New-York tribune., 1907-01-24
DINE
HONOR LEES MEMORY,
James W. Osborne Takes Issue zcith
Wr. Root on States Rights.

Four hundred men and women OF the Southland
gathered about the board last night at the Waldorf
at the seventeenth annual Lee dinner OF the Con-
federate Veteran Camp and sang the songs most
dear to them and listened TO stirring speeches Of
the South and its heroes. The dinner this year
also in commemoraton Of the Tooth anniversary Of
the birth OF General Robert E. Lee, and due tribute
paid to the leader of the Confederate army in
a speech by Judge Charles F. Moore, whose toast
was ''The Memory Of Lee
The principal speech was delivered by James ".
Osborne. the former Assistant District Attorney.
OF North Carolina. who spoke Tho Union
OF States and took issue with Secretary Root on
his recent utterances with regard TO states rights
Every part Of the United States had !ts peculiar
characteristics said Mr.. Osborne. An extreme In
dIvduaIity OF the people OF the South he said. was
their love OF their place Of birth. He continued;
'I don't belong to the new-fanged Southerners.
who believe IN obllteratlng the old landmarks
Some people in the South believe that you should
not be bound by the laws of the individual states
and should substitute the expedient for the lawful.
Heretofore such views have been expressed behind
closed doors.
"It was rather recently that an official OF the
government stood up and enunciated this doctrine.
Before that It was almost out Of place 10 speak
about IT.
After quoting a few paragraphs from Secretary
Roots speech. Mr.. Osborne said:
That means that II we do not listen to popular
clamor or 10 the demands OF officials In Washing
ton they will. without right. read clauses into the
Constitution. II n-rans the annihilation and desc
Grafton of the Constitution, and that will give
instead of a government by law and Constitution,
a despotisrn and chaos. When think Of Calhoun,
Jefferson and Washington and other great men
who have gone I wish they could be here for Just
one hour denounce such doctrines. But We need
have no fear. for such doctrines will not be re-
ceved In the South. or by any great number OF
states.
The officials at Washington tell US II we don't do
what they want US TO will be absorbed by the
national government. I want 10 be there when
that happens"
Judge Moore spoke In warm eulogy OF General
Lee and praised him for surrenderIng his army az
Appomattox There is one he continued.
who does not revere the memory Of Robert Z.
Lee His sincerity and integrity were weighed
and never found wanting. He never exposed hts
own men, and never did prisoner OF war suffer
with his consent knowledge. When he surren-
dered TO the flag against which Re fought II became
his flag"
Behind the guests table. at which Edward owen,
commander Of the Confederate Veteran camp pre-
sided. draped large fiagss prominent among
them being the nag OF the Confederacy
Some OF those at the main table who Joined the
rebel yell were Bedell Parker. president OF the
Georgia Society; General Edward S. Greeley. VIII
lam NJ Polk. president OF the Tennessee Society;
Marion J. Verdery. president OF the Southern So
ciety: ]. Lynch Pendergast. president OF the Mary
land Society, and Albert p. Massey. president Of
the North Carolina Society