Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-02-16

manning sum would either be sub
scribed by the larger cities in the
South. or that the filling up of the
deficit might be intrusted to the la
dies auxiliary, upon whose energy
aud self-ahnegation no patriotic en-
terpr;se ever called in vain.
The plans of the organization were
confided to the hands of committee
composed of members chosen to rep
resent every Southern State and di-
vision of the Confederate veterans
organizations. These gentlemen met
in council at Atlanta early in Octo-
ber, 1895. 1t was an august body,
composed of men who had ssdone
some service TO the State, both mil
itary and civil. There were geDer-
ais and judges, politicians and busi-
ness men among them. all of them
ready and anxious 10 give the best
of their time and thoughts TO the
purpose they had at heart.
Captain j. II. Carter, of Virginia.
was chosen chairman, and they soon
set to work dividing up the main
body into subcommittee intrusted
with the consideration of the various
branches of the plan.
A system of receipts for subscrip-
ton, resembling very much the or
dinary bank-book, was decided upon,
and it was provided that, in future,
there should be certificates of mem
bership in the Battle Abbey given TO
every holder of such a voucher. A
permanent Office was appointed in
New Orleans; regulations for the
deposit of funds were adopted, and
a charter was drawn up for ratifica-
tion at the next meeting of the Uni
ted Confederate Veterans at Rich
mond, in June, 1896.
But, in spite of all the work the
committee accomplished, and they
certainly succeeded in fulfilling G
great MANY tasks in phenomenally
short time, they were unable to de-
eide upon any definite site for the
Abbey. Already, during their Sec
ond days sitting, this subject came
under discussion, for the eager dele
gates from different places waited i'm
patiently to set their claims before
the committee, each inwardly assured
that his argument would be convinc-
ing.
Strange to say, it was n Southern
woman who was first permitted to
plead her cause. She was living in
Washington, and suggested the cap
ital as the proper place for the re-
pository of Southern records. Her
charitable services to the confeder-
ate veterans have been great, and it
is said that Miss Lillian Pike stated
her case most eloquentiy in council,
in which she was ably supported by
Captain Hickey. They coutended
that the glory of Southern prowess
was equally the property of all Sec
tions of the country, and should
therefore be commemorated in the
National capital. Judge w. l.. Cal
houn aud General Evans spoke for
beautiful Atlanta. They thought
that city which had suffered so
cruelty by the war. and recovered so
superbly. was entitled to be adorned
by The Southern memorial abbey.
Judge Maddox and Colonel Feiden
supported their plea, the latter urg-
ing, as an additional reason, the CEN
trail location and easy facilities OF
communication which Atlanta offers.
Colonel Wood spoke for New Or
leans. The cause of Richmond, the
old capital of the Confederacy. was
intrusted to Colonel Cary
Both these cities had alike hled
for the Confederacy, and suffered
for their faith during the period of
reconstruction. Both of them had
given birth to brave men who fought
and died in the Cause of constitution
al liberty, and both of them had
already established permanent re-
positories for the relics and records
of the past. In New Orleans the
beautiful fire-proof Memorial Hall,
adjoining the Howard Library, Is
filled with valuable collection of
papers and mementoes of all kinds,
and in Richmond the ladies have re-
Gently acquired the noble old Brock
enborough mansion, the i" White
House" of the Confederacy.
Here, where the videts used to
ride up hreathless with dispatches
(Concluded on Fourth Pdse.)