Virginia Slavery Museum a Bust

Slavery museum's future in doubt

Overdue taxes and apparent departure of director raise questions about slavery museum's status

Date published: 2/21/2009
BY PAMELA GOULD

Eight months ago, then-Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder visited Fredericksburg to plead with City Council to give tax-exempt status to the slavery museum he announced for Celebrate Virginia seven years earlier.

He acknowledged that his duties as mayor of Richmond had hindered the project's progress. Construction hasn't begun and building permits have never been sought.

"One of the reasons we haven't gone further is speaking to you now--me," Wilder told the council on June 10.

But the former governor and grandson of slaves stressed that financing the U.S. National Slavery Museum had been a major challenge and that the burden of paying taxes on the museum's 38-acre property was a weight the city could lift if it wanted the project.

"Either you want the museum here or you don't," Wilder told the Fredericksburg council. "Clearly, paying the kind of monies that we'd have to pay wouldn't help us in that direction."

But council was not swayed.

Two weeks later, in a 6-1 vote with Councilman Hashmel Turner dissenting, the council denied Wilder's request.

The next tax bill, due in November, went unpaid.

As of this week, with pen-alty and interest added, the museum owed $24,093.02, according to the city treasurer's office.

Now, two months after Wilder's mayoral term ended, no Fredericksburg official has seen or heard from him.

Councilman Turner's attempts to reach him for information have been unsuccessful.

Former Fredericksburg Mayor Lawrence Davies is uncertain whether he remains on the museum board.

And every indication suggests that the museum's small staff--including Executive Director Vonita Foster--is gone.

EMPTY OFFICES

The last certain sighting of Foster at the museum offices in the Uptown section of Central Park was in November.

People who work near the museum's leased space on the second floor of 1320 Central Park Boulevard--doors labeled 244, 250 and 251--say they've seen no one in December, January or this month.

The museum never had much staff beyond Foster and one assistant.

The Free Lance-Star has found no one during repeated visits to the office. The paper has left voice-mail messages for Foster at the museum offices and on her home number, and has sent e-mails to her museum account and a personal account but has never received any response.


http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/022009/02212009/446477

BattleFlag Defended

Legends come alive
By Lauren Wicks | Suffolk News-Herald

Published Saturday, February 21, 2009


Nat Turner, portrayed by James T.L. Cooper, and Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Matthew Crowley, perform for an audience at Riddick’s Folly Saturday morning.
John Brown was resolute, passionate and riveting while addressing an audience at Riddick’s Folly Saturday morning.

“No man or woman is free until all are free,” he exclaimed.

Before long, Nat Turner, Abraham Lincoln and Sojourner Truth joined him in his chant, “No man or woman is free until all are free.”

Of course, most history scholars will note that each of these people died more than a century ago. But they have been brought back to life in through Sheri Bailey’s play, “Abolitionists’ Museum.”

In the play, these historic men and women are housed in one museum. A curator decides to display a Confederate flag in the museum, which leads to an uproarious debate from the abolitionists on the fate of the Confederate flag: Should it stay or should it be destroyed?

While the play ends with the question unanswered, Bailey takes the conversation to the people. And Saturday, the conversation proved to be both lively and important. When the play ended, Bailey asked the audience the question - Would you burn or keep the flag?

The vote was not a close one, overwhelmingly the audience voted to keep the flag. But the vote was not the most relevant part of the evening; it was the conversation that followed.

After one audience member compared the Confederate flag to the German swastika, B. Frank Earnest Sr., the International Chief of Heritage Defense for the Sons of Confederate Veterans spoke up.

“Not all bad centers in the flag,” he said. “Not all good, but not all bad. That’s not a flag of slavery or racism or anything else. It’s a flag of history.”

Other audience members pointed out that the Confederate flag was never an issue during Civil War times, and it was not until the civil rights movement of the 1950s that the flag was used in negative and racist acts. The Ku Klux Klan, an audience member pointed out, originated flying the American flag, yet no one has tried to ban the American flag.

Bailey pointed out she wrote the play in today’s time frame and used Civil War-era figures to show the importance of using the past to change the present.

“It’s not really their problem, it’s our problem,” she said. “We cannot change the past, but when we do move beyond that past that allows us to heal and move on in a positive way. That is why is becomes important to do this kind of work.”

The conversation carried on for about an hour following the play and covered a broad range of topics from the origin of the Confederate flag to whether it is right or wrong to fly the flag today knowing the stigma that surrounds it.

