The New York herald., 1868-05-31
NEW YORK HERALD SUNDAY, MAY 81 lses-rR1pLE SHEET


each for himself, gathered up all the cherished pur
poses OF life, its aims and ambitions, its dearest
affections and lung ALL with life ITSELF into the wild
new element was added to the connict, an element
which hhed the army with solemn but
nhs @ many ha na
solubly linked to our own the destiny OF enslaved
race-hat their liberty and our Union were, indeed
zone and nseparabe." 1t was this conclusion which
made the soul of John Brown the marching CON-
panion Of soldiers. 1t was this which made them
sing while marching 10 batte:-
In the beauty Of the lilies Christ sea,
With glory in Ms bosom which i ra1;gures you and me
While God rs marching on.
With people and an army filed with such nspi-
rati0ns failure was impossible; and every man who
gree consecrated by his work. Was not the hand
consecrated that bore our banner in batteP
received into their own hearts the fatal shafts that
were aimed at the life OF the countryS Fortunate
Your country lives YES you died. your
never reach it; where the mistake of weary life
can never dim its brightness. Coming generations
will rise up and call you blessed. AndnOw consider
attentively this silent assembly Of the Dead What
does it represents nay, rather, what does 1t not
are the sheaves reaped in the harvest OF death from
every battle field OF Virginia. II each grave had a
now silent tenant we might stand still and hear the
whole history OF the war; We should hear that the
life of went out in the darkness Of that first great
disaster at Manassas, which fell like eclipse
upon the nation that another died by the slow
wasting OF fever while weary waiting for winter to
spires of Richmond, little dreaming that the flag
must be carried through three more years Of blood
that one fell when the tide Of war had swept us so
far northward that the roar Of the rebel guns shook
Sers T T Of the Executive Mansion. We should hear
mingled voices from the Rappahannock, the Rapidan,
the Chickahominy and the James; solemn voices
Petersburg and Five Forks, mingled with the wild
acclaim OF victory and the sweet chorus Of returning
land forever like holy benedctons. What other spot
80 appropriate for their last resting placer They
sleep under the shadow OF The Capitol, saved by
their valor. The view from this spot bears some re-
semblance To that which greets the eye at Rome In
sight Of the Capitone Hil up and across the Iiber
lofty, but known as the Vatican Mount. On its sum-
NIT there stood at the beginning Of the Christian
imperial circus, where gladiator slaves died for
the sport of Rome and where wild beasts fought
with wilder men, In that arena O Galean fisher
gave up his life sacrifice for his faith. Proba-
bly, no human life was so nobly avenged On
the spot where he pershed was reared the pr0udest
Christian temple that human hands have built.
For its adOrnment have been sept the oferings Of
every CLINE and Kingdom OF the earth. And
now, after eighteen centuries have passed, there
are OOO 900 souls whose hearts towards it
with reverence when they worship God. The travel
Ter descending from the Apprentices sees the dome
and the dead city long before the seven hills and
ruined palaces appear to his view. The name of the
City. 1t is the spectacle Of noble life crowned
with heroic death, rising above and OUTLYING the
Of the Seem from the Wesen steps Of o
Capitol in direction, distance and appearance this
spot is not unlike the Vatican Mount though the
river that flows at feet fs larger than
hundred Tibers. Seven years ago this was
the home Of one. who lifted his sword
became the great imperator of the rebellion.
This soil beneath feet was watered by the tears
awakened in their hearts no pride and brought them
no nope. The face of the goddess that crowns 1t
N n
is a scene Of violence and crime no longer. This
spot will be forever the sacred mountain OF CAPT.
tai. Here is our temple. Its pavement is the Sc
pulchre OF heroic hearts; its dome is the bending
heavens and its altar candles the watching stars.
pilgrims shall gather here from every corner OF the
continent to pay their tribute Of gratitude to the
we are met to-day. The cherishng earth offers her
horal gifts. We come with garlands Tor these
victOrs.
IMPRESSIVE SCENES AND neutrality-suspicious. OF
THE CEREMONIES.
The most impressive feature in the ceremonies
was the procession Of the children Of the Soldiers
and Sailors orphan Asylum in charge Of the officers
and managers Of the association and Committee
Decorations, followed by friends generally. AS the
procession moved around the garden south Of the
mansion the children strewed flowers upon the graves
along the line Of march and halted at the tomb OF the
unknown soldiers who fell In Virginia. from Bull run
to the Rappahannock, during the early years of the
The monument contains an inscription ap:
21ii soldiers is there commingied. The children
boys and girls, wearing mourning scarfs, sung q
planve song, and during the playing Of the dead
march by the Fifth cavalry band the tomb was ap-
propriately decorated amid marked solemnty, many
shedding tears. Meantime national salute
was fired from the front of the Arlington
House. The procession then reformed and
marched to the nag at the principal cemetery.
Then there was prayer, hymn by eight male
voices and the reading of President Lincoln's ded.
catory address at Gettysburg-the last named by
Hon. Habert E. Paine, OF Wisconsina general in the
late war. The Committee on Decorations, with the
orphans then deplOyed and took positions at the diff
ferent stands OF flowers and flags and at pro-
ceeded to the decoration OF the graves throughout
the cemetery. The bands relieved each other in
playing appropriate music. The ceremonies con-
cluded with the air OF the "Star Spanged Banner" q
prayer and benedctiOn.