Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-12-03
An Eloquent and Noble address Il
the Men and Women ofthe South.

| % All NOnieoelateS. 10 tuG SoonS VI Souieuos'
ate Veterans, the Daughters of the Confed
eracy and the Noble Women of the South
| This address is made to You by direction o
general committee from all of the Southern
States, acting under appointment ard by au
thority of the United Confederate Veterans
Association.
That general committee was raised in con
sequence of communication from Mr.. Charlie.
Broadway Rouss, of New York City, at the
annual convention of United Confederate Vet
erans, in Houston, Tex, through which thil
! generous Con federate Comrade proposes t.
give S1o0, ,000 for great purpose which will
be more particularly described hereafter, upon
the proper condition that we would evinee al
equally patriotic spirit by contributing, in
many small subscriptions, u similar sum. Thl
communication of Mr.. Rouss was received
with a most appreciatiYe demonstration o
enthusiasm by the immense body of Confeder-
ates assembled in that reunion, and ON o res
olution presented by j. B. Gordon, Command
ing General, with General Stephen d. Lee in
the chair. 1t was composed of one member
from each Division or State. This important
commission was entrusted to the following
comrades, viz:
Gen. George Fl. Stewart, Maryland.
Col. j. r. Mcintosh, Mississippi.
Gen, George D. Johnston, Alabama.
Col. j. B. Cary, Virginia.
Gen. j. A. Chalaron, Louisiana.
Capt. b. ii. league, South Carolina
Major w, R. Garrett, Tennessee.
Col John o.. easier, Oklahoma.
Gen. w. ID. Chipley, Florida.
Col. j. Z. Cravens, Missouri.
Capt John. II. Carter, Kentucky.
Col. Howard Williams, Georgia.
Hon. W. q. Katchilfe, Arkansas.
Gen. w. l. Cabell, Texas.
Col. Thos. s. Kenan. North Carolina.
DIR. l.. g. Tennent, Indian Territory.
Capt. John NJ. Hickey, Washington, d. c.
Capt. w. q. White, West Virginia.
The committee assembled in Atlanta, Geor-
gia, October 49, 1885, in person or by proxy,
the proxies being Gen. Clement A. Evans, j..
o. Murray, of West Virginia and Col. Robert
C.. Wood Its deliberations continued several
matter submitted for consideration; all of
which dis cussions were held with remarkable
unity and enthusiasm, eyincing the most patri-
otic spirit and n lofty purpose TO carry on to
rapid and signal success the magnificent
scheme which Mr.. Rouss had inaugnrated.
The conclusions of the committee were
reached in absolute and fraternal unanimity,
aud it was then deemed to be essential that an
address to our people should be made through
q special committee appointed for that
purpose. .,,. .......
ing our profound sense of the magnitude of
pressible worth to ourselves, our posterity, our
South and our whole country of the memorial
institution suggested by Mr.. Rouss. We do
n OF dietTust your patriotic interest in perpetu-
ating the principles which have always gov
erned the actions of the Southern people, and
in preserving the materials of their honorable
history; we do not Imagine there Is any
ubatcmcnt of the tenderness or strength of
your regard for the actors in the ever memOr-
able days of the Confederacy nor do we fear
n lack of your hberality in prompt response
to an appeal on behalf of our common cause !;
but VIC sincerely say that in the brief space
within which this address is necessarily con-
fined we cannot adeqc1tely set forth the ines
timable value, the absolute necessity, the limit
less influence as well as the sublime spirit
all included within the Incompatible endeavor
now proposed to establish in the South SUI
perb and indestructible memorial of Confcd-
crate times.
With this feeling deeply impressing our
selves. we proceed to submit to you very
succinct statement of the noble proposal of
Mr.. Rouss and the object now contemplated
something sure of attainment through your
speedy and enthusiastic action. 1t is eminent-
ly proper, however that we precede the state
ment with a mention of the life of the noble
private soldier of the Confederate Army who
first of all his comrades rose to the conception
of an enterprise on hehalf of his beloved
South, exceeding all prior memorials and well
worthy of the great cause it is designed to
represent Our comrade, Charles Broadway
RouEs, is proud of his Southern birth, and has
from his Southern comrades. He was born
and reared in Winchester, Va, and grew up
intelligently accustomed to commercial life
In the nlidst of 4 successful career, then fairly
begun. be was found ready when war arose TO
obey the call of the South, and enlisted as q
private in the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry. where
he rode with Rosser, Ashby and other gallant
spirits in that dangerous service which daily
imperilled the lives of those braye men.
Seeking no other place bnt that of fighting
private. he impressed himself upon the mem-
Ory of his comrades by his fidelity and gallau-
try to the last. General Rosser said recently
that his attention was often drawn TO the brave
young cavalrymnn in the desperate fights in
which the Black Horse Cavalry were so fire.
quently engaged. Thus by his hard, unselfsh
and dangerous service through the peTils of
the whole war our comrade endeared himself
10 us and unconseiously became that typical
Southern soldier who will be conspicuously
portrayed in the history, poetry, statuary and
song of the ages to come. His name is now
far famed and fervently mentioned through
ont our country, but the truest evidence of
our appreciation will be manifested when we
celebrate his three-score years of valuable life
in 1896, by presenting him parchment scroll
containing tens of thousands of names with a
completed response to his proposition.
After the war he went to New York City and
engaged in commercial business on plan OF
his own conception. Commencing without
capital but with Unborn courage and certain
infuitions that surely directed him to success.
our comrade illustrated Southern commercial
the giants of trade and accumulated large
wealth. His financial success broadened his
opportunities for benevolencc and these he
has seized to relieve many Confederate, to
help numbers of struggling young men; to
encourage institutions of charity and to build
monuments in memory of the Confederate
dead.
Now he crowns all with an unexpected, Un-
solicited proposal so unique and appropriate,
so grand and feasible that we can have no
hesitation in an immediate enthusiastic coop
Grafton with him in bearing it on the rising
tide to a most magnificent success. What Is
this undertaking? IL is no less than the found
ing of memorial institution of noble proper
tions in some Southern city which will be de-
voted to the collection and guardianship of all
things that can illustrate the entire wonderful
epoch of the Southern Confederacy in every
respect whatsoever.
II is necessary to state the plan itself plainly
in order that you may understand It clearly
and Ge prepared to accept It heartily and act
upon it promptly. In 1891 Mr.. Roues adj
dressed frnternal, patriotic letter through the
in which be called special attention
to the pressing necessity of establishing some
institution which would guard forever
1.-The memories of the struggle of the South tor
liberty. and evidences of her glorious proves
in the field, and after expressing his own warm
desires. invited responses from his comrades.
Within q month replies came from hundreds of
sources, such as to call forth his second letter,
of December, the same year. in which he says
''.rhe theory of the movement is this: That