The Vicksburg weekly herald. [volume] (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1864-1867, 1866-06-02
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rebel WI mcn" GAugusta went IN
processi, II, to tho cemetery to deco
rate the raves 4 Tue . rebel dead
, They pcrfOrme! tle sacred rits5
and, without O ding or meaning
to offend any pei > they quietly
dispersed to their homes. Some Of
those pests Of the earth who, under
the pretense Of religion and philan-
thrOphy, are fleeing the negroes Of
all their earnings, and teaching the
old and the young 70 hate the whites,
and melting them to do all manner
ofanBOying things--We mean yam
kpe school maFmsP--pat 1t into the
heads OF the negroes to 60, two
days astef, 70 the same cemetery to
decorate the graves of the Union
school marms" and of a Captain
Bryant and n Mr.. Ebehart, they
tried TO keep il seeret--(if not con-
scious Of some improperly why the
advice to observe secrecy p but it
leaked out. The tale is thus told
by the Augusta Chronicle and Sem
tinel: I.t
"Our community were consider.
ably excited yesterday afternoon by
the rumors, which were in circula-
ton, of an apprehended difficulty
at the City Cemetery, between the
city authorities and a portion Of tho
black people, headed BY Capt. Bry-
ant, n Mr.. Ebehart, and some other
white people (not citizens.) who
had gone there with q view to deco
rate the graves Of some Federal
soldiers (whitc) who are there in-
TERED. The facts, as We have been
able to obtain them, are as follows /:
Anumbcr Of negroes Of both sexes,
and all ages, under the instigation
and by the advice Of the white men
before mentioned, and some others
connected with the colored schools,
had been induced to collect in
considerable body to repair to the
Cemetery, with flowers, to pay hon
ors to the Federal (white dead,)
there buried. This intention on the
part Of Capt Bryant and his coadjI-
tors coming to the ear Of the city
authorities (unohicially,) the Mayor
with some Of our most prominent
and conservative citizens called on
Gen. Brannan, the efficient and
polite commander Of the depart
mcnt, and laid before him the infor-
nation Which they had received.
We lcaru that the General express
cd his disapprobation of the con-
templated movement in the strong
est terms and assured the Mayor Of
his sympathy with him and the
people of the city at the most unpar-
allcled procedure, but said that he
had no power to forcibly interfere
In the movement, unless violence
was threatened or commenced.
That he believed the movement
would only be productive of harm,
and that what influence he possess
cd would be excrtcd to prevent the
display.
"Thc Mayor then called in COM
pany with the other gentlemen upon
Gen. Tillson, and made a similar
statement to him. He informed
Gen. Tillson that no application
had been made to him or any of the
officials for permission to use the
cemetery for this celebration, and
that, as the chief executive officer of
the city, he should interpose the
power of the city to prevent a con-
summation Of the proposed cere-
monials. Gen. TiilsOn, we are in
formed, assured the Mayor that he
was totally opposed to the whole
movement, and that, in his opinion,
it could only lead to an estrange-
mcnt of the two races, and, doubt
less, would arouse and excite bitter
feelings against the blacks. He also
informed the Mayor that he had no
power TO prohibit the contcmpla-
ted movement, and no force at his
disposal, if he had the power
The demonstration was prohibited
by the Mayor and me police were
stationed at the cemetery to pre-
vent it. (For this our authority is
the Tribune). 1t was no more the
wish Of the Mayor and people of
Augusta to prevent the friends Of
Union soldiers from paying hOnors
to their remains, than it was the be-
nevolent design Of the school marms
to render these honOrs. The object
of tho latter was mischievous OBJ
ject--it was to get up i'll feeling, and
to put the negroes forward to re-
buke the ladies. Else why did they
fix upon day so near TO that on
which the white demonstration took
placer Tho Tribune, which can see
nothing to condemn in the conduct
of these pestilcnt female nuisanccs,
nothing TO approve in the conduct
Of the Mayor Of Augusta, says,
"That is Southern chivalry, mag
nanimity and loyalty all rolled into
one" ad ling:
at is hunliliating to be obliged
to add that the refusal Of the rebel
Mayor to allow Union graves to be
gaPlanded with flowers was sus-
tained by Two Union ofilcers-by
General Brannan, commanding the
District, and by General TillsOn,
who is Commissioners of the Freed
mems Bureau for Georgia! These
two 0ffiUials united In attempting
to restrain the slight tribute Of re-
spect to their former comrades, on
the ground that it would create i'll
feeling hetwesn the whites and
blacks. Il would be charitable to
disbelieve them capable of such an
act, but both the rebel and the loyal
accounts agree on this point, and
General Branhan even regrctting
that he had no troops at hand TO
prevent the demonstration by force.
/ While such officers command at the
South, what reason is there to hope
thatthe bitterness and hatred shown
by the rebels viii be spfgsHed p
What right have We 70 demand that
the rebels shall respect flag which
Union Generals combine to INSULT"
! Il should be borne n mind that