The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-07

SlppI. Your committee mas also conSlC-
cred all the documents submitted to and
arguments made for it. as TO the causes
leading to the existing troubles in these
departments. The old posts, from one TO
eight inclusive, in the department OF
Louisiana and Mississippi are composed of
white comrades. The new posts, from nine
| to seventeen inclusive. are composed of
colored comrades. The contention is that
the latter posts are tainted with fraud in
their organization. The remedy suggested
of separate department Of concurrent
jurisdiction for colored veterans involves
an amendment to our rules and regulations.
During that fierce struggle for the life Of
the nation, we stood shoulder 10 shoulder
as comrades tried. 1t is too late to divide
now on the color line. The man who is
good enough to stand between the flag and
! those who would destroy it, when the fate
of the nation is trembling in the balance, is
good enough to be q comrade in any depart
ment of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
No different rules have been or ever shall
be recognized by che survivors OF the union
army and navy and no department should
be established for any color or nationality.
The platform of principles Of the Grand
Army of the Republic is so broad that all
hnnornbly discharged soldiers and sailors
can stand upon IL. In the opinion OF your
committee, the fact that the department of
Louisiana and Mississippi, consists OF
posts, part Of which are composed of white
comrades, the other OF colored comrades, IS
no sufficient reason for making this radical
change in our rules and regulations. In
our fraternity, charity and loyalty should
be witnessed by our deeds as well as by our
words. Tine recommendation of the COM
mander-in-c chief is based upon the fact that
seven of the colored posts of department of
Louisiana and Mississippi petitioned for
separate departments. Comrades repre-
senting part of their post appeared before
your committee, and claimed in argument
that it was their understanding aud that
of many other coiored comrades, they were
only petitioning for a department to be
created in the state of Louisiana
the same as in other states, in which de-
partment all comrades, white and black,
should be equally entitled to membership.
And further, that they aud chose repre-
scented by them are opposed to separate
department. In view Of the facts sub
mitted TO your committee. it is of the opin-
ion it would be inexpedient to place
authority with the commancer-in chief TO
organize new or provisional departments
in states in which there are organized de-
partmeuts." This report was signed by
William Warner, John P. Rea, Lucius
Falrchild ana Henry Painter.
The minority report was presented by
w. ). Decker, OF Colorado. He concurred
in the recommendations of the commander
in chief, and recommended the rules and
regulations be so changed as to authorize
the commander in-chief to organize de-
partment in departments now existing
when satisfied, upon proper representa-
tions, that they may be organized without
detriment TO the Grand Army OF the Re-
public or any department organization.
Mr.. Decker defended his minority re-
port in speech of some length. He
dwelt on the race distinctions in the south
nrn1 AZ IL. - - -
ton now, 1t Will be here continually until
settled, according to the condition of affairs
found in Louisiana, Mississippi and other
states"
Major Warner said that when these black
men and white men shouldered their mus
kets in defense of the union il was NOT a
question of etiquette or sociability, but of
protection and loyalty. The black men
fought for the flag that never, up 10 that
time, had protected him in anything but
bondage. This organization had better
bury the old flag, comrades had better tear
the buttons from their breasts than now,
as our heads are silvering, to go back on
the principles for which we Dled." [Ap-
plause.
Ex-Commander-in- chief Fairchild, Com
rades, Northcott, OF Virginia. and two
colored members spoke in favor of the
majority report Mr.. Graham, of Louis
lana, recounted some of the trouble of his
department. He said no coiored post had
been recognized until recently, when
charters were granted by the department
commander, who became offended because
members of the order refused to attend the
funeral Of JEFF Davis. Several hundred
men had been admitted within few days
and the time was too short to make any
examination into their military record or
character. BY a viva voce vote the
majority report was finally overwhelm-
ingly adopted.