The record-union., 1899-05-13
GRAVES OF CONFEOERAIES.
SOUTHERNERS OBJECT TO Nc
KINLEY'S SUGGESTION
That the Responsibility Of Their
Care be Placed in Hands of
the Government.

CHARLESTON Is. c., May H.
With spirited, and at times stormy
session, the ninth annual reunion of
the United Confederate Veterans was
to-day brought to a close. General
John B. Gordon, Chief,
and all the old officers were reelected.
Louisville, KY, was chosen as the next
place of meeting, and the question Of
Federal care of Confederate graves
was disposed of by the adoption of a
substitute resolution which declines
the Presidents suggestion, except as TO
those graves located in the North, and
reserving to the women of the South
the duty of caring for those in the Sc
ceding States.
BITTER DISCUSSION IN CONVEN-
TION.It
CHARLESTON. Is. O., May 1.-THE
report of the Historical Committee was
read and adopted by the Confederate
Veterans Union to-day Robert Lee,
Jr., grandson of General Robert E.
Lee, was introduced to the convention
ana then DR.. ]. L. Curry addressed the
gathering, reviewing the conditions
that caused the war. He declared there
was no rebellion and no rebels, but a
speech created wild enthusiasm. He
said the heroism of the Southern wo-
men had never been even approached
in the history of the world
The Committee on Resolutions then
reported the substitute for the resolu-
ton on the Federal care of the Con-
federate graves, recommending that
the United Confederate Veterans rec
ord their sincere appreciation of the
utterance of the President of the United
States in Atlanta in December last
concerning the assumption of the care
CT the graves of Our Confederate dead
by the national Government that Eve
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 the Confederate dead, it
recommends the care of their final
resting place as a sacred trust, dear to
the hearts of Southern women, and we
believe we can safely let it remain
there
Rev. Taylor Martin of Pulaski, VT,
spoke against the adoption of the re-
port. He said the veterans had moth
ing to do with any suggestion from the
President, and they woulG never be
placed in the attitude of being under
obligations to the Government that
slew Southern men. He said the dead
heroes had rather lie in unmarked
graves, kept green by loyal Southern
women, than sleep beneath the costliest
monument the Federal Government
could erect
Theodore Busbee of North Carolina
declared in a speech that it would be
ddseourtesy to the chief of the nation.
and a disgrace to the Confederacy if
the report was not adopted as received
from the committee.
The discussion then grew very Bit
ter. and great confusion followed.
There is too much McKinIeyism in
it," shouted a veteran in the audience.
Various expressions followed this,
many of them bitter and sensational.
The report was finally adopted with
cheers.
The following officers for the ensuing
year were elected: COMMANDMENTS
Chief, General John B. Gordon; Com
mander of the Department of Northern
Virginia, General Wade Hampton:
Commander of Tennessee. General
Stephen D. Lee: Commander of The
Department of the Trans Mississippi.
General w. L. Cabell.
In accepting, General Gordon said
there were now Confederate camps at
New York, Boston, Chicago and CO.
lumbus, O.
General Colquit Of Atlanta was elect
ed Comma rder-in- Chief of the Sons of
Confederate Veterans. His only op-
ponent was Robert Lee of Virginia
The next reunion will be held at
Louisville, KY.