccmmotion in the
hall, during which Barksdale. OF Mis-
| sissippi. came out with his wig wrong
side in front. The ludicrous sight
! caused general laughter and good hui
NOR was restored.
4 Mr.. Lamar took an active part In
the contest between Vallandigham and
| Campbell for a seat In the House OF
I Representatives as member from the
i Third district of Ohio, In which. after
4 long contest, Mr.. Nallandigham was
seated. Lanar's speech attracted great
liattention at the time. He was mem
Der of the Committee on Elections.
i In June, 1859. Mr.. Lamar was unani-
mously renominated as the Democratic
4 candidate for Congress, and was unani.
!, mously elected. On the 18th of No
ven1ber following. by request of the
i Leg islature of Mississippi, he delivered
4 an elaborate address before that body
4 on Federal relations. 1t is said thai
Il for two hours he held his audience. Il
i not spell-bound. at least most agreeblS
4 entertained.
1 In the course OF long and eventfu
I, career. Mr.. Lamar made numerous
/ speeches, which placed him in the fore
1 front as an orator and debater. If
should undertake to make extracts
from them all In order to furnish
specimens of his style. they would fl
volumes Of the most interesting read
. ing.
II EulOEy on Charles Sumner.
Perhaps the greatest speech ever de;
: liVered by Mr.. Lamar--n. speech tina
throughout the length and breadth O
the land caused him to be regarded a!
1.-the inspired paciflcator--was that de
livered on the 2Sth of April 1874, II
y eulogy of Charles Sumner, Of Massa