Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/395

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REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE.

At the meeting of the camp on June 2Qth not only the resolution of Commander Pollard, but the communication of Columbia Post was taken up.

Another animated discussion took place, and Mr. Cave's address was endorsed, but the letter from Columbia Post was referred for answer to a committee, consisting of Judge George L. Christian, Major Charles S. Stringfellow, Colonel Archer Anderson, Colonel John B. Cary and Commander Thomas P. Pollard.

At a meeting of the camp, held July 6, this committee, through their chairman, Judge Christian, submitted the following frank and courteous report :

RICHMOND, VA., July 6, 1894.

J. G. EVEREST, ESQ., Chairman, &c., Columbia

Post, No. 706, G. A. R., Chicago, III:

DEAR SIR : Your letter of the i4th ultimo, written on behalf of Columbia Post, though tempered somewhat by its kind assurances, was received by Lee Camp with great surprise, and still greater regret.

We cannot suspect, still less do we charge, any purpose on your part to provoke sectional controversy or add fuel to the dying embers of sectional hate; but such seems to be its natural tendency, though we earnestly hope this may not prove its practical effect.

You do not indicate what particular " sentiments expressed by the orator of the day" moved Columbia Post so deeply, and we shall not go into any speculation on the subject, but we respectfully suggest that had they been more distasteful than they probably are, it would have been wiser and better in the real interest of peace and brotherly feeling if Columbia Post had pardoned some- thing to the spirit of the place and the occasion, and passed them by without comment, at least to those who presumably approved them.

That those sentiments do not in all respects commend themselves to your judgement or feelings; that you may well and honestly differ from Mr. Cave and Lee Camp as to the facts social, political and historical on which they are founded, we can readily under- stand; but a careful examination of his oration, as reported, discloses no sentiment, which, fairly construed, is, or we believe was, intended