The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-06
G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT
Separate Departments Recon-
mended for Whites and Negroes.
THE QUESTION is NOT SETTLED
Veazey for Separation-The Perennial Recon-.
mendation for More Pensions-Wasb-
1ngton Selected for Next Year,

Republic met in formal session this morn
ing. All that art and cultured taste coulC
do 10 make the mammoth building attrac
which adorned the interior Despite it:
immensely, the hall was crowded to its ut
most.
A few minutes before the opening
General Veazey and staff entered the hal
AID were escorted to the grand stand
The appearance of the commander-in-chiei
was the signal for applause. Rapping the
assemDlage to order, he announced the
formal opening of the encampment and
directed the acknowledgement to call the
roll of the departments. Every state ard
territory in the union was represented and
the roll call showed the fullest attendance
of delegates in the history of the organiza-
! ton.
The opening address of the commander
in chief was listened TO in rapt attention.
Comrades" said General Veazsy, "this is
! the silver anniversary OF birth, not of a
wedding. The wedding occurred when the
bridegroom, the youth of the land, enlisted
in its defense. Abraham Lincoln celebrated
| the marriage nuptials. Columbia was the
and we were pledged to establish that
flag over the domain of secession.
secession was the price of ner hand.
When the pledge was grandly redeemed
through the bloody strike, through suffer
ing and death, and after victories had
placed on the brow of tho bride a new dia-
dem whose gems were honor, valor, fame
and liberty, unstained with slavery, a coun-
try united and free, the fruit of that mar
riage was the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, an offspring worth Of its royal parent
age.n
Reference was then made by the general
to the increasing esteem in which the
Grand Army of the Republic was held by
The people generally and the comrades in
particular. Touching illusions were made
to the numerous deaths in the order during
the past year, special mention being made
of Sherman and Porter. tribute was
paid to those present and the prospective
usefulness of the Sons of Veteran organ
izations, which are increasing in member
ship yearly.
In touching on "the negro question: as
affecting the Grand Army Of the Republic,
General Veazey reviewed the difficulties
which lad existed over the posts in the de-
partments of Louisiana and Mississippi
ever since they organized in 1869. Con-
tinuing, he said the charge had been made
from different sources that the organization
ties utterly destructive of their legal ex-
istence. "Our rules and regulations" he
said, provide plain procedure for the de-
partment to pursue in order TO test the
validity of the charges. AS the depart
ments of Louisiana and Mississippi have
never, so far as l am informed, resorted to
that procedure, have held in dealing with
those posts that they must be res arded as
having a legal existence until otherwise
regularly adiudicatedr
The commander-in- chief ordered an in
vestigation by the inspector general into
the affairs of this department The recon-
mendation Of the inspector general was
that this encampment authorize tue crea-
ton of separate department covering the
same territory as the several existing de-
partments in the south. This is supported
by memorials addressed to the commander
in-chief by six posts in the department
whose membership is composed of colored
comrades. In regard to this he said:
From the various sources of informs-
ton accessible to me, l believe large ma
jori.y of both white and colored comrades
in the department of Louisiana and Missis-
sippi are strong in the conviction that il
would be for the best interests of all to
have a separate department in Louisiana
and some of the other gulf states, made up
of such posts as may apply TO come into it
and having concurrent jurisdiction with
Tue dlrcAuy
such states.
~ have no policy to urge other than such
as will be for the interests of the order and
at the same time protect che rights of all
comrades"
During the year now closing the Grand
Army of the Republic paid out from its
relief fund 1894, 900. During the same
period the Woman's Relief corps paid to
distressed comrades $l53, 900.
RaferrinC IN the Mt Mc( REQ mr. c0ttapa
where General Grant died, General Veazey
recommended that the encampment take
action to secure from the government an
appropriation for the maintenance of the
property and its preservation in the same
condition it was at the demise of General
Grant Failing TO secure the appropria-
ton by Congress he suggested trust fund
be established or that the maintenance of
the cottage be insured ay charging fee TO
visitors. The question Of creating q me-
mortal hall at Decatur, ILL.,, the birth place
of the Grand Army of the Republic, was
brought up in the way of a recommends
ton that this encampment take action to
aid the project
In regard to the disability pension bill
passed by the last Congress, General
Veazey said ''If it is not the wisest it is
certainly liberal measure" The labors
of the Grand Army of the Republic pen
sion committee were also reviewed. The
commander-in-c chief urged the encampment
TO renew its efforts to procure an amend
ment to the revised statutes which gave
preference to the appointment to civil Of
flee in the case of union veterans.
The only department chartered the past
year was that of Indian territory. The
chief closed his address with
a reference 20 the observance OF Memorial
day and the high principles which actuate
the Grand Army of the Republic.
Tha do, lo- ~ Of fha IAw
chief in favor Of the establishment of de- |
partments Of the Grand Army Of the Re |
public for negro veterans created q decided !
sensation. The whites of Louisiana and !
are overioyed at his recon- |
Reports OF the other officers of the staff |
were presented and spread before the en- |
The adjutant generals report |
for the period ending June 80. 1891, as far 1
as returns were received, shows in good /
standing IS departments with 400 posts |
and 39S, 067 comrades is good standing !
The sum expended in charities as reported 1
for the year ending June 80, 1891, is 1884,
300. The total number of deaths for the |
year is :, $50.
The quartermaster- generals report
showed assets go, 900. The report of the
Grant monument fund showed il has aug
nented but $231.91 during the past year
The inspector general, after detailing the
condition of the order, says in conclusion:
s.Our comrades in the stronger and more
prosperous departments should not be for
yetful Of the necessities of those in the
weaker and less favored territories. and
should assist and encourage them in good
work whenever opportunity offers"
The report of the Judge advocate general
lerives its chief interest from his decision
IN the vexed race question. As his conclu-
lions differ from the recommendations of
lis commander in chief, the dispute is only