Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-14
LETTER FROM R0USS.
HE HAS No VOICE IN CHOOSING Io-
CATION FOR INSTITUTE.
SEVERAL CITIES HAYE MADE OFFERS.
New orleans, Nashville, Atlanta,
and Washington All Willing TO
Put Up Money as Wen ~ Other
Inducements.
Inducements.

moreland Club last night upon a special
call OF the chairman. General Dabncy II.
Maury. There were present IN addition
20 the chairman, Colonel Gordon McCabe,
Major stiles. and Dr. Brock.
The meeting was called for the purpose
OF hearing and considering the reply Of
Mr.. Charles Broadway Rouss to General
Maurys letter OF the 50 instant. in which
the latter gentleman eloQuently and sue
cinctly set forth the claims Of Richmond
10 the establishment. within her bounds.
Of the proposed memorial institute to-
wards the erection Of which Mr. Rouss
has promised 10 contribute the sum of
$4,000 under certain conditions.
In his letter. which was printed in the
Dispatch. General Maury, after recount
ing what has already been accomplish Cd
here in the fire-proofng and preparation
OF the Davis Mansion as a museum for
the preservation Of the archives and other
memorials Of the late war. submitted to
Mr.. Rouss a suggestion as to whether 1t
would not be better for him TO appropriate
10 this institution an amount sufficient 10
maintain, and, If necessary, enlarge IL, in
stead Of attempting the establishment Of
q similar museum elsewhere. General
Na1ry also drew attention TO the fact
that tne Presidents house holds an unique
place IN the affections OF the southern
people, and that II now holds most I'M
yor.ant relics. which can never be trans
ferrei 20 any other institution.
LETTER OF MR.. ROUSS.
Mr. Rousss reply is as follows:
No. 549 Broadway. New York,
March II. lSg1.
sly Dear General.-Your letter as chair
man Of the Executive Committee Of the
Southern Historical Society. dated March
81. has been received
You remind me that some years ago the
city Of Richmond gave 10 the Ladies Me-
mortal Society of the South, and 10 the
Southern Historical Society the Presi-
dents house of the Southern COufederacy,
90 be a safe and cOmmodious building for
the preservation Of the archives and the
memorials Of the great war between the
States. Therefore, you would submit 10
mo whether II would not better Tor me 10
appropriate TO this institution an amount
sufficient 10 maintain, and, If necessary,
enlarge II. instead OF attempting the eStaO-
lshmcnt OF another similar museum else
where You then inform me that no other
memorial hall. which may hereafter be
erected, can ever get these memorials. or
any portion Of them. nor can any other
building ever equal this IN the affections
Of the southern people / fully appreciate
an that you say upon this subject, and
have frequently had my attention called
20 &c., not quite so forcibly and eloquently
as you have done, but suihciently 10
awaken, or enllVen, my patriotic spirit, as
well as my State pride, and also 20 renew
my admiration for my countrywomen VINO
have labored so earnestly and diligently,
as well as successfully, for their memo
rial and Historical Society in Richmond.
Ny Richmond friends have my best
wishes, and the sentiment which you eX-
press. and 50 ably maintain Ia Dehat OF
that city IS admirable, and Will, no doubt |
have great force and effect when eloquent
ly presented by Nirginia's repr esentauve, |
Colonel John b. Cary before the Board
Of Trustees Of the Confederate Memorial
Institute. when that body undertakes to
decide tho question Of location.
HE HAS NO VOICE.
You DO not know. or you forget, that
personally l have no voice In the matler
OF the location Of this edihce' except this'
Colonel a. G. Dickinson IS one or the |
Board Of Trustees, and will have one vote
upon that and all other subjects IN TINS
connection, and our thoughts are, ana al
ways have been in unison upon TINS SUD-
1ect But neither he nor myself ever nave, !
or ever will, interfere as TO location, but
viii heartily approve the action OF the
board whatever our private sentiments
may have been. / placed the matter IN
the hands of the Union OF confederate
Veterans, and their Board OF trustees |
gave me the privilege OF selecting one |
representative member Of that BODY ana
] named Colonel Dickinson, and that IS
as far as my power of location eNtends' /
and l regard this as d fortunate circum- |
stance as I am thus relieved of a great |
responsibility. l Will say 70 you, as tOIcl- |
hly as you have represented the claims |
OF Richmond as the proper place lor 10 |
eating this edihce. other southern cites. |
particularly Nashville. New orleans, ana !
Atlanta. have presented strong clalIns' !
also backed by contributions Of money, /
which VIII have some influence, no DOUBT, |
when the Board OF Trustees makes us |
final decision. Washington, also repre-
scented iu the board. has contributed |
uorev. and has right TO contend for the /
Prize Again. New Orleans has its Memo |
rial Hall. and its Museum Of Confederate /
Relies an Of which. l understand. are Of /
fsr-i 20 the institute. as well as a. Deausi-
fui tract Of land upon which to locate lhe |
building and this is accompanied Dy a |
mOneyed contribution also. Nashville ana /
Atlanta offer substantially the same.
WILL NOT INTERFERE.
10 is an for the best that am not my.
Falf 20 decide where my contribution OF
10000 shall 20, after an equal amount
has been raised by the Union or ConIeue-
rate Veterans. My love eNtenus 10 an,
ana will applaud me Guy thao w'i,S' o sti1i i'i
j am sure that my patriotism can go sun
farther, and take In our whole great T.
public. and IN response 20 a can lIoh tne
United Confederate Veterans would sehu
i.f NNnHh 10 DullA llit Aii.A't'''N IN, |
nations capital as cheeitully as 10 punI III
i' anywhere else in the South. but IL mas
tecn decided that Washington Is out OF
the question. so we will dismiss that en-
tfeiv. From what / have heard from ar
felclt members of the Board OF Irusltta,
J have arrived at the conclusion thal the
Memorial Institute is not intended. uncer
any circumstances, 20 lhttlIeIe IN 80
way with any similar institution now IN
existence. IL will not ask for or eNpecl
any relics now in the possession OF OlHc'
societies unless freely offered to us as
EIit or sold 20 US by such societies. We
VIII. Oi course accept eratultous conui /
buttons from any direction, but we WI
also be in the market both at the Norln
and South, 10 purchase what We caLnoI
Otherwise obtain. Many valuable CoHleuc-
tlte relics have found their way 10 thc
North some Of which Will. no DOUBT De
purchased and placed Ia the COniedeidtt
Memorial Institute. ana / have reason 20
believe that many articles Of value ana
importance 10 the people or the South wiz
Do presented 10 us by northern museums
as wen as bv individuals This institute
Mi no doubt. seek 70 maintain lsoI
teraratcly and distinctly as corpoIaly
body dts present form OF existence, anu
cannot under ifs charter. be merged mo
or Identified with any other organization,
except by some extraordinary action unutt
tne laws of the State that made II a leSal
i.ly-YlZ. the State Of Mississippi
liad you possessed a knowledge OF these
Facts of course. you would have known
mat I was unable although Nirsinlan.
i1 comply with the wishes OF yourseI pt
your society in making ltichmond me sle
o' fhIs temple. 20 be devoted 90 the pre-
teNaton Of the archives ana memoilais
o. ihe great war between the states
his PURPOSE is UNDERSTOOD