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

I
| These noble sentiments went directly to the
hearts OF nll true people with n arnling in
i fiueuce which inspired afresh the common de-
sire TO construct truly monumental institu-
States and enduring not for one age but for
i all ages. They aroused the deeply In terested
| attention of the surviving actors IN the Con-
i fCderate period and upon the presentation OF
i the conception and plan to the convention At
i Houston. where General Stephen D. Lee pre-
sided. and the gallant Gordan represented the
| feeling OF his comrades in saying II wish to
place before this body a matter which is of
supreme interest to the survivors, and ex-
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 ana plans
/ of one who as n private soldier ia all the yir-
ginia campaigns, added laurels to his own
name and lustre to the history of his own
State and TO our arms"
We shall not attempt to describe the enthu-
siasm of the vast body of people gath red in
/ the Auditorium at Houston when Colonel
Wood was introduced by Adjutant General
Moornau and stated he was authorized by
Conrade Rouss to make cash subscription of
800, coo. as his Individual subscription TO the
Memorial fuHu when the monument assumed
proper shape. 1t is 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
the enterprise we will proceed further to ex-
plain to Won what is contemplated by this rare
movement. II is proposed that some Southern
city shall be honored with the custody OF
grounds, n building and great collection of
sacred menentoes representative and Illus
tratiye of the period of the Confederate war
Several large cities are already competing for
that Eonor. They understand its 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
a 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 will unite in cordial fraternity in max
ing the fortunate location the center to which
all efforts will converge.
The building win be stately fire-proof du-
rable structure designed by skillful architects
and built with the utmost care. IL will be
planned upon q large scale, ample enough for
the due cure and custody of all mementoes
that can be collected from all quarters It
will have Il spacious hall for Confederate
gatherings; extensive apartments for q great
library of books, maps, papers, magazines,
manuscripts, diaries aud records, all furnish
lug the data of Confederate history, inches
and galleries for portraits, paintings, photo
graphs, paintings and pictures-all of Con-
federate peopls, places and scenes. Confed-
crate medallions and statuafy will adorn the
grounds and building, and room will be pro-
vided for all relics and illustrative objects of
every character. This is but q cold outline of
that great Memorial edifice in which viii 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, aud as far as possible n
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 10
contribute in writing yonr knowledge of events
that trdnspired during the days of the Con-
federacy for filing in these memorial archives.
All parts of the land viii vie among them
selves to be foremost in sending these sacred
and invaluable mementocs. 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 undertakings only
remains for us to answer the question how can
such laudable and momentous work be dones
Mr.. Rouss has answered that question on bis
part by the munifcent tender of SiOO, GOO. We
are to reply by popular donation within n
few months of u similar sum and a board of
wisely chosen administrators selected from all
parts of the country will execute your will
without other reward than the priceless con-
scousncss of having carried into effective
operation the most patriotic scheme of the
nge. Now, in order that we might have
practical plan for raising our part of the con-
tribution the Committee on Ways and Means
having taken this special question into the
most careful consideration proposed a plan
of action which the General Committee
carry into immediate operation. The Com
mittee on Ways and Means, composed of Col.
Z. G. Wood, Maj. C. w. r, Garrett and Cap
tain l.. e. Tennent, appreciated the fact that
to raise the additional amount of 100000 sis
the mos. important matter that can occupy
our attention, as upon this point rests the sue
their confidence after full consideration of the
sources that the required sum will be rapidly
raised. They point out as the first source the
great body OF Confederate Veterans already
lIsta
", fifty thousand strong, and next q large
number of Confederates bclonging to various
assoc iatiops besides those who are not attached
to the Order, altogether certainly not less than
a hundred thousand whose hearts are in tbs.
movement. The noble women OF the South
who were first to propose memorials OF the
Confederate cause and will be the last to cease
the efforts to perpefuate our sacred memories
and our fame win 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 o short time the rich in
hertanee 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 IL II
was proper TO commit it TO them without our
aid. Besides, there are thousands OF friends.
North and South, who perceive the real worth
to our whole country of this institution rs
means of confirming and Increasing the patri-
otie American spirit, and viii be glad 70 en-
roll their names among ILE II 10
better to reach all these interested classes By
concerted action through a general popular
subscription than to accept the most liberal
donations of few men of wealth. IL is also
Internationally true that far more than the
amount which must be added TO the donation
of Mr.. Rouss to make it available is now at
this moment ready for delivery in small
amounts by true and enthusiastic people It
is also true that this ready general contribu-
ton must be made ut once without any delay
and to that end some simple feasible plan Of
solicitation must be put into Immediate oper-
alton The executive committee, composed Of
Col. J. R. Mcintosh, Gen. Chalaron and Maj.
Garrett, will organize that plan through which
every Camp and Association Of Confederates
in the United States, every chapter Of the
Daughters of the confederacy, aud every
branch of the Sons Of Veterans will be eff
ciently reached. Our true and tried women,
with whom such work Is a labor of love, viii
be specially enlisted and viii be Irresistible
Through all these agencies the cities, towns
and country will be quickly caDvassed and the
Executive Committee will be made able TO re-
port the triumphant achievement of the sacred
offering made in full by her people Further
detailed description of these practical means
70 secure speedy. enthusiastic concerted action
is not here necessary since the Executive Com
mitfee will at once prepare and for ward all
literature explanatory Of the plan.
We must now say to you that the bright hope
of this sacred cause which is now in the bloom
cannot be withered except by your delay in
executing the feasible plan submitted. mot
+ I'll - =.