The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-09-05

Social aud Historical" organization Of
United Confederate Veterans. Amy de-
tails or information desired. copies of Con-
stitution or blanks wanted, will be prompt.
ly furnished by applying to General
George Norman, Adjutant General and
Chief of staff, New Orleans, La. Core.
spondence solicited.
ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL COMMANDING.
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. 8, 1885,,
To the ex-Soldiers and Sailors of the
Confederate States of America
The convention Of delegates from the
different states which assembled in New
Orleans, June 10, 1889, Effected a genel al
organization known as the UNITED Con-
federate Veterans" It is designed as an
association of all the bodies of ex.Confed-
crate Veterans and Sailors throughout the
Union. The convention adopted con-
stitution and did me the great honor to
elect me General, which position accept
with peculiar qualification. Preliminary
to the issue of any orders wish to call
general attention to the
OBJECTS OF THIS ASSOCIATION
and to enlist in their accomplishment the
active cooperation not only of every sur
vivor of Southern armies, but also that
large contingent of sons of veterans, who,
too young 10 have received the baptism OF
fire, have nevertheless received with you
the baptism of suffering and of sacrifice.
The first article of the constitution of the
association declares: "The object and pur-
pose of this organization will be strictly
social. literary, historical and benevolent.
1t will endeavOr to unite in a general fed
Grafton all associations of the Confederate
veterans, soldiers and sailors now in exis
tence or hereafter to be formed to gather
authentic data for an impartial history
Of the war between the states; to pre-
serve the relics or mementoes of the
same TO cherish the ties of friendship
that should exist among the men who
have shared common dangers, common
suffering and privations; to care for the
disabled and extend helping hand to
the needy; to protect the widow and
orphan and to make and preserve the re.
cord of the services Of every member, and
as far as possible, of those of our comrades
who have preceded US in eternity"
The last article provides that neither
discussion Of political or religious subjects
nor any political action shall be permitted
In the organization and any association vi
olating that provision shall forfeit it's men,
bership.
GOOD OBJECTS.
Comrades, no argument is needed to 90.
cure for those objects your enthusiastic en-
dorsement They have burdened your
thoughts for many years, you have cher.
ished them in sorrow, poverty and humili
alton. In the face OF misconstruction you
have held them in your hearts with the
strength OF religious convictions. No mis-
judgments can defeat your peaceful pur
poses for the future. Your aspirations
have been lifted by the mere force and ur-
gency Of surrounding conditions to plane
tar above the paltry consideration OF par
tisan triumphs The honor of the Ameri.
can Republic, the just powers of the fed
eral government the equal rights of states,
the integrity of the constitutional union,
the sanctions of law and the enforcement
of order have no class of defenders more
true and devoted than the ex.soldiers of the
South and their worthy descendants. Blu
you realize the great truth that people
without the memories Of heroic suffering
and sacrifices are
PEOPLE WITHOUT HISTORY.
To cherish such memories and recall such
q past, whether crowned with success Or
consecrated in defeat, is to idelize princj-
pie and strengthen character, intensity love
of country and convert defeat and disaster
into pillars of support for future manhood
and noble womanhood. Whether the
Southern people under their changed con
ditions may ever hope to witness another
civilization which shall equal that which
began with their Washington and ended
with their Lee, it is certainly true that de
votiOn to their glorious past is not only
the surest guarantee of future progress and
the hottest bond Of unity, but is also the
strongest claim they can present to the
tons of the Union.
NON-POLITICAL.
In conclusion beg to repeat, in sub
stance at least, a few thoughts recently ex
pressed by me 10 the state organization,
which apply with equal force to this gen.
eral brotherhood.
1t is political in no sense except 80 far
as the word political" is synonym of the
word patriotic" It is a brotherhood over
which the genius Of philanthropy and pa
triclism, of truth and of justice will pre-
side; of philanthropy, because it will sue
cor.the disabled, help the needy, strengthen
,he:weak and cheer the disconsolate; of
patriotism, because it will cherish the past
glories of the dead Confederacy and trans
mute them into living inspirations Tor flu
ture service to the living repu bic; of truth,
because it will seek to gather and preserve
as witnesses for history the unimpeachable
facts which shall doom falsehood to die
that truth may live; of justice, because it
will cultivate national as well as Southern
fraternity and will condemn narrow mind
edness and prejudice and passion, and cul-
tivate that broader higher, nobler senti-
ment, which would write on the grave OF
every soldier who fell on either side "Here,
lies an American hero, martyr to the
right as his conscience conceived it,"
GENERAL ORGANIZATION.
rejoice that general organization too
long neglected has been at last perfected
It is brotherhood which all honorable
men must approve and which heaven it.
self will bless. l call upon you therefor,
to organize IN every state and community
where ex-Confederates may reside and raj
" to the support of the high and peaceful
objects of the United Confederate Vete,