The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-16


spirited and, at times, stormy session,
the ninth annual reunion Of the United
Confederate Veterans was today
rough to a close. General John e.
Gordon, commander-in-chief, and all
the old officers were reelected, Louis
Vile, KY, was chosen as the next place
of meeting and the question of federal
care of the confederate graves was
disposed of by the adoption of a substi-
tute resolution which declines the pres
/. idents suggestion, except as to those
graves located in the north, and re-
serving to the women of the south the
duty of caring for those in the seeding
, states and Maryland. The adoption Of
p this resolution and the report that ac-
companied it precipitated a debate
which verged upon the sensational and
at times much confusion and disorder
prevailed.
The resolution adopted in the place
of the one offered by General S. D. Lee
is in full as follows:
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Your committee to whom was re-
ferred the resolution introduced by
General S. D. Lee, beg to report the
80 no - IAIC
mendation of the that the
same be adopted"
THE United Confederate Veterans,
in this annual reunion assembled, de-
sire to place upon record their sincere
appreciation of the u~tterances of the
president of the United states in At
ianta in December last, concerning the
assumption of the care of the graves
of our confederate dead by the national
government.
1--WE appreciate the very kindly senti-
ment expressed and we shall welcome
any legislation which shall result in the
care of the graves of our comrades in
the northern states by our government.
In regard to our dead, whose re-
mains are resting in the states which
were represented in the Confederacy
and in Maryland, the care of their final
resting places is a sacred trust, dear to
the hearts of southern women, and We
believe that we can safely let it there
remain"
Several very vigorous speeches were
made in opposition to the whole prin-
ciple involved in the matter, but the
final vote upon the resolution was prac-
tically unanimous and the announce
ment of it's passage was cheered.
Another incident was the mention Of
the southern lynching question by DR..
". L. M. Curry, one of the surviving
members of the confederate congress-,
- who, while denOuncing mob law, de-
Tended the south and declared her peo-
pie should see to it that the record Of
her future should he as unstained as
that of her past.
The all important report of the com
mittee on school history was also pre-
scented and adopted unanimously as
meeting all questions that had led TO
the agitation of the subject.
Tonight at the auditorium a grand re-
ception to the veterans was held and
.ad address delivered by Colonel Henry
L. Turner, of Chicago, commanding the
First Illinois regiment, who has been
the guest of the city during the re-
union. A brilliant ball was given at
the Isle of Palms to the sponsors, maids
of honor and Daughters of the Con-
federacy." The veterans and visitors
are rapidly departing and the ninth
reunion Of the men who wore the gray
is practically at and end.
THE SESSION OPENED.
The convention was opened at 1890
O'Clock with the singing of the Doxol-
& which was followed by prayer by
the Rev. DR.. S. P. H. Ellwen, of South
Carolina.
General Gordon introduced General
NJ. L. Bonham, of the South Carolina
Ons of Veterans, who delivered an ad-
dress.
He was followed by Mr.. Kirk, COM
mander of the trans-Mississippi depart
ment. His remarks were of the nature
of a eulogy of the confederate soldier.
General Gordon then presented Robert
E. Lee, Jr, who was cheered to the
echo by the assembly.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HIS
TORY.
General S. d. Lee presented the report
of the committee on history, which was
unanimously adopted. This was one OF
the most important matters before the
: convention and the reading of the re-
J port was listened to with close, atten-
ton. The report alluded to the wal
with Spain as a factor in obliteratins
the shadows of the wan between the
states, and refers to the prompt re.
Spouse of the southern states to the
call for troops, as showing to the whole
country the depth and fervor of south
-ern patriotism. Continuing the repor
says:
president Mckinley displayed tn,
spirit of the American soldier, Whe1
he chose from his former foes the gal
rant Wheeler, the steadfast Fftzhugl
Lee. the chivalrous Butler, and man!
others of our own brave comrades, y
marshal the hosts of the union. w
are glad that General Wheeler had an
other opportunity to exhibit the ngnt
ing qualities of the confederate soldler
and that L~ietenants Hobson, Vlcto
Blu and Worth Bagley. in the navy
showed the country of what STUN on
young men are made. nee more Tn
blood of the north and the south IA
been poured out together-no longe
beneath contending standards IN tn
bitterness of war between the states
but now beneath one flag, to the glor,
of one country. These dead, at least
belong To us all. The last hateful mem
DRY thai could divide our county l
buried with them. About their grave
kneels a new nation. loving ali her chill
dren everywhere the same"
Abiding to the question Of confet!e
rate graves, the report says:
THE reCrrt generous words of Pres
ident Mckinley commencing thu cor
federate lea to the natl ms care, ar
the expression of a sentiment CROWN
that the deeds of the con
n federate soldier are the glory Of tn
whole country, and that his memoir
lis worthy to be cherished wnereve
self-sacrifce commands sympathy {
brave actions strike a responsive Choir
in noble hearts"