Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-06
gommander-in-Chief Veazey'S Address
to the G. A. R.
7AVORS SEPARATE NEGRO POSTS
the Intrsst Of Harmony to The OrdSr-Wssh-
ington Chosen as the Next Place Of Meeting.
Reports Of Oficsrs-Ths Fight for
COmmandG-in-Ohief Narrowed
Down to Threa

met in formal session this morning IN
the mammoth hall that had been set
apart for the business deliberations Of
the veterans.
All that art and cultured taste could
do had been done in the decorations
which adorned the convention hall.
From the walls and ceiling hung flags
of all nations, bunting and emblems OF
the order, and set in plush which cover
ed the side walls were numerous suits OF
nickle-plated ancient armor, surround
ed with groups Of flags of the army and
navy, and American shields with silver
wreaths of laurel. Clusters OF mean
descent lamps shed brilliant light over
the interior.
Despite the immensity of the hall, it
was crowded to its utmost seating
capacity BY the multitude or veterans
attracted by the mOment0us questions
70 be settled by this Encampment. 1t
was fully understood that the race
question might be precipitated In the
deliberations at any moment and be-
come the subject Of acrimonious discus
sion, and this impending problem, to-
gether with projected revision OF the
constitution, combined to heighten the
general interest in the proceedings.
A few minutes before the hour of meet
ing Gen. Veazey and his staff entered the
hall and were escorted to the grand
stand. The appearance Of the Comman-
der-in-Chief was the signal for generous
applause, and a minute later the two
Bands burst forth in an inspiring mill
tarv air I'm harmony with the martial
scene. Rapping the assemblage TO or
der. the Commander-in-Chief annOunc-
cd the formal opening of the twenty
fifth annual encampment Of the q. A.
r. and roll OF the departments. Every
safe and Territory in the UniOn-not
excepting far-off Alaska-was repre-
sented. and the roll showed the fullest
attendance Of delegates in the history
Of the organization.
COMMANDER vEAZEY's ADDRESS.
Commander-in-Chief Veazey then de-
4 ivered the annual opening address,
attention by the assembled veterans.
The Commander said:
y
Of birth, not wedding. The wedding
occurred when the bridegroOms, the youth
Of the land enlisted in its defense. Abra-
ham Lincoln celebrated the marriage nup-
tuals. Columbia was the bride; her YES
ture was the Nations flag. The 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,
n vic ha
bride a new diadem whose gems were
honor, fame, liberty untainted with slav-
erv. a country reunited and free, the fruit
Of that marriage was the Grand Army OF
the Republic, an offspring worthy of its
TOyal parentage. The date OF the birth
was April 6, 1866.
The observance Of this silver anniversa-
~ began on the sixth day Of April of this
year. In every town and city in all this
broad country where posts exists, the COM
tFades assembled in open meetings, which
the public attended in throngs beyond the
capacity Of the largest halls, and all at the
same hour uRited in praise and thanksgiv-
ing to Almighty God for the great blessings
He had vouchSafed 10 our country and TO
the men who had fought its battles, and
had since labOred faithfully on the lines Of
Good citizenship and had cultivated the
Christian and patriotic principles Of fra
tern3y, charity and loyalty.
Reference was then made by Gen.
Veazey to the increasing esteem in
which the G.. A. r. was held by the peo-
pie generally and comrades in particu-
lar. He referred pathetically to the
death during the past years of Gems.
sherman. Porter, Hamlin, DeviEs, Tobin
and other hOnOred members Of the
order. congratulated and thanked the
female supporters Of the order and the
Sons of Veterans, and then took up the
dispute over the Negro posts in the
South, concerning which he said:
THE SOLUTION OF THE RACE QUESTION.
The nreseut administration encountered
the same disturbances in the Department
of Louisiana and Mississippi that had
troubled nv predecessors. From various
sources of Information that have been ac-
cessible 10 me I believe that large majority
of moth white and colOred comrades IN the
Department of Louisiana and Mississippi
are strong in the conviction that IL woulo
be for the best interests OF all lnulvlu-
uallv, and of their posts ana OF the oruet,
20 have a separate Department IN LOUIS
lana and some of the other Gulf states
made up of such posts as may apply 10
come into il, and having concurrent lurls-
diction with the Departments already es-
tablished in such States; concurrent IN
resDect To the chartering and mastering or
posts bnt each department having eXciu-
sive jurisdiction over the posts which u
may receive.
NV best Judgment, after a year Of pains
taking investigation, is that IL would DC
wise To confer authority upon my successor
10 create such a department. de may
neither find it necessary nor think II pest
To exercise the power, If conferred am
sure he will see objections 70 1t, out ne may
also find il the best and perhaps lne ohty
shield for the full protecuon OF S~oIoreo ~
comrades. / trust need not say tnat 40
difference has obtained at NatonaI t1eAu
quarters in recognition ana trea'lileuS ~ -
Il posts or comrades, whether wnite OF COL
Ored. When the Department refused 10
receive reports or dues from any OF theSe
posts. I have allowed them TO be sent Gl,
rectly to the Adiutant General, 70 oe nelo
until opportunity was offered Tor Iull IN
veStigation upon hearing and adlustmentOA OF
the differences in the Department tnlhk
those posts should have the full oenentS OF
i such reports and dues as though tney hao
been received regularly by the Depart
ment.
This presentation Of the situation In that
4 department is meagre, and is intended 70
oe only sufficient to bring the SuOleCe 70
tne attention Of the Encampment nave
no policy 70 urge other than such as VIII Oe
Tor the best interests Of the order anu q,
tne same time protect the rigaCS ol al
comrades. 1t cannot be expected tnat any
plan will meet the approval Of all comrades
ulrectly interested. / regard the suolece
as one Of first Importance, and invoke your