The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-05-17

held at !his session.
The sons cf Veterans held their
opening meeting in the evening
South Caroliua is prcmiuert in this
organization in every way, having
Efsy of the 40 camps IN existence.
When a negro brass bard struck
up Dixie in the convention E.li before
the exercises began the delegates
rose, stood On The chairs aid yelled
as OILY Southern men can yell.
NJ. Waller T. Cu!quitt, of Atlanta,
Ga, was elected C,mmarder-in-
Caief of the Sons OF Veterans.
The reception OF the Uuited States
cruiser, R.leigh, beginning at II a.
u , was cordial and animated. The
R ,leigh was che Of the main reli-
ances CT Dewey's feet in the bril-
liant victory ut Manila a year ago,
and is commanded By a noted officer,
Capt. joseph B. Coghlan. The
cruiser was decked with flags and
signal colcrs and made an imposing
eight moving across the bay. The
naval reseive fred the welcome
salute. Mayor pro TEN Zimmerman
Davis extended the official welcome.
The officers of the vessel we're re-
ceived at a l o'clock lunch, at which
Capt. Cogblan, Mayor S:nythe and
Chairman Sinkler made speeches.
The r leigh anchored at a CONVEX
lent poiut and thousands boarded
the gallant cruiser.
The report Of the committee on
credentials shows the following
representation: Virginia division, 7
camps, lo2 delegates; Mary lard
division, II camps, 20 delegates:
North Carolina Division, so camps,
% delegates: South Clro!ina divis
ion, l25 camps, 229 delegates; Ken
lucky division, 40 camps, SO dele
gates; West Virginia division, 81
camps, p delegates; Tennessee d.
vision, 2 camps, Is delegates; Indi
ana, l camp, ? delegates; Georgia,
12D camps, 22s delegates; Alabama,
1ol camps, 122 delegates; Tennes
see, y camps, is delegates; Mis-.
sissippi, 7G camps, IS delegates:
Louisiana, 50 camps, l27 delegates;
Florida sc camps, Al delegates; Mis-
souri,, II camps, SO delegates; Texas,
234camps, 2Gidclegates; Oklahonal7
camps, delegates; Indian Territory,
81 camps, Is delegates; Arkansas
division, II camps, IS delegates;
Pacific division, 5 camps, Is DELE
gates.
Maj. VIM n Robbins, the Cor
federate member CT the Gettysburg
National Park commission and ex-
congressman from Louisiana, offered
the following resolution, which was
referred to the committee on resolu
tons:
"Whereas: the government OF the
United States has undertaken and
is rushing forward tie work Of per-
u%anently marking the lines and
positions of The troops Of both the
contendirg armies on several great
battle6elds of the Civil war, amorg
them Gettysburg, Chickamauga,
Shiloh, V~icksburg and others, with
the design Of making these bl:tle-
6elds permanent memorials Ct the
proves of American soldiers without
respect CT seciior;
Resolved, That we, as Confederate
veterans, sympatbize with and COM
mend this patriotic purpose Of tn
government ard will lend our irhu-
ence aud aid towards its full realiza
ton.
Resolved that We trust the people
of the Southern States will take
early and effective steps to erect
upoa these battlef =lds suitable mon
unents in honor Of our glorious heroes
in gray who fought aud died for
what they believed to be right.
Resolved, That we r:joice with
our brethren throughout the Uaicn
that the sectional discord Of other
days is ended aud that We are a
reunited people, with one country
and one fig.
Several hours we're spent by the
committee in discussing Gen. Lses
resolution relative to Federal care OF
Confederate dead. A compromise
was agreed on expressing tie will
irgncss Of the veterans to have the
government keep the graves Of the
Southern dead in the North and
about Federal prisons, stating that
the womln Of the South would
prop2rly preserve and decorate those
in the South.
Wednesday was South Carolina