While no clear cut answers were reached, the conversation proved both enlightening and educational for many, including the play’s cast.

“I say today, after hearing from you all, I actually have changed my opinion personally,” said Natalie Baker, who portrayed Harriet Tubman in the play. “You fly your flag, but we won’t disrespect each other and coming together.”

Others agreed.

Edwin Woodson, who portrayed David Walker in the play, said many would benefit from the type of conversation held that afternoon.

“There’s nothing more important in our lives, universally, than dialogue,” he said. “There’s so many people outside this room that need to be in this room.”


http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2009/feb/21/legends-come-alive/

Europe Camp News Letter Now Available

Compatriots,

Below you will find links to the latest news letter of the Europe Camp and the Europe Camp website. Often members of the SCV are not aware of our compatriots and their activities located in foreign lands. We have friends and supporters around the world who are members of the SCV or those that, while not members, are supporters of Confederate Heritage. An example of their activites include the efforts of the Commander of the Europe Camp and the Europe Camp newsletter editor who assisted with the grave marking ceremony for Colonel Heros Von Borcke that took place in Poland last September.

YOS,

Chuck Rand
Chief of Staff

http://scveuropecamp.bravehost.com/myPictures/ISE%20Feb%202009.pdf

http://www.scveuropecamp.bravehost.com/

Legislator Properly Describes War

Civil War Remark Draws Gasps
Chad Livengood
News-Leader
February 11, 2009

Jefferson City -- State Rep. Bryan Stevenson caused a firestorm in the House on Tuesday after suggesting federal efforts to undo state laws restricting abortion would be "the greatest power grab" since the North declared war on the South to end slavery. "What we are dealing with today is the greatest power grab by the federal government since the War of Northern Aggression," said Stevenson, R-Webb City.

War of Northern Aggression is a term some Southerners use to maintain that the North illegally invaded the South to put an end to slavery. The remark caused a sudden gasp heard throughout the House chamber, and an immediate rebuke by some black members of the Democratic caucus.

Missouri remained mostly neutral during the Civil War, supplying soldiers and raw materials to both sides. But the state was still considered part of the Union throughout the bloody conflict.Stevenson, who represents parts of Jasper County, later apologized on the House floor, saying he was sorry "for any offense that my earlier comment made."

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090211/NEWS06/902110425

Review of Looking for Lincoln

CRITIQUE ON SCV AND PBS' LOOKING FOR LINCOLN
By J. A. Davis
Chairman
SCV Public Relations and Media Committee

After purposely waiting a couple of days for reports and reactions to the initial showing of "Looking For Lincoln" on PBS, we have now been able to put a critique together. Much of what is incorporated herein results from a combination of comments received from friends and SCV members, as well as pouring over more than a hundred newspapers and broadcast operations. These include major market high circulation dailies such as stories in the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Denver Post, and the Associated Press.

All of these media sources referred to the Sons of Confederate Veterans in a positive way. Perhaps the SCV participation is best summed up by the venerable retired magazine editor and author of The South Under Siege, Frank Conner. In his message to me, he said: "I watched the show last night, and was surprised and impressed. I thought the flavor of the show's presentation of the SCV was spot-on. I can't remember ever seeing anything else on TV that presented the organization in such a favorable light."

Here is a summary of some of the important milestones we reached in our quest to build the best public image of the SCV possible.

We not only appeared on our first nationwide network style documentary. We participated in the planning of the overall project beginning almost a year ago.

Complete audience ratings are not in yet however, it is safe to say it is in the millions. The newspaper, radio and TV coverage was nationwide, covering many millions of readers and viewers. Far more by many times than any project in our history.

For the first time in memory, almost all the coverage was positive. In the rare worst case it was neutral and not negative. Our flags and symbols were prominent. If every one of us went out flagging for a whole day we couldn't have nearly shown our colors to as many as the millions watching.

Our people were shown were well dressed, with attractive personalities and articulate messages including delegates in the scenes at the reunion.

The program was originally scheduled for four hours in two parts. Because of the economy it was scaled back to two hours. Our original plans were based on much longer segments with adequate time to develop positions. We shot our interviews for about five hours, realizing they would be edited. Note that Dr. Skip Gates, the host-producer, kept his agreement with us to let our spokes people go without a lot of interruption or argument. When we added the coverage of the presentation to the Weary Clyburn family at the reunion, which cut further into our interview time, meaning for one meaningful feature we sacrificed some great commentary by Jim Dean, Brag Bowling and Don Shelton. Still, they did well though editing for the time squeeze negated some of their best lines.

