Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-01-07
JOHN BROWN AGAIN.

&c 0990999 9S99999S
Below we publish portion of the
proceedings of regular meeting of the
I City Council of Charleston. S. c.. sent
us by a friend in that city. Mr.. E H.
Rowly, who with his mother. il spend
ing the winter in that southern city.
Tine Mayor read the following letter
that he had received from P. II. Ay-
tett, E,q. and reply Of bis secretary;
Acetmsc, Va. Oct. %. 1914
To the Hon. Mayor of the. City Of
Charleston. S. C.
Dear Az executor of the estate
of my great aunt, Miss Amelia r..
SouthalI. who died at Harper's Ferry,
W. Va. last August. l write to you
concerning the execution of, clause F
page 8, of her will, wherein the SUM of
five thousand dollars ($5. 0O0) is left in
trust for 1.-The erection of al ornamen
tai public drinking fountain in some
pull lie square or park in the city of
Charleston, $. c., to the memory Of
JOHN Brown. :
..rhe will further provides that The
location of the fountain shall be within
the corporate Limits of the said citv Of
Charleston, and shall be determined by
the Mayor and Board of Aldermen IF
said city or by committee of three
representative citizens of Charleston.
appointed by the Mayor for that pnr
pose. Said memorial fountain shatt'br
designed by competent architect and
constructed of white marble. in niche
in the forefront of the fountain there
shall he placed life-sized bust in
bror re of John Brown. with he follow
| ing inscription on bior ze tablet af-
| fixet 10 the base of said bust or carved
in the marble pt destal thereof
Erected (aate1 bv Amelia X South
ali, of Harp+r's Ferry. West Virginia.
to he memory of John Brown, Pioneer
and friend of Human Liberty. Patriot,
| Hero, Martyr. This fountain is pre-
scented to the citizens Of Charleston,
S. G., in token hat b"ave people, alb
| turing the bitterness of the past, and
| Welc. M, g the new era IN national uni
tv and human enlightenment, now rem
dprs. honor where honor is due.
Without going into details. might
mention that Miss Southall was of South
Carolina parentage on ones side. her
mothers people having come from
ttaf90rth- 4sugussa-or In vicinity. tfasf
! that ut The out break of the Civil War
Miss Southall being in Charleston, had
some dramatic experiences which caused
that city to- ccupy prominent place
in her memories.
A proviso insthe will directs. that In.
case the fountain is not accf ptabIe TO
tho people of Charleston that then the.
sum bequeathed to that purpose shall
then go to Storer College at Harper's
Ferry.
respectfully ask, sir, that you brig
| this subject to the attention of the al
dermen and peop'e Of the city Of
Charleston. and let me know a. soon
as possible there wishes with regard to
the matter.
If the fountain is desired. let me
know whether the city will donate the,
necessary plot or parcel of ground for
it's construction and the exact location
of said plat, sending map of city if
possible Also, if a native artist is
preferred to make the design, would
thank you to send me the name of such
reliable architects as may care to bid
for the contract.
Trusting to hear from you promptly
beg to be.
Yours very respectfully,
P. H. AYLETT
Then follows correspondence relative
to the matter, communications from
Camp Sumpter, No. $50 United Confed-
crate Veterans ard the Charleston
Chapter United Daughters Of the Con-
federacy, protesting against the ac-
ceptance of the fountain.
Ameng the resolutions passed by
Camp Sumpter. we note the following:
"We the Veterans of Camp Sumpter,
were cognizant during those eventful
days, of who John Brown was, and of
his murderous designs, and we never
can forget.
Very shortly after this John Brown
affair at Harper's Ferry, we dnnned
the gray, and many of US wore it during
four long years of war and bloodshed.
We left our wives and children at home,
often on plantations remote. and sur
rounded ard fearfully outnumbered by
the slaves with no human power to
protect them. Only an overruling God,
| and the wonderful loyalty of those who
were then our slaves, preserved these
dear ones from all the untold horrors
of the seryile instruction, so wickedly
planned.
We, therefore, with all our souls sol
EMMY protest against the degradation
of our old city by the acceptance of
4 this bequest. "
Respectfully submitted,
E. p. WARING,
First Lieutenant Commander.
Attest:
Walter Whitman.
Adjutant,
The report of the Committee APP
pointed by the Council, was adopted