Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-18

| Inc following facte are communicated u
the Baltimore E1changs, by an Alexandris
correspondent. The outrage is said to have
created intense excitement there
ALEXANDRIA, VA, July 8.
| To people once accustomed to ENJOY the
/ fullest liberty, oppression goes nara. Our
| sins against the assumed power OF ADranam
Line oln have been most heavily visited upon
1 us, and deep is the wound inflicted upon the
people by the iron heel OF despotism. Daily
| are the cords frightened, and daily are we
| made 20 feel the auth GRITTY of kind "protec-
/ torsn The Northern arms never meet with
| the slightest reverse-never run afoul of a
| nie-pen or a masked battery-that our com
| mnnity is not made to feel deeply the wrong
that has been done, in daring to obstruct the
passage of our protectors on their journey
to Richmond.
Yesterday the cup of our humiliation was
humanity and Christianity, which must meet
| with rebuke from the powers atWashington,
as it will doubtless receive the frown of One
who is greater than them ALL and in whose
hands are the destinies OF all. A large con-
gregaiion assembled on Sabbath morning at
the Second Presby Church, to hear the
Rev. James Turner Leftwich, one of the most
eloquent and able divines in the Church,
man of mark, and one beloved by our whole
| eminent degree. true piety and real bravery.
he has'more than ever since our late troubles
began entrenched himself in the love aud es-
TEEN OF our people; and there being but two
or three churches, out of the nine or ten in
the city, open, his is always crowded, and
among the congregation are invariably a
number OF our protectors, drawn no doubt to
the church from curiosity and as spies, as the
sequel proves. Mr.. Leftwich has never in
Afc h.
duced political topics, but has, ever since the
occupation of our city. and the absence of
| our brothers, fathers and friends, who have
gone out to fight for their firesides and liber-
ties, with characteristic Christian fortitude.
prayed fervently for them and for the success
Of our cause.
For thus giving expression in prayer for
| the Southern COnfederaey and our soldiers,
/ he was arrested in coming out of the pulpit
| by Orderly Fairbanks. and taken before his
| Colonelship Heintzleman, who. judging from
| the fantastic tricks he sometimes performs
| has not been accustomed to the exercise of
| much authority. In the presence of SO much
power and buttons, it was of course supposed
| that Mr.. Leftwich, measured by their own
| standard, would have bent the knee, asked
pardon for bis grave offence, and promised
| as be was authOritatively informed he must
| do-to pray for the Union and for the Presi-
| dent of the United States. But, alasi for hu-
man expectations-as bold aud fearless as
good, the Reverend gentleman, with an air
of triumph, coolly informed his captors that
he should on all OCCASIONS whenever an oppor-
tunity offered, pray with all bis soul for the
Southern cause, and for those who had gone
out to fight for him and his.
Heintzleman then told him, in anything
but gentlemanly way, that unless he prayed
for the Union and the President of the United
or ho ShnuI6 nd he
order his church to be closed. In reply Mr..
L. said that his heart could not be manacled !;
that be (Heintzleman) had the power to
close the church, but that if it was open and
he officiated, he should certainly pray for the
South and her cause, which he believed just
and righteous.
Before departing, Mr.. Leftwich propounded
this question: "Do understand you, sir, lad
dressing Heintzleman,) to deny the freedom
of prayer as well as speech" The question
was poser, and for moment Heintzleman
hung his head, and what was left of shame
for a second suffused bis face; but soon re-
covering himself, he answered peremptorily,
YES" "Very well" said Mr.. Leftwich, 'be
it so; but give you to understand, sir, that
| shall pray for whom please" Then turn
ing, he left his captors dumb-founded at the
spirit of the man who had dared to assert his
freedom and independence in their august
presence. An anxious crowd awaited Mr..
LIS release, (for all felt sure he must be re-
leased,) and when he appeared he was eager
ly grasped by the hand, and number of
anxious inquirers gathered round to listen to
the account of the arrest and to what had
been done and said. Observing the crowd,
the aforesaid Orderly, who made the arrest,
was quickly dispatched to listen to what
would be said. His presence, however, had
no other effect than to elicit few jeers from
tha havs in tho or0yCh and kl nj
on himself by the elderly portion, which
must have made him feel decidedly small.
In accordance with orders from his colonel
ship, when, at night, the sexton was about to
open the church, the Provost Marshal appear
ed, closed the gates, and stationed file of
soldiers to guard the entrance. This proceed
ing caused much excitement, and large
crowd assembled in the neighborhood of the
church, who gave expression to their opin-
ions of this outrage in no measured terms.
The ladies (the truest in the land), who had
assembled to attend church, were particular
ly caustic in their remarks.
1t is said that orders were received from
Washington by telegraph to allow the church
to be opened, but for the truth of this will
not vouch. However, in accordance with
these orders, or because of returning sense
OF shame and reason, the order for the closing
of the church was countermanded, the guard
removed, and the Provost Marshal dispatched
to the PASTORS residence to inform him that
he could proceed with his services as usual.
The account by telegraph of this outrage
on the church is, as usual, falsified. There
was no request made to have the church
opened; on the contrary, it was determined
by the elders TO let the onus lie where it pro-
perly belonged, and to let the church stand
closed. As you may imagine, there was
much excitement and Indignation manifested
on the part of our citizens. and much shame
| and confusion of face exhibited by those of
the soldiery possessing any refinement of
feeling. Mr.. Leftwich's course of conduct,
under these trying circumstances, is worthy
OF the highest commentator, and some of the
soldiery, who dare express an opinion of their
own, severely condemn Heintzleman's act.
The denial of the right of freedom of pray
er cannot fail to have its effect at home and
abroad, and cause the rejecting portion of
the Northern people to consider into what
aespotism they are fast drifting, and if they
are not already too degraded by the powers
at Washington, they will turn upon their ty-
rannical rulers and Indignantly hurl them
from power.
Freedom of speech we expected to be de-
MED, but 10 undertake to manacle the heart,
and suppress feryent prayer to Almighty God