Another important element of this event is the possibility that other producers will now realize the Sons of Confederate Veterans have an important place in public discussion. A brick wall of quasi-censorship may have been cracked.

For those who might believe we didn't get enough interview time, you may have a point. Keep in mind, this was not an exclusive SCV program and we were there on a shared time basis with many others. One other point to consider is that during our interview time, we got in some good licks.

If you think about it, some of the best quotes of all time are about ten seconds - this is very true of television. Think also what the cost of a 30 second spot to a premiere national audience would be.

By proper planning and coordination the SCV, developed certain understandings that were faithfully observed by the producers, Ark Productions of Brooklyn, NY. This resulted in a spirit of cooperative management of who, what, when, where and how we would be included.

The bottom line is the program attacked the Lincoln myth and presented so many of the negatives in Lincoln's life that have been avoided by historians for years. This includes some who appeared on the program and now exposed by having to admit there is a Lincoln “myth”. They also chide each other for not viewing history in light of the times, rather than viewing it, as they often do, as if the events were today.

The program further gives us an opportunity to see to it that it is and used by schools throughout the country to help overcome the problem of children being misled on the life of Lincoln and the causes of the War Between the States. Is also serves as an introduction to the Sons of Confederate Veterans by the SCV being portrayed in a favorable light. Dr. Gates has assured me he wholeheartedly endorses this idea. In his case, he has convinced me he is interested in the truth as defined in the program, though he continues as a devoted Lincoln fan, blemishes and all.

Who would have believed that the SCV would have so advanced The Charge on the occasion of Lincoln's 200th birthday? I think General S. D. Lee would be proud of us. Who would believe that our entire budget was zero?

Finally, our committee would like to thank the SCV executive leadership covering two administrations for the constant support and encouragement we have been given. We continue to welcome the input our compatriots.

END

NOTE: "Looking for Lincoln" will air in the coming weeks also. If you missed its initial showing on PBS consult pbs.org for the times of subsequent airings.

Lincoln Low Key in the South

Southern states low-key for Lincoln bicentennial
By MELINDA DESLATTE Associated Press Writer
02/10/2009 12:53:43 PM PST



BATON ROUGE, La.—Nearly 150 years after the Civil War's end, the South still is no Land of Lincoln. Most states in the old Confederacy are decidedly low-key as the nation commemorates the 200-year anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, with a handful of museum exhibits and lectures among the modest events marking the occasion in the Deep South.

The national Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission encouraged states to create panels to design commemorative Lincoln events surrounding Thursday's anniversary. Twenty-three states did so. But of the 11 states that seceded from the Union in 1860 and 1861, only Louisiana and Alabama did so, according to David Early, with the federal commission. That's not to say Lincoln's birthday will go unnoticed.

National celebrations are planned throughout 2009 and the U.S. Mint is striking four different penny designs to honor the former president. And there are events in the South. Georgia museums have Lincoln-themed exhibits, South Carolina hosted leading scholars to talk about the continuing legacy of Lincoln and the Civil War in current art and politics, a birthday celebration was planned at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee and North Carolina planned a daylong symposium Thursday on the subject.

But in the states of the old Confederacy, where Rebel flags can still be found, official sponsorship of Lincoln events is somewhat restrained. In Virginia, for example, where Richmond was
the confederacy's second capital, after Montgomery, Ala., state lawmakers voted down creation of a bicentennial commission. Among the arguments presented, lawyer Robert Lamb of Richmond, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, argued the state shouldn't celebrate a president who "sent armies into Virginia to lay waste to our land."

And while Alabama created its own bicentennial commission, the state's coordinator, Sandra Schimmelpfennig, said the group didn't have any events planned for Thursday, though the separate state humanities foundation had a lecture scheduled on the Gettysburg Address.
"Wish I could report more activity," Schimmelpfennig said in an e-mail.

Not so in Louisiana, which has rolled out 10 days of events for the anniversary, celebrating Lincoln with music, poetry readings, plays, a student essay contest, a new portrait and a Thursday reading of Lincoln's second inaugural address on the state Capitol steps by Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne. "With the next 100 years too far away for us, we need more than just one day, we need 10 at the very least," said David Madden, chair of the Louisiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and an LSU creative writing professor who founded the U.S. Civil War Center at LSU.

