Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01
SUNDAY. ...SEPTEMBER j, 1879.
The Rouss Museum.

As is well known. there has for some
time been a most munificent proposition
before the camps Of Confederate veterans
yrom Mr. Charles Broadway Rouss.
formerly Of Winchester, but now q
Wealthy merchant OF New YORK, to CO.
operate with the camps In the establish
pnent Of a grand Confederate memorial
museum for the preservation Of Confed-
,rate archives and relics. The proposi-
lion originated with Mr. Rouss early last
winter and after n correspondence be
tween him and the Richmond camps ard
representatives OF the Confederate Ne
mortal Literary Society. Mr. Rousss
agent and friend. Coionel Wood, came 10
Richmond and had several conferences
sn the subject with committees Of the
organizations named.
\, these conferences the matter was
ranyaesed In general way. but no
stfnlte conclusion was reached beyond an
understanding that the question OF the
location Of the muspum lie referred 20
a committee. consisting of the ten rank
Ing surviving Confederate generals. In
heed II may be said that the whole idea
was stnl somewhat in embryo. and that
there was a tacit agreement that further
acvcloument' Il would be deferred until
II could be- considered at the reunion
last May. at Houston. Tex. Of the United
Confederate Veterans
When the matter came up NJ the Hous-
ton reunion It was IN the form Of an
pffcr from Mr. Rouss. through his agent,
Colonel Wood. 70 subscribe $1,000 In
cash 70 the memorial-muscum fund whe,
The movement had assumed proper shape.
md resolution was adopted providing
Tor the appointment Of a committee. com
posed Of one member from leach South
rrn State or division" to- examine into
snd report at the next reunion upon
the plan that had been submitted by Mr.
Rouss. This committee was recently
named. and will hold It's first meeting at
Atlanta during the exposition. and al
ready the Atlanta Journal IS strongly
urging that that city be selected as tho
location Of the museum.
While IT Is natural that every large
rity in the South should make a bid for
ihe memorial and press its claims. we
think there Is no gainsayiug that the
claims OF Richmond TO the honor OF being
selected as the seat OF the memorial out
weigh those Of all the other cities in the
Southland combined. Richmond was the
capital OF the Confederacy. and Il the
burial place Of more Confederate dead
than any other city. II contains more
memorials 10 Confederate heroes than any
other city: is the guardian Of the re
mains of President Davis. the acknow-
lodged Mecca OF the South. and around ii
Cling more Confederate memories than
are associated with any other place.
These considerations alone render It In
accordance with the eternal fitness OF
things that the museum should be placed
here. and ough, 10 cause the committee
10 decide IN favor of Richmond But
there Is another, and II you choose practi-
raj consideration. which should have
most potential influence with the COM
mittee in determining the question of
location. Richmond has, 80 to speak. built
museum as we understand Mr.. Rouss con-
templates. That foundation is the Con-
federate Memorial Literary Society. into
whose custody the city has given the
Davis mansion--the White House Of
the Confederacy-which is now
being made flre-proof at a cost
OF $1,000. This amount. taken in
connection with what II cost the
city 20 build n new school-house-a
necessity arising from donating the Da-
Wis mansion 10 the society-makes nearly
10000 already expended here I'm
providing a safe repository for Confede-
rate relics and archives In addition 10
this. however. the ladies OF the society
have also spent considerable money in
securing relies. manuscripts. etc. Of
which they have a very large and valuable
collection We think therefore. that
both from the standpoint Of sentiment,
and from n practical standpoint. the
claims Of Richmond should take prece-
dence Of those OF any other place. and
can but believe tina, the committee Will
so conclude.