Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-03-11
Unprecedented Outrage NY the Fede.als in
Alexandria.

Unprecedented Outrage by the Fede.als in
Alexandria.
The following is copied from the LocU Neaos
of Monday afternoon, the 10 b ult. Tie Local
Neaos was published by Edgar Snowden, Jr, in
the office of the Alexandria Gazette, which latter
paper was suspended on the occupation of Alex
andria by the enemy on the oath Of May last:
A scene occurred in st. Paul's Church, Alex
andfia Va, on Sunday morning, Feb 0, 1862,
which has, perhaps, Lever had a parallel among
civilized nations-certainly not in thu history of
this country.
The officiating minister, K J. Stewart had
gone through the morning prayer of the Eplsco
pal service as far as the l-itany-the prayer tor
the President being omitted. but without any,
| thing in its place-and was proceeding with the
Litany. when an interruption occurred OF the
chai acter which the law desgnates as ''brawl-
ing;' that is, the intervention of noise anG tu-
multi by certain persons who had come to the
church with the Intention of interruptiDg the
service, should 1t not proceed according to their
Wishes These persons commenced the dstur-
bance as SION as they found the prayer Tor the
President omitted. One of them. Capt Farues-
worth, OF the 9Th Illinois Cavalry, who sat near
the chancel, dressed in uniform, with some or
OF his soldiers near him, undertook to otficiate
In prayer, ut prayer it could be called,) by read
ing the prayer for the president of the Uaited
States How far be went it does not appear in
the confusion; but, soon quitting his position as
the officer of prayer, he advanced to the altar,
where Mr.. Stewart was kneel-ng. still continuing
the Litany, and ordered his arrest Mr. Stewart
was dragged from his knees by the soldiers
The ground OF the arrest, Capt Farhes worth dis
tinctly avowed to be the omission OF the prayer
for the President of the United States. With
this avowal, he said; 81 arrest you By the au
thority of the Unite: States, as q Rebel and a
Traitor" ''And H. responded Mr.. Stewart,
(who by this time, had advanced to thee eechancel
railsD to Capt. f., summon you to answer at the
Judgement seat of the King of Kings and the
Lord of Lords for in erfering, by force OF arms,
with His Ambassadors while in the act of pre-
senting the petitions Of His people at His altar"
The solemnlty of this appeal caused the parties
to fall back and pause; but, soon the soldiers
were ordered to seize Mr. Stewart, which two OF
them did, with great violence, forcing the pray.
er book from his hands one OF them drawing
a revolver. Another revolver was presented to
an old and venerated citizen within the chancel,
when the officer ordered the soldier not to fire.
Very soon considerable number Of armed SOL
diers appeared 10 the church Mr.. Stewart re
fusing to yield voluntarily, was dragged by force
from the altar and through the isle Gus cf the
church. He was in his surplice, which he wore
through the streets and at Col. Farnesw orth's
quarters, where he was taken. Capt. Farnes
worth said that he went to church intending to
arrest Mr.. s., if he should offer any prayer for
the Confederate States. Near him, 10 the same
pew, sat Mr.. More, ID, (tie detecive,) vino then
gave orders to Capt. F., to make the arrest which
was executed as above described.
Mr.. Moreton has declared that lie was acting
under authority from Washington.
The scene in the church was such as may be
Imagined under such circumstances gentl men
were indignant and excited, and ladies aave Ut
terance to their feelings Of grief and Indignation,
but, of course, serious effort was made to pre-
vent the arrest Mr.. Stewart was taken away
and the congregation dispersed
The Local Neaos is a newspaper whose cha &C
ter is indicated by it's name. 1t tolerated
because it contained no editorials or expressoEs
of opinion. This paper gave calm and lnoder
ate statement OF the facts Of the above dstur-
bance. In consequence of it the PAPER was
doomed. The Office was set CD fire in seven pla
ces. The fire apparatus was brought TO The
ground, bat the soldiers were there too. They
cut the hose with their ayorets, and threatenet
the life of any one who attempted to extin2ui>i
t the flames; and the bu lding, with its presses
: and type, ana printing materials, and other con-
tents, to The value of $4,000, was totally de-
stroyed.
We have no patience, says the Richmond En-
quarer, to dwell upon these enormities. They
make the heart sick but they also make th.
blood boil in ones veins How Ing stall it b,
before Alexandria's delivesance shall come =
How long shall the despot's heel be upon hel
neck?
Citizens of other cities and of the Confederate
States generally, ye see in the fate of Alexandra
} what fate awaits you, if you fall even teinpola
) rily into the po~er of this detestable NortherI
tyranny To the deep humiliation of being cap
tured at all, will be added the ineffable misery
) of being cruelty oppressed by the lowest ant
most vulgar tyrants that the world has, perhaps
ever seen. Well might the then doomed, ant
now captive Alexandrians, say that the scene ii
ST. Paul's church on the 9th of February ''has
perhaps never had pa allel among civilized ma
tions." Ii we do not desire that such evidences
, of brutal despotism shall be witnessed elsewhere
aud everywhere in our land, let us call out oul
utmost energies aud the last resource of an III
digne.G hereism in repelling such despicable
toes. Nay, with d zeal not surpassed by thai
which sent Europes bravest Knights on distant
crusades let every soldier become champion
aad every champion devotee, in everywhere
reaeemlng our down .fodden but faithful breth
rem from tie foo. OF the GpDressor. Every mar
to the rescue