The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-12

fantry took part and there were no
bands.
Not n Lost Cause.
quartette led the assembled gath
ering in singing the hymn. How Firm
Foundation" Veterans from Lee
Camp Soldiers Home were given seats
directly In fronS OF the speakers stand.
Rev. Landon r. Mason, d. D.. pre-
sided. Introducing former Governor
Montague as one who had been born
since the struggle OF half-century
ago. but n a son Of the South, who
had the vision 10 see history IN its
true light, and one who viewed the
cause Of the Confederacy. not az Il
lost cause, but as a continuing fight
for local self government. and for
preventing the minority from being
swallowed up By the majority.
Speaking clearly and holding the
attention OF large crowd standing
in the open air amid the stones mark
ing the graves OF the unknown dead
brought from surrounding battle
fields. Governor Montague paid high
( tribute to tho memories that rose out
OF immense actions OF half century
age. Coming from all sections OF the
South. and enEa g!ng at great sacr!-
fee in struggle for principle. most
OF those in whose memory the exer
cises were held. Eel! in near range Of
the spot which proved their last rest
Ing place.
Worn Out with Victory.
They constituted" said the speak
err. IAN army which wore itself out
with victories over an army greater
and surrendered not because they
were conquered. but because there
was left but mere fragment OF what
the Army OF Northern Virginia had
| once been.
Only the ranting demagogue now
| says that there was treason at the
| back OF this cause. Only the mis-
guided man OF unfortunate pretud!ces
| now says We were the children of
F. rebellion. This was not a civil strife
E. in the sense OF contest as to who
/ should rule. It was contest be-
tween governments. You were not
rebels. for you fought TO overthrow
no government. but to maintain an
existing government.
Treason Is a child OF mystery-of
darkness-of crimes. and OF evil pur.
| poses. You rose In the open, Tough,
The final verdict OF universal history
lifts you clear OF unholy or mean
| impulses. Tho history of postertty
VIII not tolerate any verdict, but that
these here buried We're honorable men
who fought for an honorable purpoue.
inspired for patriotic ends.
In Defense OF Constitution.
You were engaged in 4 war to
, defend the constitution that in large
| part Virginia had made. You neld
| that all powers not specially coded to
the Federal government belonged TO
the states. and no State had better
! right to maintain that doctrine than
Virginia, for when the Union was
| formed. Virginia was crater than
the Union.
virginia gave Washington to found
! the Union, Mason to pen the Bill OF
! Rights, clearly defining the position
of the States. and Jefferson to advance
tho theory that all government rests
on the consent OF the governed. If any
people in the world had a right to rally
| on home government for home pur-
poses, reservins every power not coded
by the Constitution, they were the peo-
| pie OF Virginia.
The people of this State showed
an Immense affection for the Union. IL
I read Alright the debates OF the Con
stltutional Convention called here to
consider secession. Virginia then re-
called her sons and what part they had
taken in the making Of the Union.
Took the Defensive.
But Virginia saw the so-called Cot
| ton States seeds from the Union and
saw twenty-four other States making
war on these Cotton States. Should
Virginia join in an offensive war
against her brethren. or should she
Join her brethren In a def ensive war
against those who were making the
| Invasion? 1t was Virgnias right. un-
der the Constitution, mainly written by
her own sons, to make her choice, and
not TO be coerccd in deciding with
i whom sho would fight and with whom
she would not fight. The people who
made the offensive war of invasion BIZ
| heved the national government greater
| than the States. Tho people who
| fought on the defensive defended the
constitutional doctrine of tho sover-
| eighty of the State. Whatever ths ar
| bitrament of the sword the final RAJ
| tional and judicial INTERPRETATION of