Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-12-27
CEMETERIES.
Ertract from the remarks Of Mr.. Die, of ~ Y, in
the u. S. Senate, on the death Of the Hon. Diron
H. Ie,cis of .AIabama


Ertract from The remarks Of Mr.. Die, of ~ Y, in
the u. s. Senate, on the death Of the Hon. Diron
III. Le,cis, Of alabama.
His remains were consigned to the earth, in one
of the rural cemeteries which the principal cities of
New York and some of the neighboring States have,
within few years, set apart for the reception of
their deadplaees selected for their natural beauty,
and adorned with all that art could devise or taste
suggest Greenwood where our departed associate
lies, is of the most beautiful of these recepta-
cles for the dead Ii is on Long Island, four miles
from New York, and contains near two hundred a
ores, covered with forest trees, and in the season
with luxurant vegetation, swelling into hills and
sinking into valleys and des, where all that could
offend the eye has given way TO embellishments in
harmony with ''the religion of the place." There
is nothing in which the spirit of improvement has
manifested itself in puTer sentiment and ,aste.-
Our ancient burying grounds were too often bare
and unsheltered fields, on which settlement had
encroached and robbed them of their only fitness
solitude. Sometimes they had become unsightly
enclosures, in The heart of busy towns, with the
tide of population sweeping by, and the noisy con
fict of life perpelually breaking the silence of the
scene.
Turning from these exposed and neglected re-
postores 10 the rural cemeteries, the mind is re-
leved and elevated by the contrast. 1t was no.
BILE concepion-worthy OF our endowmenis and our
desines-to make the cities of the dead more at
tractve i'll their external aspect than the cities of
the living.
Among the surest of our instincts is the desire
that our remains, and those of our kindred may
rest amid scenes Of rural beauty in undsturbed re-
pose. Nature herself associates quetude and still
with sleep-whether it be the sleep of life or
of death. 1t is her voice that speaks within us,
when we ask that our last resting place may be
chosen apart from the turbulent haunts of men. 1t
is said with what truth do not know that Mr..
LEWIS, when he first visited Greenwood, intimated
a wish, if ne should die in the neghborhood, that
his remains might be deposited there. have be-
fore me letter from one of his most intimate
friends in New York, who says: ga year ago he
visited Greenwood, and was enchanted with it,
He often referred to his visit, and spoke Of the
etery above all others suited TO be the last rest
ing place of men. 1t was, therefore, with melan-
choly pleasure that we selected it for him"
We publish the above as a beautiful extract and
also for the purpose Of calling attention, in
ion with it, to own burying ground. 1t has
now been used for more than hundred years, and
is so crowded that new grave cannot be opened
without encroaching upon others and often the re-
mains of ancestors are dsinterred and scattered or
the surface of the ground in order that last rest
ing place may be obtained for their descendants
We cannot prevent the bodies of those we lovec
and revered and whose memories we cherish. from
crumbling into dust but we can secure to them al
undisturbed repose. Our feelings revolt at tht
thought that the kindred and friends whom we bu
ry to-day, may in few years be disnterred, anc
their sacred remains exposed TO be rudely trodder
under foot by every thoughtess vagrant And thi
will necessarily be the result unless another grave
yard is provided.
Not long since some attempt was made towards
improving the present ground bat it is scarcely
ceptble of improvement. Let new lot then b.
purchased, in retired place, to be used as re
ceptacle for our dead, aud let it be adorned will
call that art can devise OF taste suggest"
This subject reminds us Of a remark made TO IL
by female in humble life, few months ago, which
at the time struck us forciby:-"My children il
the West" said she, "want me to 90 and live will
them, but that grave yard keeps me here" She NJ
doubt expressed the feeling Of many Of our citizens
yet the dlapidatcd tomb stones and sunken ant
weed grown'graves which, with some exceptions
are found in the old church yard, would seem Il
indicate that the dead were forgotten.
az We have received the effusion Of our cores
pendent "Iephyr," at the Warm Springs. Thu
writer has not complied with our established rule
but it is quite innocent and possesses considera
bic poetical merit we will insert it. If she viii
send us her name we would be pleased to hear from
the fair yo,tng nuthoress again.
Or "METRoRoLrrAN" was received too late fo