The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-05-19

Wade Hampton Chapter, d. A. r..
has determined to form a museum ol
Confederate relics in this city at the
South Carolina College. The follow.
ing correspondence will explain itself
COLUMBIA, S. c., April II, 1896.
General Wade Hampton, Colu nbia,
sc.
Dear Sir: The Wade Hampton
Chapter of the United Daughters OF
the Confederacy recently adopted
measures for the collection and per-
manent preservation, in our own State,
of Confederate relics, believing that
an enduring State depository and
museum OF such precious relics will
be valuable in nuturing proper senti-
ments and maintaining the truth
among our own people.
We naturally preserve with care the
treasured dust of our sacred dead, and
these cherished relics of our honored
heroes and guarded mementoes of our
hallowed cause will serve as testimony
and symbol of our loyalty to the Con-
federate soldiers and to the truth for
which they fought.
1t is the duty of the generation that
waged war for States rights to
provide for the proper education of
coming generations concerning the
principles which our people held and
the struggle they made to maintain
them. The associations linked with
the relics gathered in our proposed
museum will serve as a nucleus of
historic knowledge, promoter of
loyal interest, and an incentive to
| historic research among our young
people.
The members of our chapter are
| glad to know of the movement now in
progress over the South, and prose-
cuted through another organization in
| Columbia, to gather relics for gen.
| eral Confederate museum. AS indi-
| viduals they will aid in making the
| proposed national collection worthy of
| the cause it represents, and of the
noble men aud women whose labors to
make it success deserve applause.
We cannot have great national
museum OF Confederate relics without
the aid and stimulus of good State col
| lectiOns. The two will heipfully react
on one another. Local collections will
| foster State pride, awaken the his
toric spirit, arouse universal interest
in the State for such treasures, teach
the Importance Of q national museum
as common bond and source Of unity
ing knowledge and inspiration and
open the eyes of our people to the i'm
portance OF preserving and massing
together for historic uses souvenirs of
untold value in moulding the viows
and sentiments of our youth. The ma
tional collection for Battle Abbey at
Richmond, or wherever it shall be
located, will be improved in size and
quality, and enhanced in value In the
minds OF our people as priceless
treasury by the parallel creation and
maintenance of State collections.
We fought as Confederate States,
a nd ha nra Of
museums, representing our statehood
and our Confederation.
The materials gathered in the ma
tional and State collections will prove
a rich mine to the historians OF the
States and of the Confederacy. For
brief clear account of the leading
facts and associations connected with
the relic-written by the donor or lem
der thereof-would make each one an
illustration of principles, stimulus to
inquiry and clue to fruitful investi-
CATION
The people of each State would natu-
rally prize, preserve and classify ac-
cordlng to subjects, persons, places,
dates and events their relics, and thus
multiply in value the collection. If all
our relics were collected in one State,
that State would enjoy degree of
Confederate knowledge and interest
not possessed by other States and the
result would be that the State owning
the historic records and relics would
be made unduly prominent in the pages
of history.
Every State should have in the ma
tional museum some relic or relics of
each command and noted commander,
| representing her sons, and also of the
Important events that occurred in her
borders. The same sort OF collection
should be made for each State mu-
scum, which would be fuller in details
Of persons and events OF mainly local
interest.
chapter the board OF directors ap-
pointed committee consisting of the
Undersigned, and charged with the
duty of collecting, preserving ana ex-
| hibiting at stated times in the large
room in the South Carolina college
| library, given by the college authori-
ties as depository for such relics
until a permanent place can be suita-
bly, provided. This room is devoted
solely to this purpose and is under the
charge of our chapter, and there all
relics contributed will be sacredly
| kept and exhibited under proper regu-
lation by committee from our chap
| ter.
! A South Carolina collection would
be incomplete without the gift or loan
OF sword, or some other memento,
from Carolina's most illustrious Con-
federate son and hero, General Wade
Hampton Hampton's sword on the
battlefield, Hampton's voice and guild
ing hand in the days of South Caro-
lina's trial and gloom after the war.
Hampton's wisdom and craftsmanship
in the council halls OF the republic
these are among the chief glories in
the history of our State.
Therefore, we hope that you will
contribute to our State collection as
gift or loan, some war memento that
will aid in kindling our youth to
! emulate your heroism, aud stand fast
by the principles for which you risked
your life and shed your blood on the
battlefelds of right.
With best wishes for your welfare.
Faithfully yours,
(Signed Mrs. j. w. Finn, chairman;
Mrs. II. S. DesPortes, Mrs. David
Cardwell, Mrs. ID. Gambrill, Mrs. AR
thur Metts, Mrs. James FL. Woodrow
committee
HAMPTONS REPLY.
The answer OF General Hampton to
the foregoing will be preserved. The