Madden is credited as a driving force to create the list of Louisiana events, which are centered on the theme "Lincoln Chose Louisiana." The theme outlines a little-discussed slice of state history that Lincoln had intended Louisiana to be one of the first states to re-enter the Union after the South surrendered. In Lincoln's last public address, three days before his assassination at Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C., the president talked at length about Louisiana and creation of its new state government.

"Louisiana's one of the first states that folds, at least partially, into Union hands. It's one of several states where Lincoln tried to set up state governments loyal to the Union during the war," said Brooks Simpson, history professor at Arizona State University and cited by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library as an expert on Civil War Reconstruction.

Louisiana was the first Confederate state to hold elections under Lincoln's Reconstruction plan, which allowed a seceded state to reorganize its government if 10 percent of the electorate took an oath pledging loyalty to the Union. An estimated 12,000 voters swore allegiance in Louisiana, Lincoln said in a speech.

Lincoln urged acceptance of Louisiana's new government, amid disagreements with members of his own Republican Party in Congress who wanted harsher punishment for Southern states and who wanted more definitive rights for freed slaves. The battles between Congress and the president over Reconstruction policies continued for years after Lincoln's death.
In Lincoln's last speech, Simpson said, "He once again urged white Northerners to give his experiment in Louisiana a chance." Madden said he's received little criticism about the state's lengthy list of events celebrating Lincoln. "There's something transcendent about Lincoln," he said.

Since Virginia's Legislature wouldn't create a state bicentennial commission, events commemorating the anniversary of Lincoln's birth are run through the state commission that celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. To celebrate Lincoln, the commission announced a cemetery ceremony for Thursday, a Lincoln-themed conference in September and an April program retracing Lincoln's visit to Richmond after the Civil War. Also planned for July was a fair celebrating the president in Lincoln, Va.

Kentucky, a Southern slave-holding state that remained in the Union during the Civil War, has its own list of events to celebrate its unique tie to Lincoln: his birthplace. Several plays, a children's musical and lectures were scheduled during the week surrounding the anniversary, a year after a champagne reception and orchestral musical tribute kicked off the bicentennial celebration.

On the Net:

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission: http://www.abrahamlincoln200.org/

Lincoln Bicentennial Events in Louisiana:
http://www.abrahamlincoln200.org/calendar/lincoln-chose-lincoln-2-4-09.aspx



http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_11672129?nclick_check=1

Group Works to Save Sabine Pass Battlefield

Preserving the past at Sabine Pass
Posted 2/8/2009

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — A group is forming to support the Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site, which is situated near the Louisiana border in Texas. The battleground is about 1.5 miles south of the town of Sabine Pass, Texas.

In the battle on Sept. 8, 1863, a fleet of Union gunboats and transports carrying 5,000 troops was turned back by Lt. Dick Dowling and 46 men of Company F, 1st Texas Heavy Artillery.
The Confederate force was comprised mostly of Irish dock workers and laborers from Houston and Galveston.

The attacking gunboats fired from the Louisiana channel of the pass and from the Sabine Pass Lighthouse on the Louisiana side of the river. After about 45 minutes of gunfire, the Union invasion fleet retired. Two gunboats surrendered and 50 Union troops were killed and 350 were captured. The Confederates suffered no casualties. Dowling and his men were awarded the only medal for valor awarded to Confederate troops during the war.

Today, the 58-acre battleground is a state historic site that includes a statue of Dowling and an interpretive pavilion illustrating the story of the battle. Control of the site was transferred from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the Texas Historical Commission.

"With THC's encouragement, we have now set up Friends of Sabine Pass Battleground to help with the mission of preserving and interpreting the historical events in the Sabine Pass area," said Texas author and historian Ed Cotham.

The group has applied for nonprofit status with the IRS and is in the process of soliciting charter members. Its annual dues are $25. "We hope to put out a newsletter and provide public input on the restoration of the battleground and its monuments and markers, many of which were damaged by recent hurricanes," Cotham said. Cotham is the author of "Sabine Pass: The Confederacy's Thermopylae" (University of Texas Press).

http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=thenewsstar&sParam=30135621.story

Grant Papers to Be at Mississippi State University

Mississippi finally captures Civil War Nemesis, US Grant

One of the combatants who fought Grant and his forces during the Vicksburg campaign was Confederate Gen. Stephen Dill Lee. Lee was wounded in the shoulder at the Battle of Champion Hill. After the war, Lee would become the first president of Mississippi Agricultural & Mechanical College in Starkville -- now Mississippi State University.

