The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-04-18
RELICS GIVEN THE STATE

RELICS GIVEN THE STATE.
Presented by Col. Blanding OF mexi-
..n War Fame.-PalmettO Regi'
ment,s Flag and the Beauthui
J.ckson Vase Also Come TO Column
h,a-Goy. McSweeney's Graceful
Reply.
THE following letter from Col. ]. D. Bland
ing, the distinguishes McsweeneT MeSsG some days
aen T. tells ofgiits of incalculable Value 10
bs made TO the State and contains nlsIory
that every South Carolinlan laiias is prouo o''
M h9ie tIis ETceIlency. Gov. NJ. b. McSweeney.
Near Sir: In accordance Wild Ine Ieso1u, nu, |
tion of the Palmetto Regiment lMeAicant "d,a ~
Survivors association, as president VI @ .ns |
association, have the honor OF turning Usei i've
in perpetuo to the state OF South Caroaiha, |
through you as governor, one OF the two tdis tsss
carried nv the regiment in that war, together |
with the regimental records. Ills only neces,
gary to state as 10 the latter that tney are
very imperfect, the general order oook anu
most of the loose papers having been sent 70
and lost in Chester during ShSrm tnatSn
through the State in 1860. Inc nag Is tns
United States army regulation nag preselleut
hv (ien Vim. .. Butler, then IN command OF
the army in the early part OF loio. 10 Tue tesis |
ment when detailed as guard Of the natioha, 'hs,
nalace and archives. My recollectlon is tnat
Gen. Scott had ordered this nag maue, on
occonnt of the Iattered and torn condition OIL
the State flag which was worked Dy tns laure1 uit
ofCharleston and presented through lne cItS
council IT. L. Hutchinson: mayor ~ ~ cerTed
fin the hands Of F. w. SellecK ol AooeVIIoof55I
into the city of Mexico on l4th Sept, Ioi!:
Besides the skirmishes around vera eIuS ssod od
the routes to the valley Of the city, IL passed
through the battles OF Contreras, Cher9ousco,
ChapuItepec and Gsrita dc Belen, ana there
on 18th Sept, IS47, at l:2O p M, the e. nrss nag
planted on the walls OF the city, iour hours
before Gen. Scott, with Gen. WORMS DIVISION
of regulars reached the Larlta san Cosne'
II may be casually stated that two commls-
stoned and three non-commiSsloneu omceIs
were shot down while carrying 1.-two mortal.
lv. The mmanding general directed Major
(af,erwards coloneD GLADDEN. not 10 use tne
State flag but to encase ana carry II ,sr GaEA ,be he
return of the regiment both flags were turned
over to the State and kept IN glass case !n
the State house When Sherman Saan,aV a[st ,ben ag
president OF the Palmetto Regiment Survivors
association, sent both flags 70 Ihomas = D. ..
Mckay "a private OF Co. r. at Cnes,ef fiae vas
returned to Capt. Stanley, put ne was heGgI
Informed what became OF the State nag. ne
offered a liberal reward for its return, anu
now, that sectional passions have supsluea
and a returning, sense Of propriety ana
comfy seems to be actuatins ooIh sloes,
have also offered reward lor lts return 70
il may be brought to light and deposited Win
its companion among the flags OF worth OF
the civil and Spanish wars now In keeping OF
II may be interesting also to state as a mat
ter Of history that the regulation nag was
loaned by the executive commlttee 10 tne
First battalion South Carolina infantry
(Lieut Col. Thorn pson) organized for the
Spanish war, which afterwards became part
OF the Second South Carolina regiment IN.
fantry ,(Col. Willie Jones) and was Dy the
lott ad n
of the regiment 1t was returned 10 the COM
mittee with the accompanying poWder Dag
taken from MORO Castle. II IS proosDly tne
only flag in the United States which has been
unfurled In the capitols OF the only Two LOT.
eign countries invaded by the United states
The executive committee OF the SURVIVORS,
association also request that they be allowed
to place the jackson vase" in the legislative
library under glass case. and under care OF
the secretary OF state or OF the nprarlan, as
you may direct.
The reasons for this request are that the
committee have no proper depository for IT,
and that all survivors" may know al lSast
whom 1t will ultimately belong, may prove
his claim (how and before whom cannot
guess) and lake possession for himself.
The clause OF the wiz OF ea Gen. ,s AnorHm i NV
following words:
ration OF the city of New York, the large
silver vase presented to me by the LADIES OF
Charleston, 8. c., my native State, with the
large pictures representing the unfurling OF
the American banner, presented 10 me oy
the citizens OF South Carolina when IT was
refused to be accepted by the United states
senate, leave in trust to my son A. Jackson.
Jr., with directions that should our happy
country not be blessed with peace, an event
not always to be expected, he will at the
end OF the conflict present each OF the SAID
articles OF finestimabe value to that patriot
residing in the city or state rom walSn S,,
his fellow couptrymen, or the ladies, 10 nave
been the most valiant In the defense OF his
country and our co1ntry's rights"
sent the vase to the governor OF South Caro-
lima with the request to dispose OF IL accord
ing to the terms Of the will OF bis testator.
practicable to obtain decision what patriot
OF the State was 1.-THE most valiant IN Inc de'
tense of his country and our country
rights" The executor authoriZ MIN 10
deliver 1t to the survivors of the Palmetto
regiment (MeXican war; to be disposed by
them as they thought best. Under the gov.
ernor's call a majority of the survivors met
in Columbia, $. c., organized the "Palmetto
Regiment Survivors association" and elected
VIM. b. Stanley president. The governor
delivered the vase to the association, Whlcn
passed resolutions to wit: that the vase be
kept by the executive committee for and to
be the property OF the last survivor OF the
Capt. Stanley died in 1892 and the under
signed was elected president and exotficio
the personal custodian of the vase flag and
records OF the regiment
II has been customary to carry the vase TO
the meetings of the National Association OF
Mexican Veterans whenever requested to
do so. 1t has been carried TO Washington,
ID. c., Charleston, S. c., Atlanta, Ga, and
Nashville, Tenn, and hope will be carried
by some survivor (not myselD TO New Or.
leans, February, 1915.
| shall deposit in the vase, for safe Keeping
and future reference, certified copy OF eX.
tract from will OF Gen. jackson, and several
communications relative TO 1t, including this
semi.otficial correspondence, also list of the
present survivors of the regiment (now
numbering about 40) with their respective
Companies and postoffices and that they may
(Which in all probability will continue until
the last survivor shall establish his personal
claim), will, with your permission, MAKE
public this letter and your answer: l VIII
only add that, though having many descend, . q:
ents. l hereby give my contingent right OF
property in the vase by reason OF last
suryivorship," to "South Carolina. my natlVe
State" and this letter may be taken as con-
elusive evidence of such gift.
James D. Handing,
Pres. Pal. Reg, Surv. Assn.
Sumter, S. C., April 8, 1900.
~, .ooot,,,po yonr assent TO the requests