Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/104

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Southern Historical Society Papers.

on the tablet does not dishonor Mr. Davis, but it does discredit all of us, North and South, who approve the mutilation or object to the restoration.

I feel perfectly sure that as soon as the present political canvass for the Presidency is over, that either the present Secretary of War or the next Secretary of War will, on his best judgment, have "Jefferson Davis" replaced on the stone. It is so absolutely absurd (as I see the matter) to make a political issue on this question that I cannot imagine any patriot in the Union will be offended when it is done.

Your noble spirit in all matters like this will commend you and your work to all our best countrymen, and will be remembered with gratitude by our Confederate soldiers.

With great esteem,

Clement A. Evans.

New Orleans, La., Nov. 30, 1908.

Hon. Luke E. Wright,

Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

Dear Sir,—I take the liberty of calling your attention to the enclosed copy of a resolution passed at the Confederated Southern Memorial Convention, held in the city of Richmond, Va., June 1, 1907.

By the action of the convention, I was made chairman of the committee by reason of my office as president of the Association, and I have associated with me as members of the committee, General Clement A. Evans, of Atlanta, Ga., Commander-in-Chief United Confederate Veterans; Mrs. C. B. Stone, of Galveston, Texas, President-General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy; and Mr. John W. Apperson, of Memphis, Tenn., Commander-in-Chief United Sons Confederate Veterans. This committee, composed of prominent and influential persons, is in hearty accord with the movement. Immediately upon my return to New Orleans I saw Hon. Adolph Meyer, M. C. from Louisiana, and requested him to interest himself in the matter. He expressed himself freely on the subject as one deserving the