Dr. Mark Keenum, MSU’s current president, reflected on that irony during remarks at Jan. 30 ceremonies honoring the official presentation of Grant’s papers to MSU’s Mitchell Memorial Library by the Ulysses S. Grant Association. Nationally prominent Civil War scholar, author and MSU professor emeritus of history John F. Marszalek has assumed the duties of executive director and managing editor of the association.

The irony of the Mississippi university first led by a Confederate general gaining control of the papers of the Union general who laid siege to Vicksburg was not lost on the most active group dedicated to the historic preservation of the Confederate legacy.

Dr. Cecil F. Fayard Jr. of Duck Hill, national chaplain-in-chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and pastor of the Elliott Baptist Church near Camp McCain, expressed mixed feelings.
“Personally, since the (Grant) papers are here, it will give Southern scholars an opportunity to actually see who Grant really was, to compare his words and his deeds and get a sense of his presidency from his perspective,” said Fayard.

gwcommonwealth.com/articles/2009/02/04/opinion/columns/02042009column01.txt

SCV Car in Daytona Race

James Hylton, 74, gives Daytona 500 a final go
Steven Cole Smith
February 6, 2009

James Hylton was driving more than 174 mph at Daytona International Speedway, which, you would think, isn't bad for a 74-year-old. You'd be wrong. "We've got to pick it up some," Hylton said. "I think I can go a lot faster than that."

This afternoon, Hylton will try to qualify for Saturday's Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, the ARCA season opener. But it is just a warm-up for Hylton, who will be back next week to try and qualify for the Daytona 500.

Hylton has run 601 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, and he hopes to make that 602 if his EM Motorsports team can get him in the Daytona 500. He nearly qualified in 2007, sat it out in 2008, and he's back for one more try. Hylton is celebrating his 50th year in NASCAR, starting out in 1959 as a mechanic for Rex White.

In December, Hylton brought a 2005 Ford Taurus to ARCA practice at Daytona, "and I kind of wish I had that car here," he said. "But this one will be fine." He wasn't expecting to drive in the ARCA race — at the December practice, his driver was Leilani Munter, 32-year-old racer and model and former Indy Pro Series driver. "But she wasn't able to get a sponsor," Hylton said, "so here I am."

Hylton's ARCA car is sponsored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a Tennessee-based group made up of "male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces," according to the organization's rules

www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/motorracing/orl-smith0602062009,0,84008.column

SCV Chaplain Conference Information

Dear Chaplains and Compatriots:

Please note that the telephone number for accommodations at the Ramada Inn, for the Chaplains’ Conference, Gulfport, Mississippi, March 6, 7, 2009 is (228) 868-8200. A wrong number was previously published.

Your current Chaplains’ Corps Chronicles has the correct telephone number.

Chaplain-in-Chief Cecil Fayard supplied the following information:

NATIONAL SCV CHAPLAINS CONFERENCE

Plan now to be with us March 6-7 in Gulfport, Mississippi for the Spring 2009 Chaplains Conference. We have lined up a great group of speakers and are planning a special tour of Beauvoir - the last home of Jefferson Davis. Arrangements are in the works to take you to Ship Island on Friday. Ship Island is a very interesting place and you will benefit from the one hour boat ride and tour of the island and Fort Massachusetts.

Our Chaplains Conferences are great times of spiritual refreshing and great fellowship. The special tour of Beauvoir is Friday at 5 p.m.

The Saturday meeting will be in the conference room of the Ramada Inn beginning at 9:30 Saturday morning.

The subjects / speakers for the Chaplains Conference:

Dr. Charles Blair, "Copperheads"
Dr. Charles Baker, "Review of Books on Abraham Lincoln"
Rev. Kenneth Studdard, “The Life and Conversion of Dorsey Pender”
Dr. H. Rondel Rumburg, “Was Abraham Lincoln a Christian?”
Dr. Cecil Fayard Jr. "Jefferson Davis: The Beauvoir Years"
Question and answer session!

Please plan on coming to Gulfport and sharing a great time of enrichment.

Yours in Christ,Dr. Cecil Fayard Chaplain-in-Chief

Please consider the following important information relative to accommodations:

Greg Steward has reserved a block of 30 rooms for March 6 and 7 $49.00 per night.
The block of rooms will no longer be reserved after February 27.

