Other biographical sketches, and that the Historical Context is not lost on us. Is a system of this amendment has not been advertised. Ive not had a piece about how to direct my energy. For those who have not had a chance yet, the Southern Cross what was defined as the Southern Confederate flag as known as the army of virginia, the current flag that is flying right now, im asking that it he raised be raised at signup and lowered at sundown on state holiday that memorializes the confederate soldier. In its observation, we have confederate Soldiers Memorial day. It is intrinsic in the definition, confederate memorial day. The tradition of more realization as memorialization that i in many others wish to observe is of longstanding, 148 years. Sometimes with great hardship. The first soldiers that were buried in that million back buried in magnolia the banks of the cooper or by force denied flowers. Those that gathered to memorialize were denied even the ability to display a confederate button on their uniform. For those of you that have frequented magnolia cemetery, it is a beautiful and pastoral setting at this one with live oaks and centipede. At that time, there were no markers, no grand memorials. There was bare dirt. The attendees were gone gaunt. They were orphans and widows. We are only talking a few generations removed from us in the past. Does it not strike you, those of you that our fathers and grandfathers grandmothers, that it sounds strange to our ears when our children or grandchildren speak of the vietnam war era, anything subsequent to that area to that area as if it were ancient history . Our confederate forbearers were more closely related to their colonial patriot forbearers than we are to our confederate forbearers by at least a generation or two. It was more poignant for them. Think about how the reference for the Founding Fathers might have been demonstrated mid19th century relative to how we observe the colonial patriots today. I didnt inquire of how carolina day was observed on june 28. I feel certain it was not it was observed in memorial fashion for the nine slaying slain. Nonetheless, 220 something years past we still have an historical observance of the defense of sullivans fort by kernel mode tree. It is not emotional. But it is celebratory. Truly, to observe confederate memorial day, or a confederate soldier to me may be emotional more than anyone else here experiences. But we are so far removed generationally that the experience truly now is it probably should transcend emotion. We should be able to observe their actions, their deeds. As the senator from lancaster has so often reminded the, we should be able to do it without revisionism. He and i remind each other about how we suffer revisionist history, and i gently try to remind him of the fact that im fond of remit of revisiting history, not revising it. So i have enjoyed the life of an historian, of the genealogist. Certainly not professional. But more than hobby. I have been asked, senator, do you like to play soldier and go to reenactments . I dont have a uniform, but i dont begrudge those that do to keep history fresh for us. Because there is coming a day when we are for generations removed from the people. More generations removed from the people. It comes down to the deeds, the words. An original historical account is very important to me in this study and in this contemplation. When i tell you of a young 21yearold soldier, who came down from the foot along those mountains on april 14, 1861 on a sunday morning, the senator from oconee, as he assembled for worship with his best girl, as he recounted in his memoirs there at choke a church cha uga church, he was already a militiaman. That carla came after the Morning Service to assemble that call that came after the Morning Service to resemble todays later at the courthouse for hearth and home was eagerly and obediently obeyed. Catch the train, the blue ridge train from pendleton down to belton. Two days in belton waiting for other companies to come in from pickens and greenville, two days later, the camaraderie of soldiers. 800 of this unit at the battle of first manassas, joined by 400 of louisiana tigers. The first 1200 to see the advance over bull run. The very troops that gave Stonewall Jackson his moniker. Called for furlough there in 1861, reorganized in 1862. As a company of my coaching can, palmetto sharpshooters micah jenkins, palmetto sharpshooters. Thoughts of war became more ominous. But with the campaign war israel at this point. The battle of 7 the war is real at this point. The battle of seven pints in july. William Davis JacksonWilliam Davis dixon was one of 12 from the palmetto sharpshooters, what was known as the crack regiment in Robert E Lees now famous army of northern virginia. He had just taken the command a few days prior. A good and open field, as William Bayless describes it, and reluctant to give up the colors because of the portentous that they all knew the portent they all knew was a waiting them. In the lead, oneshot staggered , holding the colors aloft. Second shot, to the ground. Staggering again to his feet. Third round. On the ground. Pass the colors. Near mortally wounded. Six months in recovery. Returned to his comrades, return to his arms, finished out the war. He was at appomattox in person, not on paper. The 400 mile trudge back home. One of his Commanding Officers as he lay dying there at seven pints let me back up to 1862. He had noted William Bayless dixon for his man your, his manhood, his honor, his integrity. For everything he is bothered as a 19th century carolinian, as an american. He penned a letter to his sister and he asked William Bayless dixon, captain harris the captain said to the private please see this returns to my little sister there in pendleton with all of her possessions with all of my possessions. He