The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-05-17
THE GREAT REUNION.
GEN. JOHN 3. GORDON
STIRs HIS COMRADES.

of Northern Virginia, Leads
Parade of Grlszled
Veterans.
Charleston. May 10 Almost the
frss official act of the ninth annual
reunion of the United Confederate
veterans, which began it's sessions to-
day, was an attempt by Gen. Stephen
D. Lee of Mississippi to secure an in-
dorsemens of President McKinley's
suggestion, made in his recent At
lanta speech, that the care of the
graves of Confederate dead should be
undertaken by the Federal govern
ment. Action on the resolution,
however. was frustrated by motion
to refer it to the committee Oh reso
iutions in spite of rather general
sentiment to putt through with en-
fhusiasm AS this committee is yet
10 be appointed, it is not probable
that the matter will be taken up to
morrow, aud the ultimate fate of the
resolution is problematic. The me-
ton to refer originated with Dr. j.
William Jones of Virginia, and met
with some opposition, and it is be-
l;eYed the matter will eventually
cause some discussion, as there is .
decided faction IN favor Of Gen Lees
sentiments. while the opposition is
also said TO be very, strong The
reference to committee probably will
result ia amending the resolution SO
that while thanking the President AND
acknowledging his action as a grace.
fnl one. it will declare that the care
Of It's dead is duty Of the south
THE BUSINESS SESSION
The business sessions of the re-
unIon was called to order this morn.
ing by Gen G I. Walker, command
ing the South Carolina Division. in
the handsome auditorium erected for
the occasion by the city of Charleston.
It's enormous floor space was crowded
and thousands were unable to gain
admittance to the building. When
Gen John B Gordon, the comman
der in.chief, appeared upon the stage
he was greeted with shunders Of ap
plause. The baud struck mp Dixie,
and the veterans cheered and cneered
again. In calling the assembIage to
order Gen Walker spoke Of Charles
tens invitation to the veterans to
meet at the birthplace of secession,
and said the gavel he was using wac
that with which in 1860 had been
used to call to order the secession
convention. The chairs used by the
oficera today and the table of the
presiding officer were the same as
used on that memorable occasion.
When Gen Gordon was escorted
to the front of the stage his appear
ance was the signal for storm OF ap-
plause. Cheers and shrill ye!ls fo,
the commander in-chief mingled with
the crash of the band. and hats,
handkerchiefs. and flags were waved
franticaliy. When order was finally
restored the old Confederate chieftain
was presented by Gen Walker. and
delivered an eloquent address lie
spoke with all the vigor, e!oquence
and grace which have won for him q
national reputation as an orator.
Gen Gordon said:
"Governor, Gentlemen of the Com
mittee. My Fellow Countrymen Of
South Carolina: The food of emo
tions which stirs the sensibilities OF
these veterans today in their loving
answer to your gracious greeting
These emotions will speak to you in
language far more Impressive and
eloquent toan any words that I could
utter The ringing shouts from these
thousands of Confederate thtoats are
veritable echoes of the inspiring
resolutions of welcome unanimously
adopted by your general assembly.
While those resolutions have cheered
and thrilled every southern soldiers
heart, they were not needed to tell
Us of the reception that awaited US in
South Carolina Her whole history
and that OF her commercial capital
were the promise and guarantee OF
this magnificent reality For more
than two hundred years. made mem.
orable by heroic struggles in war and
brillient achievements in peace, the
names of South Carolina and OF