The Gulfport meeting room, which comfortably seats 40, is reserved both days at no charge.

RAMADA INN
9415 Hwy 49
Gulfport, Mississippi 39503
Phone# 228-234-8200

South Carolina Bill would create Paid Confederate Holiday

Black State Senator Wants Paid Confederate Holiday in South Carolina
Tuesday, February 03, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A black state senator is pushing a bill that would require South Carolina cities and counties to give their workers a paid day off for Confederate Memorial Day or lose millions in state funds.

Democratic Sen. Robert Ford's bill won initial approval from a Senate subcommittee Tuesday. It would force county and municipal governments to follow the schedule of holidays used by the state, which gives workers 12 paid days off, including May 10 to honor Confederate war dead. Mississippi and Alabama also recognize Confederate Memorial Day.

Years ago, Ford said, he pushed a bill to make both that day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day paid holidays. He considered it an effort to help people understand the history of both the civil rights movement and the Confederacy in a state where the Orders of Secession are engraved in marble in the Statehouse lobby, portraits of Confederate generals look down on legislators in their chambers and the Confederate flag flies outside.

"Every municipality and every citizen of South Carolina, should be, well, forced to respect these two days and learn what they can about those two particular parts of our history," Ford said Tuesday.

In a state steeped in a segregationist past, "there's no love in this state between black and white basically," he said. That's not apparent at the Statehouse, where black and white legislators get along, "but if you go out there in real South Carolina, it's hatred and I think we can bring our people together."

Lonnie Randolph, president of the state conference of NAACP branches, objected to that reasoning.

"Here Senator Ford is talking about the importance of race relations by forcing recognition of people who did everything they could to destroy another race — particularly those that look like I do," Randolph said. "You can't make dishonor honorable. It's impossible."

Ron Dorgay, a Sons of Confederate Veterans member from Elgin, said race relations have moved far from hatred but he hopes Ford's bill brings more understanding of the state's past.

"Even in school systems, they don't teach the correct history," Dorgay said.

Local governments, meanwhile, are seeing green, not race, when it comes to adding holidays to their calendars.

Large and small counties would put up more cash to cover holidays they don't now recognize, largely for law enforcement and emergency worker overtime, municipal and county association lobbyists said.

Only 10 of the state's 46 counties recognize Confederate Memorial Day and only 27 observe the more benign Presidents' Day.

Greenville County, one of the state's wealthiest and most populous counties, doesn't offer the Confederate holiday. The Judiciary Committee said the county would spend $156,900 to add each holiday to its calendar. Much smaller Laurens County would spend $37,080.

Ford dismissed the costs.

"The good outweighs any kind of rationale you can come up with," he said before the subcommittee sent the bill forward to the full Senate Judiciary Committee for debate, which won't happen until at least next week.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, supports the bill — and holding back chunks of the more than $300 million the state sends local governments each year.
Counties and cities "should be respectful of that as political subdivisions of the state," said McConnell, a Civil War re-enactor who runs a Charleston Confederate wares gallery and on Tuesday fretted how new junk metal collection legislation might affect his cannon. "If they don't want to be a subdivision of the state, then don't take the money."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,487565,00.html

SCV in PBS Documentry on Lincoln

SCV PROMINENTLY FEATURED IN MAJOR TV DOCUMENTARY

By J. A. Davis, Chairman,
SCV Public Relations and Media Committee

Elm Springs, Columbia, TN
3 February, 2009

After a full year of working with the PBS television network, producers and the host-writer, Henry Louis Gates, the Sons of Confederate Veterans announces its participation and inclusion in the premiere of a the two hour multi-million dollar production entitled "Looking For Lincoln" which will first air on PBS nationwide on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 9 PM Eastern Time. It will also be repeated in the days following the initial airing. Consult local listing for the airing times in your area.

Pre-play date showings to critics and select audiences indicate the production will likely be regarded as one of the top television shows of 2009 and a potential candidate for major awards.

Besides a sizeable segment on the SCV, the program features former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Doris Kearns Goodwin and about a half dozen historians.

The SCV's participation went forward after careful consideration and scrutiny by the SCV PR & Media Committee, ultimately approved by Commander-in-Chief Chris Sullivan and continued by his successor, Commander-in-Chief Chuck McMicheal. A series of' understandings were reached with the producers, leading to "Looking for Lincoln" host, Henry Louis "Skip" Gates and a full production crew coming to the SCV Reunion at Concord, NC.in the summer of 2008.

