The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-08-02

Charleston reunion, Texas, with her
234 camps, was only entitled to 267
votes, while South Carolina, with l24
camps, was entitled to 239 votes. AS
compared with last year, your increased
interest is manifested by the payment
of your dues At the 1898 reunion
you had only 143 votes, and with %
votes added by new camps, this year
you were entitled to 239 votes.
Tgenty-four counties of the State
are entitled to the regimeHtal organiza-
ton, aud in some of these the regiments
have been fully organized.
Every effort has been made to slim
ulate the formation Of new camps. But
with IT,, stimulus of our grand reunion
of all the u z. V. in South Carolina
this year, added to the other efforts
made, our growth has only been twelve
camps. So am forced to believe that
our high water mark has been reached.
Some more new camps will probably be
formed, but they will not more than
replace those which from natural
causes, must die out. The Confederate
veterans are fast passing away.
Feeling that we have reached the
probable heighth Of our prosperity, |
congratulate you, comrades of the
South Carolina division, on the splen-
did work you have accomplished. l
may safely say that you have made
this the very best division of that
glorious band of veterans gathered in
to the folds of the U. G. Y. You have
shown in every way the greatest life,
interest and activity. As have said,
only the state of Texas, FIVE times as
large, excels you in the number Of
camps. Our sister States, touching US
on the north and on the west, both
twice as large, neither have as many
camps as you have No division excels
you in your contributions to the sup
port of the U. C. V. In the love for
your old Confederate comrades, so
magnifcently evidenced in the splen-
did reception you gave your comrades
of the south, in last May, none as ever
come near you. Your devotion to the
u. C. V. is only exceeded by your low
ing devoted heroic services to the Con-
fede1acy. You can be as proud Of be-
ing a veteran Of the South Carolina
division as of having been Confeder-
ate soldier.
When I truly say this Of you, COM
rades, you will know how much | ap-
preciate having received at your hands
the most distinguished honor Of my
life, that Of being placed at the head
of this splendid organization. | feel
that to be trusted and respected and
honored BY such body of heroes, is
the noblest distinction which could be
bestowed on me by the hand of man.
As we go rapidly down the hill Of life
We old survivors Of the grandest strug-
gle ever made by heroic men, will draw
closer and closer together. When the
last one Of US reaches the end of all
things worldly, when the last survivor
of the Confederacy is buried, them furl
that banner which is to US our emblem
of bravery, devotion, truth and free
dom. How vivid must have been the
principles which inspired our fallen
cause, when thirty-four years after its
death we gather to revere them, and
pay loving tribute to our comrades.
How free must be our country IN
which such glorious memories can be
loudly and openly treasured.
Our mother State, true to her sons
who risked all in her defence, gives an
nually according to her ability from
her restricted purse, not as measure
of her love, 800, 900 in pensions. This
is equal, ! believe, to that given by her
sister States Of the south, and exceeds
the amount given by many. There has
been some complaint as to the dlstrl-
button of these tensions. At the re-
quest of Camp Wade Hampton, have
appointed committee of one delegate
from each camp to consider this mat
ter, and they will probably submit to
you proper recommendations to cure
the evils felt to be existing, 1 feel
that the grand old State of South Caro-
lima, equally with you, desires this pen
sion money to reach only the deserv.
ing. I have no doubt that her legisla-
ture will carefully consider any rea-
sooable recommendation you may
make.
The committee on the monument to
the women Of the Confederacy, which
you determined to erect. as tribute
to these devoted saints, the girls be-
hind the men behind the guns" will
doubtless make a report, and trust it
will be one of great encouragement.
At your 1895 convention you earnest
ly endorsed the action Of the legisla-
ture and its Chickamauga commission,
and urged the erection of the monu
ments on the battlefelds of Chicka-
mauga to the South Carolina troops
who helped to win that glorious victory.
Since then, several Confederate States
have erected the monuments, beside
large number of the northern States.
Our State found it impossible at that
time to make the necessary appreprl-
alton, but with the great interest IN
this State caused by our recent May
reunion, am lncllneo 20 LnlnA tuaI Iue
moment is opportune to resume the
matter, anc urge prompt action on the
part os our legislature that South Car
olina may not be behind her sister
States in honoring her heroes who fell
at Chickamauga. Like action should be
extended to all battleGelds similarly
marked, as soon as they are ready to
receive monuments to southern hero
ism.
In the month of May you had the
qualification OF meeting your comrades
from all over the south, on the soil Of
your own beloved South Carolina.
With the magnificent hospitality for
which this state is famous, you enter
tanned them, and sent our visitors
home with God bless South Caro-
| 1;aot an oil line