A Confederate Monumetn in Baltimore – The Proposition Revived. – 

The annual meeting of the Society of the Army and Navy of the Confederate States in Maryland was held last night at Raine’s Hall, Lieut. McHenry Howard, president, and Capt. Wm.L. Ritter, secretary. Capt. F.M.Colston, treasuer, reported receipts for hte past year of $635.23; expenses, $571.84; balance on hand $64.23. The society has no debts, has paid for its lot in Loudon Park Cemetery, and also for its perpetual preservation. The Maryland monument at Winchester, Va., has also been paid for. The committee to whom was referred the matter of a monument to Maryland soldiers who died in the service of the Confederate States, with instructions to consider its advisability, and if deemed advisable to suggest means for its erection, reported through the chairman, Maj. F.H. Wigfall, in favor of the erection of a monument in Baltimore city. The Maryland men, the report says, occupied a peculiar place in the great war. Whether right or wrong, they sealed their convictions with their blood, and must take a high place among those who died for what they believed right. The committee would not do anything to raise strife and discord where there is peace now, but when the day comes in which the names of Lee and Jackson shall be seen in their true light, they should not let it be said that Maryland had forgotten her sons. This is the appropriate time for the erection of such a monument. The report adds:

“The went form home to fight for home. They became strangers in order to redeem the land they loved. Does it not behoove that land to see to it that they shall not prove to have become strangers indeed? In all other States the men who died in the great war are remembered by their fellow citizens, and their deeds and deaths commemorated in bronze, or granite and marble. In Maryland alone such monuments are lacking. Some cemeteries possess memorial structures, it is true, but these are the dead standing among the dead alone. What we desire is to see an honorable testimony in fitting shape in some public place in the metropolis of the State erected to the memory of Maryland’s Confederate dead, and speaking to the world and the coming generations in no uncertain tones of the love and the veneration in whcih Maryland holds her dead heroes. For those men of Maryland whose convictions led them to take service in the Union ranks we speak no word except of kindness. We would not decry their courage, which on many fields they proved. We would insinuate no doubt of their fidelity to what seemed right in their eyes. Their deeds have demonstrated that fidelity. We accord them honor for their manhood and their soldiership. If their friends and comrades desire, as it is but natural they should do, to erect memorials of their virtues, we shall speak no word of hinderance. The truest mode and nearest road to a restoration of good feeling among our fellow citizens is by a careful avoidance of all which may offend, and a real manly respect for each other’s convictions. That this shall be mutual is not, we think, too much to ask. With a view to furthering the purposes of their appointment, your committee applied to the city council for permission to occupy one of the public places of the city with a suitable monument. This permission was granted by the council almost unanimously, but the resolution was vetoed by the mayor.

“Believing that a monument should be erected that it is a right and fitting thing to do, and that time will demonstrate this fact if the proper means are used to bring the matter before the minds and hearts of Maryland men and women, your committee respectfully recommend the adoption of the following resolutions:

“First – That a proper respect and just veneration for the memory of Maryland men who died for the South require that an appropriate monument be erected, in commemoration of their patriotism and heroism, in some public and honorable place in the city of Baltimore.

“Second – That an association be formed, to be called ‘The Maryland Monument Association,’ for the purpose of erecting such monument, under the general auspices of this association.

“Third – That the Maryland Monument Association organize auxiliary associations in each city and county of this State.

“Fourth – That these organizations shall include among their membership all women in Maryland who sympathize with their purpose and who will aid in carrying it out.”

A motion was made to lay the report on the table.

Gen. Bradley T. Johnson opposed the motion. He thought there had been a mistake in the public idea as to what the society wished to do and it was supposed they intended by the monument to glorify the Confederate cause. The report shows just what they desire: to do what they consider their duty in honoring the dead. There would hardly anybody deny to their friends and comrades the poor boon of showing their respect to the memory of the departed. They ask no assistance from anyone, but merely permission to build this monument with their own means. They do not desire to affront any one, or say anything disagreeable. Respecting those on the other side, they but claim equality with them, and that they have equal right to honor their dead.

Capt. Colston moved that the report of the committee on monument be accepted, and that the executive committee be instructed to take measurements to carry out their recommendations. The motion of Capt. Colston was adopted, with but on dissenting voice.

Gen. Johnson, from the executive committee reported in favor of a supper to be participated in by members, at the Eutaw House, on February 22. Adopted. Colonel J. Lyle Clarke, Capt. F.M.Colston and private H.H. Garrigues were appointed a committee in charge of the arrangements. About eight subscriptions were more than enough to insure its success, were received in the hall.

A motion was adopted that a room should be procured for use of the society, and the following committee appointed to have charge of the matter: Winfield Peters, W.P. Zollinger, Chas. E. Grogan, G. Fred. Ruff and A.J. Smith.

President McHenry Howard reported the present membership as 363. Of these 62 had joined during the year, and two members had died, namely, Sergeant-Major George W. Bishop and private John Rowan Buchanan.

Capt. D.G. Wright was called to the chair, and announced that the election of officers for the year would be proceeded with.

A committee of five, Gen. George H. Steuart, chairman, reported the following named officers, who were unanimously elected: President, Lieut. McHenry Howard; vice-presidents, Major-Gen. Isaac R. Trimble, Brig.-Gen. Geo. H. Steuart, Capt. W. Steuart Symington, Private R.W. Gwathmey,  Lieut. D Girand Wright, Sergeant G. Fred. Ruff, Privates T.W. Carey, Winfield Peters, Lamar Holliday, George Isenburg, D.H. Stevenson and George H. Elder; recording secretaries, Capt. Wm. L. Ritter and Corporal R.M. Blundon; corresponding secretary, Capt. A.J. Smith; treasurer, Capt. F.M. Colston; executive committee, Gen. Bradley T. Johnson, Major F.H. Wigfall, Capt. J. Blythe Allston, Sergeant Wm. H. Pope, Privates H.H. Garrigues and D. ridgely Howard and Lietu.-Col. J. Lyle Clarke; chaplains, Revs. W.U. Murkland, John Landstreet, B.F. BBall, W.M. Dame and Fred. Hipkins.

Mr. Peters stated that he had in his possession about 300 medals of “Stonewall” Jackson, struck in France by order of Col. Chas. Lamar, of Georgia, one to be presented to each man who had fought under the great caption.

The meeting then adjourned. After adjournment a number of new members were admitted.