The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-26
Voice Of the People.
Shall the Office of Virginia Military
Records BE Abolishcd:
'ditor Of The Times. Dlspatch

Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sr,-In view of the paragraph in
your paper of yesterday, in which ii
Is Is slated That "according 70 general be-
liet the Office OF Virginia Military Rec
ords VIII be abolished by the present
Legislature by tho simple expedient
or or cutting out the appropriation" that
consumed and that at all events the
money could al this juncture be better
used elsewhere" and that 1.-THE Con-
fcderate veterans of the Legislature
join in the sentiment that the position
should not longer be continued; | ask.
IN justice to the Office. that you pub
fish the following extracts from my
Official reports to the Governors
IT must be borne, In mind that
greater difficulty has been encountered
IN collecting Virginia rolls than any
other State has had to contend with. in
consequence of the total loss of the
rolls and records which We're in the
Acknowledgement of the state, whose
Office was destroyed in the disastrous
conflagratlon or the night Of the
evacuation OF Iachmond. April 2, 1866"
who have not considered the magnitude
of the task and the difficulties in tho
way OF It's execution that the nrogress
of the, work has been discouragingly
slow, but for this delay this Office IS
In nc. wise responsible. Until the
compilation of the rosters in the War
Department, as directed by. Congress
lished the Virginia roster cannot pos
sibly be compiled in consecutive order
and in proper form, and this is true,
doubtless. of all the Southern States.
1t is hoped that the appropriation nee
essary for this publication will be
made at the coming (presenO session
of Congress-"
TO this end the Grand q, Camp Of Con
federate Veterans OF Virginia, at It's
ms n
~ adopted a resolution urging our
Southern Senators and Representatives
to secure the appropriation FOR this
purpose at the earliest TING, possible.
When this congressional action is Sc
cured an approximately complete VIZ
Biniu roster can be compiled in COM
Daratively short time
moments reflection ought TO con.
vince any intelligent man that the
collection or rolls and rosters embrac-
ing the names of 10000 Virginia SOL
number Of duplicate rolls of the same
the war; has necessarily demanded
much time and labor
interested In the work of my, Office ana
quite familiar with it, said In his last
message:
The work of collecting the confed-
retary Of Virginia Military Records.
should be continued until completed.
These valuable records. precious me-
MORALS OF Virginu's vnlor and a,patrl-
otism, unless now gathered and pre-
served, will be forever lost.
In justice to VirginIas soldiers, llV-
tiers, in justice to the State, whose
honor is involved in the preservation
OF the names and records OF her brave
defenders; In Justice to themselves ana
in common fairness to myself, as an
official charged with an important duty
under adverse conditions, l ask the
members OF the Legislature, to read
given in my oTiciul report and also In
tho report of the committee appointed
by'the Grand Caml cut Its meeting IN
Norfolk) to examine and report upon