Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-06
G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT
The Business Session For
mally Opened.
Commander-in- n-Chief Veazey's
Annual Address.
He Recommends a COl0red Depart
ment in the Gulf States.
The Inspector Generals Report Takes
the Opposite View Washington
Selected as the Next Place
of Meeting.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
DETROIT, August 5.--The twenty-ffth
annual encampment of the g. r. met
in formal session this morning. All
that art and cultured taste could do to
make the mammoth building attractive
had been exerted in the decorations
which adorned the interior in emblemat-
ic order. Despite the immensity of the
hall it was crowded to the utmost. A
few minutes before opening General
veazey and staff entered the hall and
were escorted to the grand stand. The
appearance of the commander-in-chief
was the signal for applause. Rapping
the assemblage to order he announced
the formal opening OF the encampment
and directed the adjutant general to call
the roll of departments. Every state
and territory in the union was repre-
sented and the roll showed the fullest
attendance OF delegates in the history of
the organization.
GEN. vEAzEY's ADDRESS.
The opening address OF the COM
mander-in-chief was listened to in rapt
attention
fComrades," said General Veaze y,
+sthis is the silver anniversary OF birth,
mot of wedding. The wedding oc-
Cured when the bridegroom, the youth
of the land, enlisted in it's defense.
Abraham Lincoln celebrated the mar
riage nuptials. Columbia was the bride.
Her vesture was the nations flag. A
pledge to re-establish that flag over the
domain OF secession was the price of her
hand. When the pledge was grandly
redeemed through bloody strife, through
suffering and death, and after the VIC
tors had placed on the brow of the bride
. new diadem whose gems were honor,
valor, fame, liberty unstained with
slavery, the country united and free, the
fruit OF that marriage was the Grand
Army OF the Republic, an offspring
worthy of its royal parentage."
Reference was then made by the gen.
eral to the increasing esteem in which
the G. A. r. is held by the people gen.
orally and the comrades in particular.
A touching aliusion was made to the
numerous deaths in the order during the
past year, special mention being made
of Sherman and Porter. A tribute was
paid to the present and prospective use
fulness of the Sons of Veterans organiza-
tion, which is increasing in membership
yearly.
THE NEGRO DIGESTION.
Touching the negro question, as affect
ing the g. A. R., General Veazey re-
viewed the difficulties which have ex-
listed over the colored posts in the de-
partment of Louisiana and Mississippi
ever since they were organized in 1869.
Continuing, he said "The charge has
been made from different sources that
the organizing of these posts was so
tainted with Irregularities as to be
utterly destructive of their legal exist
ence. Our rules and regulations provide
a plan of procedure for department to
pursue in order to test the validity OF
such charges. The department of Lou
isiana and Mississippi never, SO far as
am informed, resorted to that pro-
cedure. l have held in dealing with
these posts that they must be re-
Yarded as having legal existence un-
til otherwise regularly adjudicated.
The commander-in-chief ordered an in
Eestigation by the inspector general into
the affairs of this department. The
recommendation of the inspector gen.
eral was that this encampment author
ize the creation of separate depart
ment covering the same territory as the
several existing departments In the
south. This is supported by memorials
addressed to the commander-in-c chief by
six posts in the department, whose
membership is composed of colored
comrades. From various sources of in
formation accessible to me. believe
large majority of both the white and
c0lOred comrades in the departments of
Louisiana and Mississippi are strong in
the belief that it would be for the best
interests of all to have separate de-
partment in Louisiana and some of the
other gull states, made up of such posts
as may apply to come into it and having
concurrent jurisdiction with the depart
ments already established in such states.
/ have no policy to urge other than such
as will be for the best interests of the
order and at the same protect the rights
of all comrades"
RELIEF DISTRIBUTED.
Continuing his address General Yea
zey said: During the year now closing
the q. A. r. has paid out from its relief
fund 1884, 400. During the same period
the Woman's Relief corps paid to dis
tressed comrades $153,000
The only new department chartered
last year was that of Indian Territory.
MEMORIAL HALL FAVORED.
The question of creating memorial
hall at Decatur, H., the birthplace OF
the G. A. R., was brought up in the
way of a recommendation that this en-
campment take action to aid the pro-
ject.
A GRANT RELIC.
Referring to Mt. McGregor cottage
where General Grant died, General
Feazey recommended that the encamp-
ment take action to secure from the
government an appropriation for the
maintenance OF the property and it's pres.
ervation in the same condition it was at
the demise of General Grant. Failing
TO secure an appropriation by congress,
it is suggested that trust fund be
established, or that the maintenance OF
the cottage be insured by charging a
fee to visitors.
PENSION LEGISLATION.
In regard to the disability pension bill
passed by the last congress, General
yeazey said if it is not the wisest it is
certainly liberal measure. The labors
of the GAR. pension committee were
Tho xrSx,a n, a nd hi az