Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-07-24
Despotism in Alexandria.-The Right Of
PRAYER Denied.

government.
Despotism in nAlexandria..The Right o
Prayer Denied.
The following facts are communicated t
the Baltimore Exchange, by an Alexandra
correspondent. The outrage is said to har
created intense excitement there:
ALEXANDRIA, Va, July 8.
To people once accustomed to enjoy tn
fullest liberty, oppression goes hard. Ou
sins against the assumed power Of Abraham
Lincoln have been most heavily visited upor
US, and deep is the wound inflicted upon tht
people by the iron heel Of despotism. Dali,
are the cords tightened, and daily are We
madet to feel the authority Of kind projectors.
The Northern arms never meet with the
slightest reverse-nerer run afoul OF pg.
pen, or masked battery-that our comnuni
ty is not made to feel deeply the wrong thai
has been done, in daring to obstruct the pass
age of our protectors" on their journey t.
Richmond
Yesterday, the cup Of our humiliation was
filled to the brim, and an insult offered 10 hu'
manity and Christianity, which must meet
with q rebuke from the powers at Washington.
as it will doubtless receive the frown OF One
who is greater than them all, and in whose
hands are the destines of all. A large con-
gregation assembled on Sabbath morning a,
the Second Presbyterian Church, to hear tn,
Rev. Jas. Turner Leftwch, one of the rlosr
eloquent and able diyines in the Church-s
man Of mark, and one beloved by our whole
community. Combining as he does, in all
eminent degree, true piety and real bravery,
he has more thsn ever since our late troubles
began, entrenched himself in the love and es-
TEEN of our people: and there being but two
other churches, out Of the nine or ten in the
CITY, open, his is always crowded, and among
the congregation are invariably number of
cur protectors, drawn no doubt to the church
from curiosity and as spies, as the sequel
proves. Mr.. Leftwich has never in his SER
mons in the remotest degree introduced politi
cal topics, but has, ever sincc the occupation
of our city, and the absence Of our brothers,
fathers, and friends, who have gone out to
fight for their Grc-sides and liberties, viii
characteristic Christian fortitude, prayed fer
ren;ly for them and for the success of cur
cause. For thus giving expression in prayer
for the Southern Conlederacy and our soldiers,
he was arrested on CO .iug out Of the pulpit
by Orderly Fairbanks, and taken before his
Colonelshlp Heintzleman, who, judging from
bas nor h.'ricks h.o. he sometimes performs,
power and 6h taEeellstnmci 20 the exercise Of
that Mr.. Lcftwich, measured by their own
=taudard would lave bent the knee, asked
pardon for his grave offence, and promised
as he was authorilatvcly informed hcnust do
to pray for the Union and lor the President
.of the United States. But, alas /! for Luma!.
expec,ation--as bold aud fearless as good. The
reverend gentleman, with TN sir of triumph,
coolly informed his captors that he M0uta q"
ulloccusioas, whenever an opportunity offered,
pray with all bis soll fur the Southern cause
snl for those who had gone oGt TO tight TOR
him and his,
Hrintzlen,au tlru told him, in anything lut
gentemo y way, that unlcss Ec praGed Tor
tue Union and the President of the lnlted
States, he should pray no more, and he won'd
order bis church to be closed, IN reply, MI
L. said that bis heart could not be llailacled
| that he (Ilcirlzleman) had the power 10 close
the church, but that ii It was open and lie o.
ic,ated, he should certainly pray ior The
South and her cause, which le believed just
and righteous.
Before Departing, Mr.. Lcftwich propOunded
this question: "Do understand you, sir
addressing Heintz'eman,) to deny the Tree
dom Of prayer as well as uf speech J: In
question WAS poser, and iur a moment Hel;'''
zlemau hung his head and what was ici' OF
shame for a second suhusc,l his face; but soen
recovering Limself, be answered pcrc'rp'or'i!y,
Yes" Very WE'LL" said Mr, Leitw'ch, "1s
it 50; bat give you to understand, sir, that
shall pray for whlm ] please" Then turn
ing. be !ef. his captors dumb-iuunded at tue
the spirit Of the uan who had dared assert
his freedom aad independence in their august
presence. An anxious crowd awaited Nr,
LIS release, (for all felt sure he g'rsf be re-
leased, J aud when he appeared he was eagerly
graspcd - tho hand and number OF anS'
ious inouirers gathered round to listen to the
accounts Of the arrest and to what had been
done and sail. Observing the crowd, Inc
aforesaid Orderly, who made the arrest, was
quickly despatched to listen 10 what woi'''
be said. His presence, however, had 10 olhe'
effect than 10 elicit q few Jeers from the boys
in the crowd, aud some remarks upon himself
BY the elderly portion, which must aave 'Faae
him feel decidedly small,
In accordance with orders from his Colonel
shin, when, at night, the sexton was about t'
omen the church, tho Provost Marshal ap
pearcd, closed the gates, and stationed a Ill
of soldiers to guard the en:sahee. THIS pro
ceeding caused much excitement ard laFg' r,
crowd assembled in the neighborood OF tn
church, who gave expression to their opinions
Of thia outrage in no measured terms. lh'
ladies, (the truest in the land,l who had as
sembled to attend church, were PARTICULAR!
caustic in their remarks.
tt is said that orders were received iron
Washington by telegraph to allow the ehuFct c,
to be opened, but for the truth OF thus WI, VI,
not vouch. However, in accordance with
these orders, or because Of returning sense
Of shame and reason, the order for the closing
& the church was countcrmanded, the gnare