The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-01-17

country'S call, give additional evi
dences of her devotion to liberty anC
to the nations glory. Over three
hundred and sixty thousand of hel
sons stood in the ranks of the Unior
army. Many have fallen, and nearly
thirty thousand by wounds and dis
ease received in the field, repose in
death. To commemorate their heroism
to preserve their names and perpetu
ate the record of their deeds are among
the objects of the work in progress.
In its pages will be found an account
of each and every military organiza
tiOn Of the State the officers and mef
OF whom they were composed; the
name ofevery individual, with his place
of residence, time Of muster, date O.
discharge, and the special acts by which
he was distinguished, as well of the
dead as those who have survived.
Transportation Department.
The Department of Transportation,
created during the war, has accom-.
plished its purpose, and ceased to eX.
ist by the determination of the Leg
islature, expressed in the appropri-
alton bill, approved April II, 1867. The
that for the year ending November
80, 1867, the whole number of claims
settled and paid was eight hundred
and eighty-tWO. These were for the
disinterment of the bodies of deceased
Pennsylvania soldiers on distant bat.
t!e-fields and transportation to the
homes of their relatives, and the total
expenditures were thirty-two thou
- ld five hundred and thirty-nine dol
laIa and forty cents. There remain
unsettled one hundred and twenty
three claims, amounting to about four
thousand dollars, for the payment of
which and some unsettled transpor-
tation, an appropriation of four thou
sand five hundred dollars will be re-
quired.
All the papers and business of the
Department have been transferred to
the office of the Adjutant General.
State agent,
During the war State Agency, for
the examination, adjustment and
collection, free of expenses, of mill
tary claims, was established at Wash
ington, for the maintenance of which
the Legislature, with commendable
Iiberality, has annually made the neces-
sary appropriations.
In January last, Col. John H.
Stewart, of Allegheny county, was APP
pointed Agent, and Lieutenant Col
onel VIM. A. Cook, Assistant. After
a faithful and efficient performance
of its duties until 31st of October, Col.
Stewart resigned in consequence of
domestic affiictions, when Col. Cook
was promoted to fill the position, and
Lieutenant Col. J. Copelan, appointed
Assistant.
During the year ending December
Is, 1867, one thousand seven hundred
and eighteen claims have been settled,
and three hundred and tWenty-one
Treasury certificates collected, amour
ing to $241 ,669,4 Two thousand
one hundred and tWenty-nine new
cases remain unsettled, the most OF
which will probably be settled by the
Goth OF June next. at which period the
appropriation terminates. When this
is exhausted, the Department will
have doubtless fulfilled its mission,
and the documents and papers can be
transferred to the Adjutant Generals
Office.
Cemeteries.
The reports of the commissioners ap
pointed under the act Of March y
1867, to investigate the transaction;
relating to certain cemeteries are here
with presented.
The work at the Gettysburg cemetery
is progressing, but with less eXpe
diti0n than was contemplated, in con
sequence of the difficulty of procuring
such blocks of marble as were required
for statuary.
The appropriation of three thousand
dollars to the cemetery at Antietam
has been withheld, as it appears from
the act of incorporation by the legsla-
lature of Maryland and the resolutions
of the board of trustees, that the
rebel dead are to be inferred within
the enclosure and to be honored with
the same memorials as the Union sol
diers who are there buried.
The custom has ever prevailed tC
specially honor those in death who
won special honor by meritious lives
The monuments reared to the memory
of departed worth bear ample testimo-
ny that our people have not been un-
mindful of this custom. But where
were such memorials ever erected tOl
men whose actions were infamous, ano
who perished in en- ignoble cause
Who would glorify the treason Of Ben
edict Arnold with such monument,
as have arisen to the memory OF Wash
ingtOn? Who would dare to insult
the loyal heart of this nation by propo
sing to lay, side by side, in the same
sepulchre, the body of the assassin
Booth and that Of Abraham Lincoln
No loyal man would take the heart
less Wirz aud the other demons tha
presided over the prison dens of crual
tv, starvation and death, and the exc
cuted consp;rators against the nation
iIlustrious chief, and deposit them
in the same tomb with the patriotic
men who sacrificed their lives in bat
sling for "the right against. the wrong
Yet it is proposed that the lOya
States construct cemeteries for the he
roic dead, and then desecrate then
by the burial therein of those who
prosecuted against the country war
fare which for it's diabolical ferOcity
is without a parallel in the history o
civilization, and even to erect mOnu
ments to their memory. Carry Ou
this purpose and what inducement car
be hereafter offered to the loyal cltl
zen to fight against treason when nj
feels assured that should he fall II
battle the,traitor's grave will be honor
ed equally with his own?
The cause of the Union was holy
one, while that which opposed it mus
have been its converse. To one side a
lone the glory belongs. This wa'
not a war Of nations, but of treason a
gainst loyalty. 1t was contest o
rebels who would have drained the llie,'
blood of the government Whlcf
bod nurtI1rpd and protected them a