The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-11-01
COMMANDER or SONS or
VETERANS OPPOSES W..
LiNoUIsHIrc PROPERTY.
ISSUES A CARD
Says That 10 Surrender Title
Would Violate Promise
Made 10 Mrs. Davis.


commander Of the Mississippi Di-
vision, Sons Of Confederate Veterans.
has issued the following card regard.
ing the proposed plan to turn over to
the state Beauvoir, the home for in
digent Confederate veterans near BIZ
loxi, the title to which is now vested
in the organization commanded by
Maj. Lincoln.
II noticed in the Memphis Com
mercial-Appeal bearing date of 0c-
tober 21 lengthy article from Pass
Christian, Miss, regarding the turn
ing over of the property known as
Beauvoir to the state of Mississippi.
This property, the home of the late
Jefferson Davis, the only president of
the Southern Confederacywas soldby
Mrs Varina Davis to the Mississippi
Division, Sons of Confederate Vete-
rams, and paid for by them. The
property, as | am reliably informed,
was offered to the state on two diff
ferent occasions, but the offers were
turned down; for what reasons | do
not know.
II notice that this article states
that the plan of some of those who
desire the state to take over this pro-
perty is to make it a permanent state
institution: to ask the legislature to
pass bill providing that the proper
ty be used as home for Confederate
veterans. Wessons realize and glory
in the fact that this grand old state is
now maintaining upon this property
a home for old and INDECENT soldiers
of the Confederacy and their wives,
and after the veterans shall have
passed away intend to use it as a
home for old men and women. They
also desire, in the event this plan
should not succeed, to ask the state to
use it as charity hospital, orphan
asylum or state military institute
'The deed from Mrs. Davis to the
Mississippi Division, Sons of Confed-
crate Veterans, specifies that this
property must be held, managed and
controlled as perpetual memorial
to Jefferson Davis, the only president
of the Confederate States of Ameri-
ca. and to his family and the Lost
Cause. The Mississippi Division,
Sons of Confederate Veterans have
just as much love for the only presi-
dent Of the Southern Confederacy
and the Lost Cause as anybody has.
Our fathers followed the star of the
Confederacy whi& shone,so brilliant
ly for four long years, only to sink
to rest forever behind the horizon
of an indissoluble Union, and we
cherish their heroic sacrifices as our
proudest heritages. We love the
men who wore the gray, as well as
the dear, good women who offered
their all on their country's altar. Why
should we members of the Mississippi
Division, Sons of Confederate Vete-
rams, be forced to dispense of this
property; bought by us in good faith
to own, hold, manage and control as
a perpetual memorial to Jefferson
Davis; why should we not be allow
ed, when the army of gray-clad vete-
rams have answered the final call, TO
establish upon this magnificent pro-
perty an institution that will in truth
and in fact be a lasting memorial to
the late president of the Southern
onfederacy, has family and the Lost
Cause.
"The Sons of Veterans of Missis-
sippi are opposed to being forced t,l
convey this property to the state
This organization, in annual reunion
at Vicksburg October 10, went on
record as being opposed to the pro
position, and went on record as never
voluntarily relinquishing title to this
property.
"As commander of the Mississippi
Division, Sons Of Confederate Vete.
rams, do not believe that the state ol
Mississippi will ever request or de-
mand of the members Of the division
that they convey this property to tbs
state against their will and judgment
l sincerely trust that no effort vii
be made on the part of anyone Il
force us to convey this property Z
the state, thereby compelling US t.
relinquish the sacred duty imposed
upon US by Mrs. Davis when she con