came on that furlough, as i said in 1862, and he made that visit. He made that acquaintance. And after the war, he married that girl. Because in that letter from captain harris to young ms. Harris was, this war will be cruel and awful. There will be much flour of youth lost in the struggle. Flower of youth lost in the struggle. The bearer of my commands i the bear of my letter i commend to you. I trust that you will be wanted in marriage. He was commending a stranger to his history. William bayless dixon and ms. Handy harris saw there many children and their many children and grandchildren. And the only common denominator that i can judge them by is that they love god more than themselves. On both lines always back into the colonial 18thcentury, mid1700s. Both elders both families were populated by elders and ministers right through to the 20 three. The 21st century. I have known them and i observe. I have no their love for fellow man, regardless of race or religion or creed. I have known their love for fellow man regardless of race or religion or creed. I also know that as their direct descendent they are my greatgreatgrandparents, i come nowhere close to living up to their standards in service for fellow man or to their god. In his late years William B Dixon was recounting gods goodness. And in his final memoir he was relating that mr. Steele reed of walhalla was still in possession of the regimental colors, which have subsequently come into the possession of the state of South Carolina. And on a rotational basis have been displayed at the confederate relic room. My granddaddy migrate granddaddy to generations removed gripped those my great granddaddy two generations removed gripped those colors. He gripped hearth and home. He maintained a homestead with his family. He sustained himself by gods favor. Let me just say that i know that i speak for many of you here that can relate such story. I know i cannot speak for many of you here to look through a totally different prism. I hope that i have had listening ears. I surely have tried. Im going to ask for a vote. Ive told my republican colleagues that i have a full heart. And it some point before this day is concluded i do want to address not only who they were with a few other biographical sketches, but in my estimation what they were attempting, the very essence of the cloth, the when and where that i believe we need to go forward as a people. And i think i have interwoven the why, even with the presentation of this amendment. I know there have been discussions of other flags. I will catch you in just a second, senator. I have war abhor the misappropriation of my great great granddaddys flag. Sometimes the charges the charge is levels, why, but you have done more. Well, i have done a lot, and it brings me to this point to where i have to ask us to do something corporately. When it is suggested to us by our leaders that it is more appropriate for us to do things in private rather than publicly, i wince. Because i will confess that i or my constituents, are not necessarily capable or able always to revere something publicly excuse me, privately, as opposed to corporately or publicly. Let me further explain. I dont like to see the Southern Cross, the cross of saint andrew , whether rectangular in naval jack form, or whether it be the envy soldiers flag anv soldiers flag, i dont like to see it as a bandanna. I have been on a world rural stretch of South Carolina in the last 72 hours where i saw it as a garment on a mannequin as a scarecrow in the garden. And i couldnt help but think that is a level of misappropriation, maybe not done import spirit, but certainly done in bad form, and in no way helps me honor that revered cloth of my greatgreatgrandfather. I know the debate between centennial observance and civil rights resist has been thoroughly discussed. Resistance has been thoroughly discussed. Misappropriation can take place by every generation. But what has brought us here the misappropriation of the darkest forces known to man i cannot put at the feet of my greatgreatgrandfather. Unless someone jump up and say that he was the confederate soldier of the Confederate States of america, and therefore he shoulders a portion of that responsibility, i wont argue that with you at this point. Except to say, secession, an independent country an ageold debate and argument from the colonial time through nullification, through secession, so multifaceted. We heil phds pile pacs upon phds upon College Professors about this era of American History and there is still no agreement. So multifaceted it may have been. In 2000, this discussion was brought to the confederate Soldiers Memorial. It was removed from atop the dome where we had this multifaceted discussion. The discussion of the soldier is single, defense of hearth and home. William bayless dixon, he defended his immediate family. Others defended extended family. Some just defended property. And yes, some defended their slave property. If that is as far as this debate goes, to the tune of 20 three grace, 21st century grace, we will get to the point where there is no discussion, no reverence, no observation of the high and noble lineage that a lot of us have enjoyed and been the beneficiary of. Going back to dr. Girardeau, he built the Largest Church in the state of South Carolina. When he was called in from colton county in the 1850s, the anson Street Mission had 36 members. Dr. Smite at second pres was looking for someone who would have the respect of free men and slave. At the commencement of the war there were 600 communicants in the church that had been relocated further down calhoun or boundary street. 