The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-07-13

! that patriotism still lived ana the
course Of these LDen was understood
and approved. But the fall force Of
their deeds eo1ld NOT Be appreciated
now. The generations to come, enjoy
ing the full results Of what they nave
done. will look upon them with eyes
different FROM ouEE. They have WoIk-
ed a mighty KsToluttons q conPieLE
change in the whole social u
A p,re1, people, and the undyinR regard
I that posterity shall have for them VIII
SonstIt1te their most dttInR monument.
IT,GCkfnu around, the speaker sald II
seensd "a though this spot bad been
created for the express purpose OF com
msmosating those who had LSHe9 ~ IN
Tie deId. Here WAS West virginia
ne child Of revolution, born at the be-
ginning Of WIZ, rocked In the temPesI
Of battle, and grown strong from ths
| human blood which had drenched her
| soil. Here was the spot on winch
I State was TO erect 9 monument 10 the
| fame of her dead heroes. There honoF5,
tber, we're not only fitting, but neces-
| saFy' patriotic duty. They would make
| stronger the memory Of after days which
| il one Of the tributes humanity pays 10
| thoss vino have died in their country q
defence; and thus. Ike IrslaDd's sham
rock which though underground viii
flourish still, their names and lame
would remain ever green.
GOV. Foreman spoke next and said
he wouId NOT detafn the assembly with
any extended remarks, bnt would en-
deaYoF TO confne himself within the
range of local affairs. He had been
pleased to learn few days since that
il YVES proposed 70 decorate the grRVeE
Of soldiers buried in the cemeteries OF
the city. This was no Idle ceremony.
This ceremony Was not simply for the
purpose OF streWiDg flowers upon the
graves Of the few soldiers buried mere,
bot to do honor to their memories ana
those Of the three hundred thousand
men, whose bodies lie bleaching on
bupdEed battle fields; who died in hos
pILal Of disease and under the slow
torture OF mortal wounds received from
shot and shell; and VINO died that most
cruel death, OF starvation in the rebel
prison pens OF the South. But these
men died moi in vain. When the FIRST
gun was fired from Fort Sumter at the
unaTmed Star of the West, the people
OF America were aRhast, but, thank
God only for a moment. Soon the
nation rallied its hidden strength.
These men, and others, their sur
viving companions, EhouldeTed their
uuskets aud with varying success
swept back the strong tide OF secession.
until the monster was overthrow and
The eternal principle OF freedom firmly
established. We are here TO perform
a duty TO these men, and IN BtTeWtDR
flowers over their graves We bat show
our appreciation oil those who died 10
defence of their country; who died in
The overthrow Of thar pestflen doctrine
which originated in South Carolina,
that minority Of slaveboiders had
right to control the Government for
their own selfish ends 80 long as 1t
pleased them 80 TO do. That heresy,
that pestiIent doctrine of State'E rights,
was sought TO be imposed upon this
people in the interests of the tDstltu-
ton OF human slavery which has
cursed this country, in the Interests OF
the doctrine that though minority,
| the shareholders of the South had the
| right to rule the country. We are here
to-day to rejoice in the fact that the In
stitution in whose interests the rebel
| lion was gaged, has now gone down.
The ceremonies of the present occasion
were TO keep green in mind the fame
| OF the gallant men who helped 10 bring
about this state OF things, and II would
be as little as could be done for CRATE
Gul people to come back to their graves
year after year and pay annual honor
| 10 their memories.
The speaker then gave history OF
the contemplated monument to West
Virginia soldiers, and said that few
years since we had pledged Ourselves
10 erect this monument and the
corner stone had been laid, but
nothing further had been done
since. ItahouId have been completed
| by this time, and he was here TO ask
/ every man who held stake in the well
fare of his country to use his indiyidu-
al effort to have the tardy honor done.
[CrIes of "We'u do it." "We'l do it."l
The concluding address WAS made by
Attorney General Melvin, who, being
a member of the Grant Army, entered
! into some details concerning the deco
ration of soldiers graves during the
present year, and the purpose OF the
! organization with regard to them
in the future. Addressing his
| "comrades" of the Grand Army and
the rest who participated in the ceIe-
monies OF the occasion he said: By
orders from the headquarters OF our Or
ganization. the both OF May of the pres
Ont year, was designated as day FOR
decorating the Rraves of those who,
during the rebellion, fell in defense OF
the nations life. The appropriateness
of the ceremony was recognized by
patriots everywhere. Thousands OF
our comrades, and many Thousands OF
our friends, took an active pnrt in the
proceedings that marked that day.
Some of the posts, however, ours
among the number, found 1t incon-
venient TO observe the Recommended
ton at the designated time, and other
days were In Consequence named in
.
partment of West Virginia, has been
called together to emulate the example
set us by those who have already acted
in this behalf.
You join with me, comrades and
friends, in believing thatthe ceremoDyin
which We are engaged is eminently fit
ting and appropriate. In all the ages
which possess history we read of low
ing hearts, with tender hands, planting
flowers upon tho graves of dear ones
gone from earth. Flowers have ever
brow of the living hero whose deeds
shed luster on his country's name; and
flowers have ever garlanded the monu-
ment erected by a grateful people to
mark his resting place. And here we
meet TO honor and fresben the memories
OF those who in private life were our low
ed and respected associates; and who In
the storm of war, were the defenders OF
nation in peril. We meet TO deck the
graves of Thoburn, and OF Bier, COM
raClea of some of US in the office and in
the tent, and whose lives went ont
through wounds received on that gray
October morning when two powerful
armies commended with varying success
for tho possession of the Valley of the
Shenandoah; these noble souls, with
others who served in the front ranks
of the armies of the nation and found
their last camping ground in this city
of the dead. merit and shall receive the
Incense of flowers offered by surviving
friends.
This year witnesses the inauguration
of these honorB to the dead, and II has
been Il successful inauguration. The
interest has not been confined to posts.
or even TO the soldiers who have re-
IA 70