Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-12-03

L Cullllll ul C0lCtIltus ulilEu NCllou-
These noble sentiments went directly to the
| hear1s or all true people with 4 warming in
hueuce which inspired afresh the common de-
sire TO construct truly monumental institu-
States and enduring not for one age but for
| all ages. They aroused the deeply interested
attention OF the surviving actors in the Con-
federate period and Upon the presentation of
| the conception aud plan to the convention at
Houston, where General Stephen ID. Lee pre-
sided, and the gallant Gordan represented the
feeling OF his comrades IN saying Il wish TO
place before this body u matter which Is of
| ceeds in its scope and importance anything
which has yet been before you for your con-
sideration. am proud to be the medium of
making known to you the purposes aud plans
/ of one who as a private soldier ia all the Vir-
giuia campaigns, added laurels to his own
name and lustre 70 the history of his own
State and to our arms.n
We shall not attempt to describe the enthu-
siasm OF the vast body of people gathered in
the Auditorium NJ Houston when Colonel
Wood was introduced by Adjutant General
Moorman aud stated he was authorized by
Comrade Rouss to make cash subscription of
800, GOO, as his individual subscription to the
Memorial furg when the monument assumed
proper shape. It il enough TO say that this
demonstration adds to the confidence of this
| committee that the proposition of Mr.. Rouss
will meet with similar enthusiastic recep-
ton by Southern people everywhere.
Such being the enthusiastic inauguration of
tlle enterprise VIC Will pfOeeGu Iurluef 10 eN-
plain to you what Is contemplated by this rare
movement 1t Is proposed that some Southern
city shall be honored with the custody OF
grounds, building and great collection of
sacred mementoes representative and Illus
tratiye of the period of the Confederate war.
Several large cities are already competing for
that tonor. They understand it's Significance.
They appreciate the ornament and the utility
of such magnificent public institution The
trust is recognized as the most honorable that
can be conferred upon any place or people
and win give the city that shall gain the prize
distinction which will endure as long as love
OF liberty and admiration for valor shall exist
in the hearts of our countrymen. But the
rivalry among these cities will be generous
and when the site shall be finally chosen all
places win unite in cordial fraternity In max
ing the fortunate location the center TO which
all efforts will converge.
The building viii be stately fire-proof du-
rable structure designed by skillfnl architects
and built with the utmost care. IL will be
planned upon large scale, ample enough for
the due care and custody of all mementoes
that can be collected from all quarters. II
VIII have spacious ball for Confederate
gatherings; extensive apartments for n great
library of books, maps, papers, magazines,
manuscripts, dairies and records, all furnish
lug tho data of Confederate history, inches
and galleries for portraits, paintings, photo
graphs, paintings and pfctures-all of Con-
federate people, places and scenes. Confed-
crate medallions and statuaIy will ndorn the
grounds and building, and room will be pro-
every character. This Is but q cold outline of
that great Memorial edifice in which will be
gathered the entire material for the true his
tory of every department of the Confederate
government, of every command in the Con-
federate armies, and as far as possible {
every praiseworthy action of the chivalric
men and the more than glorious women of
the South. Such material will be carefully
collected from all portions of our country and
will increase in quantity and interest for years
to come You yourself will be requested to
contribute in writing your knowledge of events
that transpired during the days of the Con-
federacY for filing in these memorial archives.
All parts of the land will vie among them
selves to be foremost In sending these sacred
aud invaluable mementoes. The value of such
an institution is simply inconceivable.
After this plain statement of the noble mo-
tive which inspires this movement, and the
general scope OF the great undertaking. it only
remains for us to answer the question how can
such q laudable and momentous work be done?
Mr.. Rouss has answered that question on his
part by the muni1cent tender of S100, 900. We
are to reply by popular donation within a
few months of similar sum and n board OF
wisely chosen administrators selected from all
parts of the country will execute your will
without other reward than the priceless con-
sciousness of having carried into effective
operation the most patriotic scheme of the
age. Now, in order that we might have u
practical plan for raising our part of the con-
tribution the Committee on Ways and Means
having taken this special question into the
of action which the General Committee
adopted and the Executive Committee will
carry into immediate operation. The Com
mittec on Ways and Means, composed of Col.
r. q. Wood, Maj. C. w. r. Garrett and Cap
tain L. G.. Tennent, appreciated the fact that
to raise the additional amount of 100000 sis
the most important matter that can occupy
our attention, as upon this point rests the sue
cess of the great work" But they express
their confidence after full consideration OF the
sources that the required sum will be rapidly
great body of Confederate Veterans already
enrolled in the nearly 500 camps of the U. q.
", fifty thousand strong, and next q large
number of Confederates bclonping TO various
to the Order, altogether certainly not less than
a hundred thousand whose hearts are in ths
movement. The noble women of the South
who were first TO propose memorials of the
Confederate cause and will be the last to cenec
the efforts to perpetuate our sacred memories
and our fame will be surely depended on to
achieve success for the present worthy scheme.
With these appear the great body OF vigorous
sons and daughters who are imbued with the
spirit of their fathers and mothers and into
whose hands after q short time the rich in
heritanee of the Memorial Building with all
its priceless contents viii come. They alone
are numerous enough and devoted enough to
such an object to accomplish our purpose II Il
was proper to commit 1t to them without our
aid. Besides, there are thousands OF friends,
North and South, who perceive the real worth
means of confirming and increasing the patri-
otic American spirit, and viii be glad 70 en-
roll their names among its founders It Is
better to reach all these Interested classes by
concerted action through general popular
subscription than to accept the most liberal
donations of q few men of wealth II Is also
true that far more than the
amOunt which must be added to the donation
of Mr.. Rouss to make It available Is now ut
this moment ready for delivery in small
amounts by a true and enthusiastic people. Il
is also true that this ready general eontribu-
tion must be made ut once without any delay |
and 20 that end some simple feasible plan Of
solicitation must be cut into Immediate oper-
alton. The executive committee, composed Of
Col. ]. R. Mcintosh, Gen. Chalaron and Mai. |
Garrett, will organize that plan through which |
every Camp and Association Of Confederates |
in the United States, every chapter Of the |
Daughters of the confederscy, and every |
branch of the Sons of Veterans viii be eff /
ciently reached. Our true and tried women,
with whom such work Is a labor of love, will /
be specially enlisted and will be irresistible. |
Through all these agencies the cities, towns
and country will be quickly eanvassed and the /
Executive Committed will be made able TO re- 4
port the triumphant aehievment of the sacred /
offering made In full by her people. Further /
detailed description of these practical means i
10 secure speedy. enthusiastic concerted action /
Is not here necessary since the Executive Com
mittee viii at once prepare and for ward all /
literature explanatory of the plan.
We must now say to you that the bright hope |