The North Carolina Division Goes on Record in Favor of Secession
The North Carolina Division of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans met for its Summer 2003 Executive Council meeting in Charlotte on July 19. The host, the Major E. A. Ross Camp of Charlotte, is one of the most radical camps in the country, the membership having removed the United States flag and Pledge of Allegiance from their meetings two years ago. The Ross camp is a favorite of CIC Ron Wilson and the neo-secessionist faction of the SCV.
There were several resolutions passed at the Executive Council meeting. Below we have listed only the resolutions with obvious political implications. Details of the division’s votes are taken from an e-mail sent out by SCV N.C. Division Chief of Staff, Boyd D. Cathey, on July 20. Save the SCV comments are in italics.
1. "By a very large margin (approximately 85%) the Division adopted a resolution that only the various flags of the Confederate States of America should be displayed at the funeral of the crew of the CSS Hunley."
A resolution to this effect has been drifting around on the Internet for several weeks. The idea is to ban the United States flag (and thereby exclude Union reenactors) from participating in the Hunley crew’s funeral next April. The North Carolina Division is apparently eager to politicize the Hunley commemoration and turn it into a neo-secessionist event.
We at Save the SCV can think of no more outrageous action than to bar the United States flag and Union reenactors from participating in the Hunley crew’s memorial service. The long-standing reenactor tradition of honoring the casualties of both sides is at stake. Reenactors who support Save the SCV express concern that many in the Confederate reenacting community will likely stay away from the Hunley funeral if the Hunley Commission allows this foolishness to continue.
Efforts to politicize the Hunley burial detract from the honor that the crew deserves. This could be a public relations disaster for the Hunley project, for Confederate heritage, and for the city of Charleston.
2. The N.C. Division "voted unanimously to adopt the original Charge of General Stephen D. Lee, as printed in a 1906 copy of CONFEDERATE VETERAN magazine."
Which version of S. D. Lee’s charge to the SCV we adopt is not the important issue. This resolution is another step toward replacing the preamble of the SCV Constitution with language that allows the modern SCV to further entangle itself in contemporary political activity. The extremists who currently control the SCV want the membership to forget the preamble because it begins with these words: "In the name of a reunited country, the Sons of Confederate Veterans declare the following purposes: An unquestioned allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America...." These words, voted on and approved by the membership, are and should remain our "charge".
3. "The N.C. Division adopted unanimously a resolution that states as fact that the membership of the SCV is made up overwhelmingly by men who are CONFEDERATE SOUTHERN AMERICANS, and that Confederate Southern Americans are entitled in law and justice to all rights and liberties under local, state, and federal law, and that governments must recognize these rights."
Save the SCV sees Kirk Lyons and "lawyer speak" at work here. This is a tactic that has not been successful for Lyons and his Southern Legal Resource Center thus far. The idea is to get the courts to recognize Southern white males as a separate and distinct minority-group in order to pave the way for a tidal wave of lawsuits to be filed by the Southern Legal Resource Center on behalf of the SCV as it pursues a modern political agenda.
4. The N. C. Division "by a very large margin (approximately 85%) voted its very strong support and appreciation of CIC Ronald W. Wilson for his actions in the following issues: his taking very firm action in opposing the treasonable attacks of the SSCV rump group . . . his strong action in dealing with the Charles Hawks matter . . . his overturning of the unconstitutional actions of the GEC which tried to illegally reinstate Charles Hawks as ANV commander . . . and his putting Jesus Christ at the head of our organization."
Here the N.C. Division has gone on record in support of CIC Wilson’s dictatorial practices of ignoring the SCV Constitution and the rights it guarantees his opponents. Wilson & Company eliminate his challengers by simply declaring them (including Save the SCV) to be disloyal to the SCV (i.e., opposing Wilson, Lyons and the League of the South) and take disciplinary action in the form of suspensions against Camps and individuals so that they may not vote, speak, or introduce resolutions at state or national meetings while under suspension. Constitutional actions by groups such as the GEC are declared unconstitutional if they interfere with the overall plan to convert the SCV into a neo-secessionist political organization.
5. "The N.C. Division by a very large margin (approximately 85%) voted to urge the GEC to speed up the total separation of the SCV from the MOSB."
The Military Order of the Stars and Bars has thus far refused to follow the SCV in becoming involved in neo-secessionist politics. In continuing to break its ties with the responsible Confederate history/heritage community, CIC Wilson is pursuing an adversarial relationship with the MOS&B.
6. "The North Carolina Division now looks forward with great expectation to the National Reunion in Asheville, and, as it is officially and formally on record as strongly supporting important amendments to our National Constitution to permit second terms for CICs and Lt. CICs and to reform the GEC."
These amendments will complete Wilson’s purge of moderates from the General Executive Council and will allow the Wilson/Lyons/League of the South faction to consolidate its control of the SCV.
7. The N.C. Division "urges all members who desire to see our organization truly accomplish not only the Charge of Gen. S. D. Lee, but also fulfill the wishes of our ancestors for a Confederate Southland, to join with us as we Advance the Colors!"
Here the North Carolina Division, in calling for a "Confederate Southland", is publicly advocating secession from the United States.
The Ross SCV Camp in Charlotte and the North Carolina Division have been transformed into the SCV of the near future by CIC Wilson’s purge of Save the SCV supporters. At meetings, the commander of the Ross camp threatens people with physical violence; the North Carolina Division Chief of Staff throws paper at Save the SCV supporters and screams hysterically, "You’re a traitor to your heritage!"; the division commander "misplaces" resolutions that have been properly submitted; then the division newsletter reports that the meeting was conducted in a gentlemanly manner. The N.C. Division is CIC Wilson’s prototype monster.
Michael Hill (President of the League of the South) in his recent endorsement of CIC Wilson’s leadership of the SCV, asks the question, "Whither The SCV?" The answer is clear: With the continued leadership of Ron Wilson and Kirk Lyons, and self serving support from the League of the South, the monster that now inhabits North Carolina will spread throughout the Confederation.