Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/148

136 It was soon after this date that President Roosevelt ordered Chief Engineer Marshall to have the name of Jefferson Davis restored to the commemorative tablet on "Cabin John Bridge" and directed that the order be made public on February 22d.

There was great rejoicing in all Confederate circles when this news was flashed across the wires. Thanks were sent in the name of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association to President Roosevelt, Hon. Luke E. Wright, and Murphy J. Foster, United States Senator from Louisiana, who had charge of the matter after the death of Mr. Meyer.

By this act ex-President Roosevelt has written his name in imperishable lines. Congratulatory letters were received from General Evans, Commander-in-Chief, United Confederate Veterans; Col. Lewis Guion, chairman of the. History Committee of the Louisiana Division; Mr. Walter L, Phillips, of Bridgeport, Conn., who had written to President Roosevelt, asking that this tardy act of justice be done the name of Jefferson Davis; from Dr. Thos. M. Owen, Historian General, United Southern Confederate Veterans; Hon. C. C. Carlin, member of Congress from Virginia, and others who were in sympathy with this movement.

General Evans wrote as follows: "I congratulate you with all my soul on your success," and closes his letter by saying, "Thanking you and even blessing you for the noble measures you are taking to establish whatsoever is right in Confederate circles, I am.

On May 15th, I received a letter from Mr. J. B. Home, the loyal and patriotic Mississippian who went on to Washington with a burning desire to carve the name of Jefferson Davis in its original place. Mr. Home sent me a few small pieces of the stone that he chiseled off, and also a postcard showing him on the scaffold, carving the letter "s" in Davis. From Dr. Samuel E. Lewis, Washington, D. C, chairman Monumental Committee U. C. V., I received a letter dated May 16th, saying: "The letters in the inscription were all cut yesterday. I was on the