Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-15
Decentralization of "Ex-Rebeis' on
Account OF the 6. A. X.
(Snyder (Pa.) TriDune.J


The ex-rebeIs of the South are at pres
ent pretty well worked up over the at
tempt to have the National Encampment
OF the Grand Army of the Republic hold
its annual session OF 1899 in the city OF
Richmond, Va.
The project originated with q number
OF the active young businessmen OF Rich
mond They were of the opinion that
the meeting OF this honorable and patri-
otto body of men, in which is TO be found
n large number of the active and In
duential businessmen OF the North, East,
and West. would be a means OF booming
their city, and cause enterprising north
ern capitalists to locate among them. In
order TO have their project succeed, they
desired to secure the hearty cooperation
OF their prominent ex-rebel veterans.
Accordingly, the proposition was laid
before the Robert l.. Lee Camp OF Con-
federate Veterans. The camp promptly
voted against the proposition by the
adoption OF the following resolution,
which was introduced by eX-Judge
George Il. Christian, a leading lawyer
and banker Of Richmond:
whereas, this camp has been asked oy
the Young Mems Business Association OF
this city TO endorse the invitation ex-
ttnQtu ny IL " AAS vi eAAAA nanny
Republic to hold it's annual encampment
In this city In 1893:
"Resolved. That it is the sense OF this
camp that 1t is both inexpedient and I'M
proper for this camp 10 endorse said
movement In any way whatever"
1he following letter from Colonel John
Cussons. the Virginia state commander
of the United Confederate Veterans,
copied from the New York Journal of the
It'll instant, throws some light on tho
subject or rebel reconstruction:
perhaps nothing would be more In
structlve or more salutary than close
interminging OF our southern youth with
the men OF the Grand Army for the iilu-
sion which northern literature has been
fostering among our young people would
be rather rudely dissipated when mixed
assortment OF these gentlemen should be-
gin to regale you with their camp songs on
Marching Through Georgia. and the
Sour Apple-Tree,' ana 'Sherldan's Ride
I'm the valley and TO be less than pre-
pared for this would impose a restraint
upon your guests which would rob their
reunion OF one OF its striking charac-
teristics.
II fully Join with you I'm the opinion
that for Richmond or any other southern
city 20 assume the relation OF host to an
organization, which is partly composed
Of negroes would at this time be peculiar
~ uniting, and l sincerely hope that
some other method may DO devised for
the advancement OF Richmond's welfare"
We are decidedly OF the opinion that
when the Government OF the United
States allows the ex-rebels to erect
monuments TO commemorate their
treason, not only on southern soil, but I'm
tho North as well; allows them to cele-
brate the birthday OF that arch traitor,
JEFF. Davis. as we'll as that Of General
Robert Il. Lee. and I'm numerous other
ways permits them to show their love and
attachment 10 the Lost Cause, making
them tho benehcent recipients Of the
nations bounty in numberless ways. that
these ex-rebels certainly should be will
ing TO tolerate the meeting OF the ex-
Union soldiers in their city. and those
ears which were so deaf to the cries and
groans Of our dying and starving sol
diers at Libby and Andersonyile should
not be so sensitive 20 the grand, old
Union army songs at this late day.
And when they predicate further OBJ
lection TO this meeting upon the pre-
text that there are col0red men belong
ing to the Grand Army, 10 say the least
f. decidedly a fiimsy excuse. As an
ex-Union soldier, we are decidedly OF
the opinion that a respectable colored
man who wore the army blue during the
war Is as good as any ex-rebel that ever