Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/226

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lorical Society, and that Society was reorg'anized, with its seat in Richmond. Xa. The following officers were elected: Presi- dent, Gen. Jiibal A. Early; Vice-President. Hon. R. M. T. Hunter, and Secretary and Treasurer, Col. G. W. Munford.

The first meeting of the Society, as reorganized, was held October 29, 1873, in the Senate Chamber of the Virginia State Capitol, General Early, President, in the chair. Addresses were made by General Wade Hampton, Dr. J. L. 'SI. Curry, Dr. Moses D. Hoge and Major Robert Stiles. It was not until January, 1876, that the Society began the publication of its papers, under the direction of the Rev. J. Wm. Jones, D. D., as Secretary and Editor.

The first number contained "The Origin of the late War," by the Hon. R. M. T. Hunter ; "The Botetourt Resolutions" of Judge John J. Allen ; "The Inaugural Address of President Davis," and the Address of Congress to the people of the Con- federate States, great fundamental papers, the bedrock of prin- ciples which imperishably vindicate the Confederacy of the South.

For several years the Society issued its papers in monthly numbers, and later embraced them in quarterly volumes. Since 1 888, the Papers have been publi.^hed in annual volumes, of which there are now, from the first in 1876, thirty-eight vol- umes.

It is impossible to estimate in words the value to just and faithful history the work this Society has accomplished. The material collected and preserved has been the production of the good and true men \vho were themselves eye-witnesses and par- ticipants of what they write, and the generation has nearly passed away from earth. The widest range of observation and reflection has been given by writers of all parts of the section specially concerned and of all ranks and points of view. Print- ing, "the art preservative," has multiplied the copies and se- cured their preservation for ages to come. The distribution of these volumes has placed them not only in many private libra- ries, but on the shelves of the great public and university libra-