September 28, 2003

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A proposal to have the eight dead Confederate sailors from the submarine Hunley lie in state in the South Carolina Capitol is drawing criticism from business and civil rights leaders.

While a member of the board of the Hunley Commission says no formal request has been made about the honor for sailors who went down with the sub in 1864, a Web site listing details of funeral plans included two days of lying in state in the Statehouse.

Such an honor has been reserved for sitting or long-serving congressmen in recent years. And, some say, besides the possible controversy of having Confederate soldiers lying in state, there is the question of fairness for the thousands of South Carolinians who have fought in wars for the United States, but never received the honor.

"We would hate to see old wounds reopened," said South Carolina Chamber of Commerce President Hunter Howard. "It's appropriate to honor them. But we need to be careful as we make the decision that we look at what the impact can be."

The sailors were the last crew of the Hunley, which was the first submarine to sink an enemy ship during a war. Their remains were recovered when the submarine was brought up from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, where it sank shortly after sinking the Housatonic in 1864.

State Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Hopkins, said he would oppose any plan to give high public honors to the dead Confederates.

"Can you imagine how we would be perceived by the rest of the world honoring these men who fought for slavery?" said Jackson, the descendant of slaves. "I don't have a problem with the neo-Confederates honoring them in an appropriate cemetery. But, please, don't throw it in our faces."

State Sen. John Courson, R-Columbia and a Hunley Commission member, said the commission hasn't requested to have the bodies lie in state, but he said it would be appropriate.

"This is a funeral," he said. "This is not a re-enactment. It has nothing to do with the Confederate battle flag, and it should be done with dignity and honor for these individuals who showed tremendous courage for getting in that vessel."

Three people decide who lies in state at the Capitol. They are the governor, speaker of the House and president pro tem of the Senate. All three are Republicans and the head of the Senate, Glenn McConnell of Charleston, is a Confederate re-enactor and is leading the effort to raise $40 million for a Hunley museum.

Some critics question the fairness of honoring Confederate soldiers while not giving U.S. soldiers the same treatment.

"If it's about recognizing valor and sacrifice as human beings, do we do the same thing for those men and women who have died in Iraq?" asked state Rep. Joe Neal, D-Hopkins. "Dying for one's country, and for one's belief, is the ultimate sacrifice. But we have had many in South Carolina who have given their lives for their principles, and we have not had this kind of recognition for them."

Copyright 2003, Anderson Independent Mail. All Rights Reserved.