Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-13
A LETTER OF ExpI.ANATIor

-.
letter De sent Governor Charles 4. O'Fer-
SIall, ana also that copies Of the same be
~ V. l"Shsu the daily newspapers Of this
tly, with instructions to give the same
'"o "iuest circulation possible:
. headquarters X. T.. Lee Camp
sons OF Confederate Veterans,
Lee-Camp Hall,
~ Richmond. Va. July r. 1897.
10 Ills EXcellency, Charles T. OFerrall,
governor OF Virginia. Richmond, Va:
various publications have appear
ed through the press concerning our ac-
toh IN eiecting you an honorary member
OF thls camp. These reports have dis
torted our true feelings and conveyed the
laise impression of some objection TO the
election OF a man and a Confederate SOL
u5es whose record In the fierce conflict
OF lS5l-bO Is sufficiently attested by his
prOihouon from the ranks to the grade OF
coionel; whose bravery is proved by
many honorable wounds received in bat
ne the marks Of which he bears even
TO TINS day; whose love for the memories
OF the confederate cause, as he has often
SHOWN Dy tongue and pen. time cannot
uim nor distance fade, and whose place
IN the hearts OF his native people has
been proved by his frequent elevation to
Places of public honor and trust, from
that OF county clerk TO the highest office
within the gift Of noble and chivalrous
people. The members of this camp feel
that we have done ourselves no greater
orary member OF our camp. All reports.
rum0rs, and publications originated
IN dference of opinion among
the members Of the camp. as TO
the effect Of certain action taken
by the camp on the lst day or
June. 1897. On that date you were elected
an honorary member Of the camp. pur-
suant to resolutions submitted by the
Entertainment Committee Of the second
anniversary Of the camp This was done
own sfF of i4-
ton for your splendid and heartily APP
plauded address delivered on that occa-
sion As recently discovered however
owing TO the absence of our secretary
you were not notified of this action, nor
was the same recorded on the minutes OF
the camp. A short time since. when the
question was brought 10 the attention OF
the camp there arose a difference OF
opinion as 10 the best course TO pursue
one side were in favor of ignoring the
previous action altogether and elect you
a second time an honorary member;
others contended that the previous action
of the camp should be emphasized and
recorded on the minutes. The latter con-
tentiOn prevailed on this question, which
was one purely of parliamentary proce-
dure.
Trusting that this letter will serve as
correction Of the unfortunate position
I'm which we have been placed and re-
gretting the circumstances which have
made this action necessary. we beg TO
remain, sir, yours respectfully.
r. r. LEE CAMP No. l. SONS OF con-
FEDERATE VETERANS.
Minetree Folkes. Commander.
Edwin Courtney, Adjutant.
TRIBUTE TO HIS EXCELLENCY.
Speaking to his resolution. Mr.. Cox said
he felt it TO be a duty incumbent upon
him by reason Of his membership in that
organization to defend the memory of the
wearers of the gray. When the memory
Of these men is traduced, he said, who
should take the matter up and defend
them against Misrepresentation but their
sons? The subject of the letter he had
submitted. he said needed no euloglum.
Briefly but graphically and in glowing
terms he sketchcd the military career OF
Governor O OFerrall from the time he first
entered the army as private, one of the
first six men from his county, until at
the end of the war he had risen by sheer
force Of his own valor and recognized
ability TO be a colonel in cavalry and the
commander of all the cavalry in the Val
ley of Virginia. What need, he asked,
could there be for eulogium on such a
career as this? When peace came, he
continued. he returned to his work and
to his mother, with all the energies Of his
brilliant mind and the devotion of a
loving heart. From County Clerk he had
risen TO the highest Office in the gift OF
an appreciative public He had grown
gray in public service
The resolution was seconded by Lieu
tenant Leslie Spence.
MR.. WALDEN'S EXPLANATION.
Lieutenant Walden said he desired TO
make a personal explanation. He thought
he had been unfairly treated by members
of the press and had been to some ex-
tent misrepresented. He had never OBJ
jected TO the election of the Governor as
an honorary member; he hpd merely ap-
pealed from a decision of the Chair on a
question of parliamentary procedure
Far be it from me" he said, ito object
to Governor O'Ferrall being made an
member Of this camp" to which |
Colonel Harwood, who was present, an
swered audibly "No; you're right"
Mr.. Walden. continuing, expressed the |
sincere hope that the camp would adopt |
the resolution offered by Comrade Cox |
Il
Lieutenant Spence said he was in a po- |
sition to say TO the camp that the Gov |
ernor now understood the situation tho |
roughly, and had no hard feelings to- |
wards any one.
Commander Folkes said he had seen |
-
planned that the question raised had been |
one Of parliamentary procedure, and that |
Lieutenant Walden, who raised the ques-
ton was a great student of parliament
tary rules and the mentor Of the camp |
Dn ali knotty questions. He said as far |
as Lieutenant Walden was concerned the |
matter had been Strengthened out and |
he camp had also been completely exon |
srated in the eyes of the Governor.
The resolution was then put and car
ried by a rising vote. mem. con-
OFFENDED BY PUBLICATIONS.
1t was then stated that the Governor
had been particularly wrought up" and
disturbed over the publication of COM
ment upon the action OF the camp in |
the Baltimore Sun and the Roanoke
World.
A gentleman who was present. and Is
close TO the Governor, but who desired
his name withheld, was asked TO state
what he knew in this connection He
said the publication in the Roanoke
World had been more particularly often
i've. But il was a matter which lay |
between two men, and did not
concern the camp at all. He expressed
he hope that the unpleasantness exist
ng in that quarter would be as amicably
ma honorably settled as the matter be-
ween the camp and the Governor had
,een. He hoped that the editors would
rave the manhood to come out and ac-
knowledge their mistake. In conclusion,
he said he did not think there was a
on Of a Confederate veteran In that
DOM. who had a father living or dead,
Who did not heartily endorse these reso-
...so,,c paga riding the 4