Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-03-04
"The Dcspor,s Heel Is on Thy Neck ~
BY TYLER, WISE & ALLEGRO.

" have her sons Viudicatod their loyalty to
Virgins, on tho battle field ; mad their zeal
this dsy is as fresh rs ever. Brasely have her
citizens maintained their integrity at home,
surrounded by tie baYoae!s Of the enemy. Over.
powered they have been. nnd forced to submit: to
hostile military eu!e; but thor hearts are IN,
conquered. Their thoughts are as free IS ever;
aud heart AID thought are all for tho dear old
Commonwealth to which they render love IS
well as owe allegiaacel
TIE S:!s oppressor has Of late been Tightening
his chains upon these unhappy people. The
iron his been forced into their flesh. The yoke
has been ground into their very necks.
The following paperi is copied from the "Lo
ca News" Of Monday afternoon, the 10th
nit Tue "Local News was published by
Edgar Snowdco, Jr., in tho Office Of the Alex,
andria "Gazsttc," which latter paper was sus.
peadca on tho occupation Of alexandria by
tbs enemy on the Oath of May last:
Iron :nc Local News" Alexandra, Va, Monday. FEB.
lo.l
A scene occurred in 81. Paui's church, Alex.
sndria Va, on Sunday morning, FEB. 9, 1852,
which has, perhaps, never had 9 parallel
anon, civilized Enthusiastically rot in the
history Of this country.
Tae officiating minister. Rev. &. ]. Stewart,
had gone through the morning prayer Of the
Episcopal service Is far as the ~L;t,ny-the
o:ayec for tho President being omitted, but
wi;acu; anything in its place-and WAC pro-
c=cliss with the Litany, when an interruption
occurred Of the character which the law de-
sisaa:es IS S~orawiins y that is, the interren-
ton ot ro:se end trnult oy certain persons
who had cone to the church with the inten-
ton oI:interra2:ing the serylc,, should it not
proceed according to the;. wlsaes. These per-
sons commenced tie disturbance as soon ss
t:ey found tae prayer for the President omit.
ted. Oas Of them, Captain Fsrnesworth, of
chsncel, dressed in uniform, With some 5 or 6
Of bis soldie-s,uos- HIN, Undertook to ~oficia;e
in prayer, CT prayer it could bs calied,)
By residing tie prayer for the President Of the
United States. How far &c went it does not
appear ia me confusion; but soon GaittirS lis
position As the cth:er @: p:aycr, DO advanced
TO the alta, where NJ. Stewart was kneeiins,
still c~:n;!nG;1g the L.tsay, and ordered his
srrcs;. Mr. Stewart gas dragged from his
knees by the soldiers. Toe ground of the ar
rest. Capt. Fa-nsworth distinctly svowed to
be the omission ostac prayer for the President
OF tho Uaited States. With ihiG avoTal, he
sai3: Il arrest you By the authority Of the
United States, as a Rebel and a Traitor
'.-And T." responded Mr.. Stewart, (Tho, b.
this time, had advanced to the chsncel rnils)
TO Capt. F., Summon you to answer at the
.ju6gmcat seat OF tho Hing o. Kings and the
Lord Of Lords fos interfering, by force of arms,
with his Ambassadors, while in the oct of pre-.
~sentirs the petitions oil His people at His al
tar" The solemnity of his appeal caused the
parties 20 fall back and pause; but, soon the
soldiers we're ordered TO sei2a M. Stewart
which Two OF them did. with great violence,
forcing the prayer book from his hands; ono
0! taan drs%ins a revolver. Another revolver
was presented 10 "a old and veneTsted citizen
within the chancel, when the officer ordered
tie soldier not 20 h-e. Very soon q conside.
raa!e Eunoe, CT armed soldiers appeared in
tho church. .Ir. Stewart refusing to yieid
voluntarily, was dragged By force from the
altar and through tie aisle out Of the church.
lie was in lis surpi!ce, which BE wore through
the streets aud nc Co.. Farnsworth's quarters.
where he wac taken. Capt Farnsworth said,
thst 10 went e church intending TO arrest Mr..
s., if &c should Offer any prayer Cor the Oon-
feGerate States. Near hin, in the same pew,
50: Mr.. Ioreton, (tho detcctive,l who then
gave orders 20 Capt F., to make the arrest,
which was executed as above described.
Mr.. MOreton has declared that he was
acting under authority from Washington.
TIE socno in the church was such Is may be
imagined under such circumstances; gentlemen
wers indignant and excited, and ladies gave
Inference to ,heir feelings OF grief and indig-
OF COURSE, no serious effort WAS
made TO prevent the arrest. III. Stewart was
taken away aud the congregation dispersed.
It is prdpsr 70 state that these proceedings
were without the kno*ledse Of Gen. Mont
goncry, the Military Go7srnor OF the city, and
were strongly condemned By hin whea they
caue to MS kuowledge. He autographed to
Washington 70! instructions from the Govern
nent, which, when received, were CT such q
nsture as to lead 70 Mr.. Stewards release after
c few hours detention. The issue involved in
the transaction, thas iPpcrssc:ly sketche3, is
too grea. to admit Of coHnent 1t will, how
ever, be well to STATE that Mr.. Stewart only
insisted upca the righe8f all Ambassadors TO
communicate with their King untranmellcd
by civil c. military interference, and that in
no case have any Of tee service Of this church
assumed a political aspect. No prayer has
been efssed and no sentiments advanced at
any time that were calculated to offend even
tbs most sensitive critic. But if public wor-
ship is 10 DO interrupted, these Who taks that
Office upon themselves salacm invade the chan
cci and, with drawn reyolvers, Gyag the minis
ter OF religion from his ALTAR, lecsuse he will
lot 10 their bidd!ngE.
The undersigned we're present in the
Church, and testify to facts above stated. l,
may DO proper 70 state, that 5v request Of tho
Festry, in The absence Of tic Rector, the Esv.
Geo. a. Smith aul2uv. Mr.. Stewart have been
officiating II S.. P4uTs Caurch FOR several
weeks past, and that Ms. Smith was in the
cbeacel at the time the occurrence took place.
George 4. Smith, Cass,us +. Lse, Sydney
G. Miller, a. H. Murray, Jno. \. Dixon, ".
H. Msroucy, ToTnshend D. Fendail, Albert
f. Bsssfo:d, Edward G. Fletcher, Geo. H.
Snoct, J. J. Wheat, Wells \. Harper, Ma.
:tauie! Boush, Jno. West ?. A. Clagert, Jas.
Green. Isaac Winston. Thomas ". Swami,
JAS. Eatwisie, Lewis Hoof, Ches. r. loot,
". D. Corsc, Stephen a. Green, S. F. Gre
gory, Jno. F. Dyer, Geo. I. Baldwin,
Copies Of the above statement have been
sen: 70 the President Of TIC United States, and
to General Mcclellan.
We have heard, from eye-Tisnssses, many
Of the circumstances attending the above de-
s:ribed outrage. The statement auoye IS the
cl!m. moderate, wel!-ccas:derad testimony ofthe
respectable geatismcn--ths drs: names
in Alsxsndvia-Htn aa~e si:rcd It. The hru-
tali!y Of me soldiers wac only eeusled By
the spirit Of cur c!sizaas. Il Grswn pistol was
planted agciaat TIE brcas: g: .ha minister, but
me bravo ,asn blenchcG nos. The violence of
cns Of the rufiaas was rcssntei By 2 knock.
down frors al aged and seat.o Citizen, all I'm.
IS he was.