The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-19

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semmes. who was in close touch with
lie leaders Of the Confectionery, was
endowed with brilliant colloquial pow
ers and equipped with q mental
,hcsaurus Of military and social remi-
1iscenccs, which, had they been com
nitted to paper, would have made an
and valuable memoir.
General Leo was often guest AZ the
Richmond residence Wnen
.he Confederate Senate was in session,
and in this hospitable home notable
cn+erio used to gather and uncon-
sc,ouslv made 1t the theatre OF mucn
Interesting history. There met On III
fnrn,al terms President Davis. AleSan-
der stephens. Mr.. and Mrs. Mallory
Stonewnll jackson. Genera etual -
"Bob" Toombs. Judah +. Eenlalh1il'
Mason and Slidell, Prentls ana ianees
Miss Emily V. Mason (author Q,
"I ia Of Lee"y. Albert Sidney John-
stnn Reauregard, Mr.. Garland, atter-
,,or5 Attorney General Of CleVelnhos
!, 4 Mini stration, and many others
nrorninent in tho affairs OF inc So'-
fcderacy. , ,vhen
seated on his veranda Mt Warre''ton'
on pleasant summer nights "n''e .n
Young people were dancing the n.y..
o,y,v either in his own parlor or those
of his nelbnOOls SiSA'o''~SNN I
his own halycon days. ~,
"No life." he once said, could DC Alhe
th,t of those golden days, Inc south
mad an clement In It's society," 'ano-
ad centry-which afforded ample op-
nortunity for extraordinary culture
elevated the standard Of scholarship
and cmancipated social Intercourse,
while 1t established schools OF indl-
vidual refinement. we had vast agrl-
cultural country. and the pursuit OF
agriculture in the South had It's IKEA
features" Mr.. Semmes came OIL an
old-line Wing family of southern
Maryland, and often alluded IN ms oo-
vial moods 10 the shock it gave his
n.rents when he announced himself a
| Democrat, and how he fiyally converted
all his kinc>2en. The story Of his own
conversion to Democracy is interesting.
After graduating in academies at
G georgetown, he matriculated at the age
of nineteen In the Harvard Law
School, and had as his preceptors Judge
story and Professor Greenleaf. the
great authorities on constitutional law
and evidence 1t appears that While
at Harvard he read the critique OF
| Story's work on the Constitution from
the pen Of Judge Upshur. Of Virginia.
| .ReNecting seriously upon its spirit
| ana ledCUiUSS, Hc ~, 100 ACeo
cally and morally convinced. and there
upon espoused the cause Of Democra-
| cv.'' Mr.. Semmes often remarked.
when discussing public affairs, that
| this review by Judge Upshur was the
most remarkable Democratic document
| he had ever read, and although he had
| made efforts to secure copy OF IT In
after years, he never saw 1t again. af.
ter he had read it back in 1915 In
this connection it may interest the
reader to know that Mr., Semmes was
one of the committee OF fifteen who
drafted the Ordinance OF Secession.
Military Spirit Strong.
The military spirit which prevailed
at Warrcnton found expression In the
/ organization OF the Black Horse two
/ years before tho war. when 1t figured
at the John Brown Raid In 1859.
I At the first battle OF Manassas thes'
handsome. strapping troopers, Will
their fine horses. were everywhere IL
"tho picture" and attracted the at
-tention of the cavalry leaders unde
Lee, who detailed them as q bod.
guard to General Joe" Johnston.
! subsequently, when Leo and jackson
marched into Maryland. they were Of
fered the beautiful chargers OF tn
Black Horse. Throughout the cam
pdlSH VI tIlb <AEIIly VI 4NOEtHeIHE V ~
s ginia this command played n bold an
d useful part. They not only figure
5 with credit In many important engage
n ments, notably the Seven Days Figh
: but inspired constant fear and nnxict
d In the ranks of the enemy and wer
t, heralded as Lee's favorite scouts. upo
n whose effective work his generals OF
e ten relied for information that prove
y valuable in operating against superic
l. numbers, and In defining the enemy
es position.
II 1t remained for tho commander
the Black Horse. who has since eros
ed the river into tho undiscovere
r country to join others Of his knight
40 squadron, to pay a tribute to the ra,
Ut OF Lee that still stirs tho Southerncr
" blood with patriotism. Tho occasit
rs was the nomination OF Fitz Lee Fl
w Governor; tho scene, beautiful O
r Richmond.
~ 1T is an interesting fact in vi
=, slnia's history" said the piedmo,
10, warrior, that whenever sho is ASA,
va Cd with danger or stricken with su
~ lorlng, she has ever heckoned the
MS Lees to her side and been happl
We when her hand was in thelrp. II
49,, eye ever marks their coming n
he looks brighter when they come" A
M during her terrible strife In the dn
"a OF her deepest and darkest despo
as dcncy, u was upon the broad hos,
he OF Robert Il. Lee, her greatest 8,
ma that Virginia laid her weary head u
ST. gathered inspira Fon from the beati
'ho of that mighty heart. 1t Is n glo~ic
,ed fact In tho history of this fam
md that no distance could DO so great u
he the voice Of Virginia's sorrow did
'ng reach and recall them No fort,
en. could bo so fun and no rank So II,
that they would not surrender tn
at her call They have ever 10,
cen her With love far brought from
hEs me historic past. There has b,
Nm Nm no Pulse IN their ambition whose he
49, !hGs were not measured from
go 90. heart, And now, when peace has spr
pa, us white wings over tho land. an,
,taa 90 l0f me llrst time within tho liv
suu memory asks something from a i
re- pie for whom Lees have dana 90 ~,