1500 in sunny School Sunday school. At the time of reconstruction, his parishioners, which were about 25 white, 75 black, he interviewed it he attributed the maintenance of his church and with it at his church was not destroyed or pillaged ormerod it or desecrated or my rotte marauded or desecrated, he interviewed that to his congregation. I know we have seen this demonstrated on the streets of charleston, in our hearts. And again, i confess to you i know we look at it through different lenses, but im asking if you can acquaint it he equated to what we do in trying to observe the 6000 plus casualties of our mideast conflicts, it grieves me to see the body that count body bag count of what has transpired in iraq and afghanistan. I know we come at different angles as to what is the best for our country. But one thing we do regardless of our political position on American Intervention overseas to a man and woman we stand and we recognize the valor, the spirit that has been demonstrated in the last decade by our sons and daughters. It is our sons and daughters and their sons and daughters that i speak for. You might say again, back to the point of public versus private memorialization, i say sometimes private memorialization loses the impact of our corporate experience. I say it is subject to interpretation, misuse, and misappropriation. I say public or corporate honor speaks of a unified message. In my feeble way, ive been trying to bring us to a poignant, close examination of the confederate soldier. And i havent dwelt on the warts. As i said earlier i believe i was there and guilty and stood there in the garden with adam. My theology teaches me i was there. So in speaking for my greatgreatgrandfather and the multiplied hundreds of thousands that i could have been speaking for, and i was and am, but speaking to my children and grandchildren i feel the same compelling drive that i read of Martin Luther five centuries ago. In a great time of social and religious turmoil and controversy he was heavily induced in the arts of persuasion, they were mightily brought to bear in his life. For him to turn his hand at the time in his ministry from his message. And his response was before the gathered world, i cannot go against my conscience, for it is neither right nor safe. Mr. President , im sure there are others that would like to address my amendment. I appreciate the time and attention. Chair the senator yields for question. I know how you feel about memorial day. I think i first met you at a Memorial Service of 20 years ago. It not only relocate the battle flag to the dwelling room, but also flagpole and the fence. Am i correct . My amendment would leave a bear poll bare pole 364 days a year. In early may, sunrise to sunset, it may encompass 12 hours. The current flag, the flying that flies there today. Im asking to fly for 12 hours on confederate memorial day in may. Chair the senator from greenville, for what purpose do you rise question mark rise . That these remarks be recorded. Chair so ordered. Was all do respect, i moved to table the amendment. Rollcall is requested. The clerk will please ring the bell. And call the roll. Clerk open bracket clerk [clerk calls role] roll] [rollcall vote to table the amendment] chair mr. Davis votes no. Have all the senators voted . All senators voted . The poll is closed. The clerk will please tabulate. By vote of 2217, the amendment is tabled. The amendment on the desk, the clerk will pretty will please read. Oh, sorry, the senator from greenville is recognized for introduction. Mr. Allen. Senator allen thank you. Im joined by senator jackson. Members of the senate, it is my pleasure today, yesterday senator orangeburg and i were in church. We learned as kids about do justly, love mercy, and while calmly walk humbly. That is what god requires of us. Senator answer senator anderson sort of curious to school sort of carried us to school on that. But im joined today by what could be some of greenvilles finest native sons. And we are joined in the senate today by the one who when we were little, boys, and they would collect nobody call us nobody, they would teach us to stand up and say that i am somebody. When we wanted to know if we could run for president of these United States there would be somebody who ran for president ended it by setting an example for us. When we wanted a trailblazer type of roadmap he was somebody that laid the foundation to tell us that when the doors of opportunity were open, to keep your back straight and go through the doors. It is my pleasure to have with us today what i call the mr. Down with dope, up with hope, the country preacher, the one that when Martin Luther king was saying, i have a dream he penned the term i am somebody. The one that taught us that greater is he that is in us than the one that is in the world. The one that was saying that just because you live in the ghetto doesnt mean you have to have the ghetto in you. Our native son great south caroline i am south carolinians, reverend Jesse Jackson would be welcome to the senate. [applause] chair welcome you to the senate. Welcome back. Senator thank you, mr. President. I want to say briefly that reverend jackson is a great friend and father. He was responsible for me as a student at Benedict College becoming the Student Government president. He came to Benedict College and he said to my dad and others that this young man ought to be more involved, and because of him i got more involved in and one of the highlights of my life was in 1984. I went to San Francisco when he was a candidate for president of the United States. I, too, want to welcome one of my family fee family heroes and personal heroes. Dr. Reverend jackson, thank you. Chair thank you. Senator clarence. Senator while we are introducing friends, i looked up in the balcony and saw two friends that this is probably their first time here since i was here. I want to introduce mr. Calvin bates and will leonard to the South Carolina present South Carolina senate. Please welcome then today. [applause] s