Interviews were arranged with SCV members regarding Lincoln. These will appear on the program on February 11th. They include, from the PR & Media Committee, Jim Dean, of Georgia, Army of Northern Virginia Commander, Bragdon Bowling, of Virginia,
and former Chief- of- Staff, Don Shelton, of Kentucky.

Considerable time is spent showing the tribute paid at the Reuion to the Clyburn family, descendants of a black Confederate soldier from North Carolina. This includes a conversation with the Associate Archivist at the North Carolina State Archives.

The program was originally conceived to be part of the commemoration of Lincoln's 200th birthday. While that remained its main theme, the segments including the Sons of Confederate Veterans represent a major breakthrough in network television for the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

For those who would like an advance screening of the program on the internet, conduct a search for "Looking For Lincoln" on pbs.org . The program is divided into segments. The segment most centered on the SCV is titled "The Beginning of the Civil War".

END

Tampa Battleflag flies without Controversy

Big Confederate flag is no flap for Super Bowl weekend
By Chandra Broadwater, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, January 29, 2009


TAMPA — The Super Bowl is in town. So is the world's largest Confederate flag.

But groups on both sides of the 1,800-square foot flag that flies over the junction of Interstates 4 and 75 aren't so concerned about a potential black eye for the city or the game.

Some wonder if many football fans will even see it. The flag is planted just east of Tampa, miles from many of the Super Bowl events and hotels.

"We're not much interested in this event," said Marion Lambert, who heads the local Sons of Confederate Veterans group that owns the giant battle flag.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article971513.ece

SCV Restores Confederate Veterans' Cemetery in Texas

Monument to his memory: Groups restoring Civil War veterans’ Cemetery
Harper Scott Clark
February 2, 2009

A city crew pours concrete Friday for the curb and parking lane in front of the Belton South Cemetery on South Penelope Street. The cemetery is undergoing a renovation thanks to a partnership between Belton and the Maj. Robert M. White Camp No. 1250 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Dennis Browning, parks superintendent, said a wrought iron arch will be installed across the entrance.

Maj. Robert M. White’s legacy to Bell County resides in his reputation as a man of high character and high spirit. He is also remembered for his incredible scouting skills and his prowess as a leader during the Civil War. White’s gravesite carries an inscription carved into an obelisk in the flowery prose of an earlier day. “His many virtues form the noblest monument to his memory.”

John C. Perry of Temple has researched and chronicled White and the Civil War. He said White was recorded in the Bell County census of 1860 along with his wife, Sarah, and a daughter, Christine. White was listed as a grocer by trade. Perry said White was known in the 1850s for his exploits leading posses to track down Indians who stole horses from Bell County residents. He would then return the horses to their owners.

http://www.tdtnews.com/story/2009/2/1/55511

SCV Logo Car in Daytona on Saturday

The SCV is back in the Race Game.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans will be gracing the track at the Daytona International Speedway at 4 pm EST on Saturday, February 7th, 2009. The SCV is proud to be working with veteran owner/driver James Hylton from Inman, South Carolina.

The SCV car will be racing in the ARCA RE/MAX series, 46th Annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 in Daytona. The race will be 200 miles (80 laps) and can be viewed in Hi-Definition on the Speed channel, coverage beginning at 4pm EST.

James Hylton spent his early years in Roanoke Virginia, and his life centered primarily around farming but he soon found himself, like many other southern teenagers, immersed in the world of stock car auto racing. Hylton's career in auto racing began in the late fifties when he began working as a mechanic for the legendary Rex White.

James, Rex and Louis Clements teamed to win 26 races and most importantly the 1960 NASCAR Grand National championship. In 1964, White scaled back his driving duties and James began his tenure as crew chief for the Ned Jarrett / Bondy Long team. During the 1964 season the team won 14 races and finished second in points. In 1965, the team won 12 races and won the NASCAR Grand National championship.

On July 8, 1964, Hylton made his first Grand National start at the Old Dominion 400 at Manassas, Virginia. James finished 19 and collected $100 for his efforts. Things improved dramatically in 1966, as Hylton finished second in the points chase and won the coveted NASCAR Rookie of the Year award. James also captured his first pole at Starlite Speedway in Monroe, NC. Hylton again finished second in points during the 1967 season. James was a model of consistency during this two year period as he had 46 top five finishes in 87 races.
In 1968, James became a car owner / driver, a dual role that continues to this day. James found his way to victory lane for the first time on March 1, 1970 at the Richmond 500, driving the familiar number 48 Ford.

