The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-03

we are survivors OF the Confederate
army and navy. The number OF such
can never increase. No now condi
tions can give qualification for mem
bership In the U. G. V. Each year We
lay away to their immortal rest many
of our beloved comrades, the mon wh(
wore the gray. Each year our mem
bers become fewer. But the interest
OF the veteran In maintaing this grant
organization OF old comrades does moi
soon die.
During the past year twelve NOR,
camps have been formed, and the tota
number OF camps presumed to be alive
now In the South Carolina division i.
l23. How many OF those may be prac
tically dead | know not, but will be
able to form some estimate after
have met the commanders this after
noon Ninety.six campo have pais
their dues In full to tho u. G. ", or tt
tho South Carolina division, 80 it ie
fair to assume that these camps are
alive and active. Many of those which
have not paid l believe to be alive.
Hence 1872 is not far from the actual
number OF live camps in this division
| think the showing Is magnificent
one. by far tho smallest State Of our
beloved Confederacy, South Carolina
has today moro camps than any other
State, except Texas, five times as large
The interest Of the camps Of this divi.
sion is clearly demonstrated by the
payment OF arrears. At the last, the
234 camps was only entitled to 207
votes, while South Carolina, with l2a
camps, was entitled to 2S9 votes. AS
compared with last year, your Increased
interest Is manifested by the payment
OF your duos. At the 1893 reunion YOU
had only 143 votes, and with 22 votes
added by the now camps, this year you
were entitled to 239 votes.
Twenty-four counties Of the State
arc entitled to the regimental organic
alton, and in some Of these the regi.
ments have been fully organised.
Avery effort has been made to slim
with the stimulus Of our grand reunion
Of all the U.C. ", 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 wator mark has been reached
Some moro new camps will proba 5ly
be formed, but they will not moro 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 tho splen:
| di1 work you have accomplished.
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. CIV. You have
| shown In every way the greatest life,
| interest and activity. AS | have said,
| only the State Of Texas, five times as
large cxcels you in the number CT
camps. Our sister States, touching us
on the north and on the west, both
| twice al large, neither have as many
camps AS you have. No division excols
you in your contributions to the sup
port OF the U. q. V. In the love for
your old Confederate comrades, 80
/ magniiicently evidenced in the splen-
did reception you gave your comrades
| Of the South, In laRb May, none has over
comenear you. Your devotion to the
| u. 9. V. Is only exceeded by your low
| ing, devoted, heroic services to the
COnfederacy. You can be as proud of
| being veteran OF the South Carolina
| division as OF having beon Confeder-
| ate soldier.
When | 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 tho head
OF this splendid organization. ! feel
that to be trusted and respected and
honorod by such u body OF heroes, is
the noblest distinction which could be
bestowed on me by the hand OF man.
| As We 60 rapidly down the hill of life
gle ever made by heroic men, will draw
closer and closer together. When the
last one of us reaches the end OF ali
things worldly, when tho last survivor
OF the COnfedcrAcy is buried, then furl
that banner which is to us our emblem
OF bravery, devotion, truth and free.
dom. How vivid must have besn the
princi Plies which inspired our fallen
cause, when thirty-four years after its
death we gather to revere them, aud
pay loving tribute to our comrades
How free must be our country In which
such glorious memories can be- loudly
and openly treasured.
| Oar mother State, true to her sons,
who risked all in har defence, gives an.
nually according to hor ability from
| her restricted purse, not as q measure
Of hor love, $4,000 In pen ;ions. This
1s equal, | believo, to that given by her
sister States Of the South, and exceeds
the amount given by many. There has
boon some complaint as to the distri-
button OF these pensions. At tho re-
quest OF Camp Wade Hampton, | have
appointed committee of one delegate
from each camp to consider this mat
tor, and they will probably submit TO
you proper recOmm endations to euro
the evils felt to be existing. / feel
that the grand old State OF South Car
Olina, equally with you, desires this
pension money to reach only the de-
serving. havo no doubt that hor Log
islature will carefully consider any
reasonable recommendation you may
make.
The committee on tho monument to
the women OF the Confoderacy, which
you determined to erect, as tribute
to these devoted saints, the girls be-
hind the men behind the guns" viii
doubtless make report, and | trust 1t
will be one OF great encouragement.
At your 1895 convention you earn.
cstly endorsed the action OF tho Leg.
islature and It's Chickamauga com lnis-
sion, and urged tho erection OF tho
monuments on the battleiields OF Chick
amauga to the South Carolina troops
who helped to win that glorious vic.