The leader., 1902-03-26

PURCHASE OF BEAUVOIR FOR
A CONFEDERATE VETERANS
HOME.
At the late meeting of the Sons of
Confederate Veterans at Meridian, a
movement was set en- foot to raise s10,-
900 for the purchase of Beauvoir, the
old home of jefferson Davis, and con-
vert it into a Confederate Veterans
Home for such aged and INDECENT vet
Grams as might elect to seek rest and
refuge there. Mrs. Davis has agreed
to sell the property for this sum. The
Meridian camp pledged $1,000 of the
amount during the convention, and
Mr.. T. NJ. Henry, Deputy State Aud
itor, who was elected Brigadier Gen
eral of thesFourth, Gen. Georges, old
brigade, was appointed chairman of a
committee whose duty it is to work up
an interest in the movement to pur-
chase Beauvoir. Gen. W. d. Cameron
made the statement on the floor of the
convention at Meridian that there we're
forty eight Confederate veterans now
occupying the poor houses of the diff
ferent counties, and that he had the
figures to prove it.
10 seconding the proposition for the
purchase of Beauvoir, at the Meridian
convention, Mr.. Henry voiced his own
and the sentiments of other young
Mississippians as follows:
1t can be done and should be done
without further delay or hesitation.
Intelligent action and earnest endeavor
on the part of the veterans sons is all
that is necessary. Let it be seen
that they mean to continue the good
work, in and out of season, till success
comes and the little opposition now
existing will vanish as thin mist be-
fore the summers sun. OF the many
desirable and eligible locations that
might be secured there is none that so
commends itself as does Beauvoir. 1t
not only has all the natural advantages,
but its surroundings are of that charac-
ter as would tend to cheer and comfort
our noble and beloved veterans in their
declining years. To say that she owes
them this much would be an insult to
both. While she owes them much
her great debt of gratitude cannot be
paid were she to rear them palatial
homes in every section of the State
1t is not to discharge the debt that we
would build a home, for debts so sa
cred cannot be measured by cold cash.
but 1T Is to mete out to them a small
recompense for their unselfish and val
liant defense of their mother, and it is
in the spirit that tender mother
would honor her natural child that the
mother State would seek to assist and
honor her veteran soldier sons. 1t is a
heritage they have gallantly and nobly
earned at a cost immeaSurable, and
in giving it she is only extending to
them that which is theirs by all that
is right and just, and she is only then
feebly rewarding them when their
great merit and hard service is CON
sidered. The State is now paying a
| handsome sum to her veterans, their
widows and servants. In this respect
she takes high rank among her sister
States. Probably none, compared to
wealth, gives them more pensions in
the aggregate, the sum now amounting
to $4,000 annually. 1t is not pro-
posed in any manner to disturb or de-
crease this sum, but to have it continue
to be distributed as now, and to give
the home in addition, and that their
entering it shall be of their own free
will and accord. 1t is for those who
have no homes they can truly call
their own, and to make them feel that
their occupancy of it is theirs of right
and to place them in position where
they can be free and Independent and
dependent on no one. That there are
good many who would avail them
selves of "a home if provided none who
has given the subject proper consid-
Grafton can dispute, and the number
would probably increase for some
years. But the number should cut lit
tie figure. So long as there are only
few left it should be the States
most solemn duty to provide properly
for them, and ungrudgingly. Our old
veterans are rapidly passing away
Each year shows a great thinning of
the ranks, and soon none will be left
to greet us with their kindly smile
Let US care for the remainder while
yet there is time Let us make their
declining years their happiest years,
and when they have crossed the river,
let the old home stand to be pointed
to by our children children as a small
portion of the debt paid by the State
to her beloved soldier SONS. This done
Mississippi will no longer stand alone
AS the solitary Southern State who
failed in this noble purpose. The debt
should long since have been discharged,
but it is not late even yet to com
mence, and | trust this meeting will
not adjourn till it has inaugurated a
movement that will result in securing
for our dear old veterans a home
somewhat commensurate to their great
service for their mother State.
FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE
PRESIDENT.
The Senate of the United States last
Friday passed the bill which has been
| pendinp for some weeks mast for the