The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-05-26
The Monument.

Editor o f the B0liUQr Bulletin.
SIR: I wish very briefly to offer some sug-
gestions to the readers Of your paper in re-
gard to the proposed monument to the Con
federate dead 1t has been urged by some
that such demonstrations Of public sentiment
are not considered with favor by the Govern
meut and that it may be regarded as an en-
dorsement Of rebellion, etc. Even were it
the case that acts Of respect to the memory
Of our departed braves were disapproved of
by those who now control the Government
it would not alter oar plain and manifest
duty to give some honor to those who gave
life for us. But it is not so. The question
has been presented to the military and civil
authorities Of the United States repeatedly,
since the close Of the war and only few
days ago IN our neighboring county Of Fay
cite, and not the least objection to its pro-
prietY or policy has ever been offered Again
it is said by others that aims should be given
to the ziriag, and that memorials for the dead
are a vain pomp to which they do not feel
called upon to subscribe.
Our burial places all over the country g1is-
ten with marble on which are the names
oflost friends and relations, and is it possi-
BILE that any one who ever placed such an Of
fering sacred to the memory Of one loved
and lost, raise such an objection to the work
now proposed. We, the living, are ten
times, one hundred times, more bound in
honor and duty to pay this lasting token Of
respect to those who went forth to battle at
oar bidding in the pride of manhood and
marched heroicalIy at oar command and for
oar welfare, into the valley Of the shadow of
death. Go to the laat resting places of your
dead and look upon the tombs and inscrip-
tons. Why were those slabs placed there ?
Was it necessary to rescue the name Of any
from either oblivion or disgrace? No. they
died in peace, with their friends around
their bedside, and no stain on their name.
! How is it with that gallant band to whose
memory this monument is proposed? They
persisted far away on the battle fields or in
the hospitals Of the South, and shall we not
pay them this tribute Of our respect and
gratitude, not only to confer an earthly i'm
mortality on those who died in defence OF
principle, and sacrificed all for country; but
to stand as an enduring protest against mis-
representations of foes and to leave these
shafts (Which should be in every county in
the South) to tell to their children children
the heroic history of their gallant sires.
Their duty was plain and they did it Ours
is equally as plain to honor their memory
The whole people of Hardeman county have
a common interest in this matter Let al
subscribe according to their means, however
small and send in the amount to the Score
tary Of the Association at Bolivar The
funds will be deposited with the Treasurer
r. s. Hardy, Esq, at Bolivar, and each
amount will be ordered as the amount col
Iected viii allow Subscribers names should
be sent in with the amounts, and should the
monument not be raised the sums promptly
returned, but it caa be done and it aoHE be
done. A T. MoHJEAL, Seo'y.
Bolivar, May 25th, 1866.