Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01
THE VETERAN GUARD
LEE CAMP HEARTILY ENDORSES
CAPTAIN TALLEy's MOVEMENT.
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION RAISED.
Some Rather Heated Words Follow
DIR. Jones to the Rcscue-New ON
Monument Movement Is Approved.


bly,. which originated in Blue-Rdge
Camp. of Bucna Vista, that the pcni-
tertiary and Capitol Square be guarded
and policed by a company OF Confede-
rate veterans. The camp however, ques-
toned the constitutionality of the move
ment. and referred the resolution pre-
pared for adoption 20 a committee to in
quire into the laws bearing on the SUBJ
ject.
Immediately upon the assembling OF
the camp New-Year's greetings were re-
ceived from Colonel Robert ]. Fleming,
president of the Confederate Veteran AS
ISOLATION. of Washington. ID. c., to the
camp. to which suitable reply was di-
rected to be made.
THE NEW OFFICERS.
The election of officers was gone into,
| and the following were elected for the
ensuing term: Commander, John f.
Laughton, Jr.; First Lieutenant-Com-
mander. A. c. Peay Second Lieutenant
Commander, David c. Richardson;
Third Lieutenant-C ommander Joseph c.
Oickerson; Adjutant, j. Taylor Stratton;
Quartormaster, David A. Brown. Jr.;
Rev. Dr. James Power Smith; Ohicer-of-
Day. J. Henry Kracke; Treasurer, James
Il. Ferriter: Sergeant Major, ID. Smith
Redford; Vidette, Fred. b. Elliott; Color
Sergeant. l.. L. Lacy; Color Guard, Ed
ward j. Tuck; Color Guard, DR.. G. Smith;
Executive Committee-Miles T. Phillips,
Miles r. Rider and d. II. Pyle; Chairman
Sick Committee, James T. Gray.
On motion of Mr. BEDFORD a commit
tee Of three was appointed consisting of
Rev. DR.. John William Jones and Messrs.
Gervas Storrs and w. b. Freeman. TO
select some one TO deliver the annual
sermon in honor of General r. f. Lees
birthday. The sermon will be delivered
on Sunday, January 10th.
THE CONFEDERATE GUARD.
At this point in the proceedings the adj
jutant read the following communica-
ton:
Headquarters Blue Ridge Camp,
Confederate Veterans, No. a.
Buena VISTA Va, December TO- 1897.
Comrades: We enclose you herewith
series of resolutions adopted by our camp.
We hope they will meet with your APP
prevail.
There are some fifty-odd guards at the
Penitentiary of Virginia, and number
on the Capitol police force. This gives
enough to form a military company Our
plan is. that in lieu of these guards there
be organized a company of State troops,
TO be permanently stationed at or near
the penftentiary. and To be composed eX-
clusively of Confederate veterans so long
as they are available for this purpose.
Let these troops have, among other du-
ties. guard service at the penitentiary and
State Farm, as well as in and about the
Capitol, and also let them serve as a
nucleus for any military force that may
at any time be called for or needed.
This method would furnish a most ETH
ciont and well-disciplined guard, and we
earnestly believe accomplish consider
able saving to the State. and al the same
time furnish a congenial employment 10
many an old Confederate. 1t would give
employment to some sixty or seventy OF
our comrades.
True. it would take from the Supern-
tendent Of the Penitentiary and some OF
the basement officers a considerable
amount of patronage. but it would like
wise remove the temptation to combna-
tons and to sacrificing the interests of the
State to secure and retain public posi-
lions.
This is not wholly a new idea. This plan
operated with very satisfactory results
before the war with not the great incen-
tive now existing TO aid the Confederate
veterans.
We cordially invite the cooperation OF
each camp in the Commonwealth, and re-
quest that they take such steps as IN
their judgment will best secure the ac-
complishment OF our purpose, and forward
at once TO their representative in the
present Legislature this circular-letter
and attached resolution, if approved by
your camp We desire to secure action as
early in January as possible.
The resolution is as follows:
To the General Assembly of the State or
Virginia:
We. the undersigned. respectfully petition
your honorable body that you enact law
abolishing the present system Of providing
guards for the penitentiary and state
Farm. as well as police for the Capitol
Square, and substituting therefor pubic
guard composed of able-bodied eX-Con-
federate soldiers, who shall be fed ana
uniformed by the State and paid rea-
sonable monthly salary, so that the total
expense of maintaining this guard shah
not iced that incurred under the pres
ent system. BY this method the State
will secure better service, and aid in pro-
viding for worthy veterans, without any
additional expense.
BY order of the Camp.
j. w TALLEY, Commander.
j. L. Adair. Adjutant
MR.. TALLEY EXPLAINS
Captain Jack Taley, of the Buena vista
Camp was present, and, by invitation,
spoke TO the paper, and was followed by
Major ~ v Randolph. who heartily en-
dorsed the idea as the most feasible and
best plan for the honorable employment
Of the old Confederate soldier.
Mr.. Joseph C. Dickerson raised the
point that for any State 10 maintain
standing army would be unconstitutional,
and he moved that the matter be laid over
for a week and referred to Judge George
L. Christian for investigation on that
point.
Mr.. John Boiling suggested that the
movement be endorsed by the camp and
that the constitutional question be LETT
for the Legislature to discuss. Mr.. h. A.
Catlin favored the plan. and was followed
by Mr. d. A. Brown, who asserted that
the Confederate soldier is now too old 10
perform such arduous duties as would be
required Of them in guarding the penl-
tentiaries. He thought if the Legislature
wanted to help the old soldier II should
increase the pensions or increase the APP
propriation 10 the Soldiers Home.
General r. A. Brander sprang TO his
feet at this, and said that for one he de-
sired 10 say that he was not too old 10
perform duty for his State. He then re-
ferred 10 Mr. Dickerson's remarks, ana
said he objected TO too much parliament
tary matter being introduced. I'VE don't
want any parliamentarians in this camp"
he said, in conclusion.