The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-09-04
UNITED CONFEDERATE VET
ERANS.
Address of the General Commanding.

" nj Ell OOANA 6A) A-AhHA - -
ERANS.
Address Of the General Commanding.
The following is Gen. John B. Cor
don's address to the United Confeder-
ate Veterans, and to all the ex-soldiers
and sailors of the late Confederate
States of America. 1t is published
to-day all over the
South, with the view Of calling the
attention of veterans in every South
ern State, to the Importance of form
lug Camps without delay, and appeal
ing to them to join the Benevolent,
Social and HISTORICAL organization of
United Confederate Veterans. Any
details or information desired, copies
Of Constitution or blanks wanted, will
be promptly furnished by applying to
General George Norman, Adjutant
General and Chief of Staff, New Or
leans, La. Correspondence solicited:
To the er-SoLdiers and Sailors Of the
Confederate States Of America:
The convention of delegates from the
different States which assembl ed In
New Orleans, June 10, 1889, effected a
general organization known as the
limited Confederate Veterans" 1t is
designed as an association of all the
bodies of eX Confederate Veterans
aud Sailors throughout the Union. The
convention adopted a constitution and
did me the great honor to elect me Cen
eral, when posiii IN accept with pecu-
liar qualification. Preliminary to the
issue of any orders 1 wish to call gener-
al attention to the
OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION
and to enlist in their accomplishment
the active cooperation not only OF every
survivor of Southern armies, but also
that large contingent of sons of veter;
ans, who, too young to have received
the baptism of fire, have nevertheless
received with you the baptism of suffer
ing and sacrifice.
| The first article Of the Constitution oi
the association declares: "rhe object
and purpose of this organization will be
| strictly social, literary, historical and
benevolent. 1t Will endeavOr to unite
| in q general federation all associations
of the Confederate veterans, soldiers
| after to be formed; to gather authentic
| data for an impartial history of the wa
between the States; to preserve thu
relics or nementoes Of the same; Il
cb erish the ties of friendship that shoulC
l6xist smong'TiIe men who have shared
icOmmon dangers, common suffering
land pRivations; tOcarei for the DISABLED
and extend Q helping hand to the needy
j TO project the widow and the orphan
the services OF every member, and q
4 far as possible, Of those of our cOmrade
4 who hisyespr8ceded as in eternity"
r. Thelast article provides that neithe
IdiscussiOn OF, political or religious sub
lpsrmitted In the organization, and an
81 association violating that provision
shall forfeit its membership. ,uu
S"'zp 7NEs coon OBI RcTs. =I'-
II Comrades, no argument is needed {
secure for those objects your enthus
astic endorsement. They have burdene
IL your thoughts for many years-yo
ItY and humiliation. In the face OF mis
, lconstructiOn you have held them 1
your hearts with the strength or re
/ ligious convictions. No misiudgment
can defeat your peaceful purposes fc
, the future. Your aspirations have bee
llifted by the mere force and urgency {
J surrounding conditions to q plane IL
! 4 above the paltLy consideration of part
san triumphs, The honor OF the Amer
can Republic, the just powers OF t1
Federal Government, the equal right
3 OF States, the Integrity OF the ConstItI
ttional Union, the sanctions of law an
1I the enforcement of order have no elias
! of defenders more true and devote
! than the ex-soldiers of the south an
: their worthy descendants. hui you r
u aIize the great truth that people will
: out the memories Of heroic sutferir
{ and sacrifice are
a PEOPLE WITHOUT A HISTORY.
!; To cherish such memories and reca
such a past, whether crowned with su
8 cess or consecrated in defeat, is to idea
4 | iZe principle and strengthen characte
: Intensity love of country and conVe
n defeat and disaster into pillars OF SUI
| port for future manhood and mob
: lwomanhood. Whether the SoutheI
3 people under their changed condition
| NAV ever hope to witness another civ
e izaIion which shall equal that whiC
i began with their Washington and end'
, with their Lee, it is certainly true til
y devotion o their glorious past IS IL
= only the suresta guarantee OF futu
y progress and the hottest bond of unit
y but is also the strongest claim they Ca
= present to the confidence and respect
o the other sections of the Union.
v f tri NoN-PoLrrICAL.
d In conclusion L beg TO repeat, in su
q stance at least, few thoughts recent
70 expressed by me to the State ORGANIC
ton, which apply with equal force
this general brotherhood.
e 1t is political in no sense except so
's as the word "politicap' is synonym
d the word "patriOtic." 1t is brOtht
% hood over which the genius of phila
"a thropy and PATRIOTISM, OF truth anu
n Justice will preside; OF ph1lanthrop
because it will succor the disabled, he
the needy, strengthen the weak al
[ cheer the disconsOlate; of patriotlSl
because it will cherish the past glori
p of the dead COnfederacy and transmu
% them into living inspirations for futu
I service to the living republic; OF trut
" because it will seek to gather and pr
serve as witnesses for history the uni
q peachabIe facts which shall doom falls
q hood to die that truth may live; of in
s. tice, because it will cultivate Nation
l. as we'll as Southern fraternity and W
~ condemn narrow mindednesS and pre-
N udice and passion, and cultivate tn
!, broader, higher, nObler sentiment bi'
= would write on the grave of every Sc
- der who fell on either side: "Here Ii
Is an American hero, a martyr to the rig
n as his conscience conceived it."
Ie ..r-t GENERAL ORGANIZATION.
v j rejoice that u general organizati'
n too long neglected has been at last pc
:, fected. 1t Is brotherhood which 1
3 honorable men must approve and whi'
Heaven Itself will bless. call ups
you therefore TO organize i'm every Sta
l, and community where exeConfederat
msy reside and rally TO the support
q the high and peaceful objects OF &
,. Omitted Confederate Veterans ar
A move forward until by the power OF {
: ganization and persistent effort 20
y 6eneficent and Christian purposes a
fully accomplished. =
= i 4, : t&-tR 80 a. j. b. GORDON,
1 3 J., .@.5 - y Commanding General
n