On August 6, 1972, James forever etched his name in the history books by claiming the Talladega 500. Hylton led 106 laps of the 188 lap race and won $ 24,865 for the day. Hylton won by one car length.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is proud to sponsor this car and this driver with such a rich heritage in this traditional Southern sport.

http://www.jameshylton.com/

http://www.arcaracing.com/schedule.cfm?contentid=1327

Michael Givens
Lt. CiC
givens.scv@gmail.com

S. D. Lee Institute This Weekend in Charleston

Contrasting seminars look at Lincoln, legacy
By Brian Hicks The Post and Courier
Monday, February 2, 2009

Some folks around here joke that Charleston not only is where the Civil War began but also where it one day might end. Come downtown this weekend, and you'll see what they mean.

Two conferences with very different views on the war and Abraham Lincoln's place in history will run simultaneously — and just a few blocks apart — on Friday and Saturday. The University of South Carolina and College of Charleston's Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art will host "Lincoln and the Civil War in Contemporary America" at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. At the same time, the Sons of Confederate Veterans' Stephen D. Lee Institute will convene at the Francis Marion Hotel for "Jefferson Davis vs. Abraham Lincoln," a conference that will offer some the ideas of various writers and professors about the causes of the war and of the 16th president.

You need not worry about any new bombardment of Fort Sumter, the chance of another Shiloh on Marion Square — these are two scholarly meetings between groups who seem willing to agree to disagree."What we're trying to do is put a fair and balanced perspective on different issues of the war," Brag Bowling, chairman of the Lee Institute said. "It's part of our educational outreach. Davis and Lincoln are the two most important political figures of the 19th century; Lincoln's bicentennial is this year, Davis's was last year." The institute, which is named after a Southern lieutenant general from Charleston, was formed by the SCV as something of a "Confederate think-tank" to offer a more academic argument about their positions on the war. The group thinks history has been sanitized, the South demonized."

The Sons of Confederate Veterans felt they weren't getting a fair shake," said Clyde Wilson, a USC history professor and one of the speakers at Davis vs. Lincoln. "The academic world is so politically correct they dismiss anything in defense of the South."Many of the people who will speak at the Francis Marion will offer perspectives on the war crimes of Union soldiers, defend the South's right to independence and even argue that Davis was much more of a Christian than Lincoln. Wilson will speak Saturday on the way Davis was treated in the years after the war, when he was a pariah in the North, and a hero in the South.

The Lee Institute speakers will discuss the myriad causes that, in their opinion, led to war, and offer evidence to support their claims that Lincoln was in the wrong, that the South was within its rights to secede."

Lincoln and the Civil War" is not exactly the polar opposite of the SCV meeting. One presentation will center on the connection between Lincoln and President Obama, while others focus on Juneteenth, southern Civil War fiction and even the hobby of re-enactment. Thomas Brown, a history professor at USC, said their conference will focus more on what's going on today. "I think there is a tremendous interest in Lincoln right now, and we will look at what's different between now and 50 years ago," Brown said. Brown said it is "preposterous" to think there is some liberal political view of Lincoln that affects the academic community. He notes that serious Lincoln scholars have a balanced and not entirely positive view of the former president's views on race. But Brown has little interest in hearing convoluted excuses about what caused the war.

The SCV says the war largely was fought over Southern independence and states' rights. Brown said it was, in fact, about the states' rights — to own slaves."Everybody who studies the Civil War for a living realizes slavery was the central issue of the Civil War," Brown said. Georgette Mayo, director of the Avery Research Center, said the conference was planned before Obama's win but that the timing could not be better, the subject matter more apropos. After all, Obamas' daughters will do their homework on a desk Lincoln used to write the Gettysburg Address.Maybe, Mayo said, people should attend both events."We will always have two sides to every story," she said.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: 'Jefferson Davis vs. Abraham Lincoln,' sponsored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans' Stephen D. Lee Institute

WHEN: Friday and Saturday at the Francis Marion Hotel, 387 King St.ADMISSION: $150, $125 for students (includes breakfast, lunch and banquet).

INFORMATION: stephendleeinstitute.com/events.html or call 1-800-MY-DIXIE.