Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-06-08
The Outrage at the decoration Ceremo-
MES at Arlington.

&
rated at the decoration ceremonies al :
Arlington have been going the rounds OF the !
press for the last week, As the stories were
conflicting, we refrained from
publishing them, hoping they might prove
nniounded. We were unable to believe that
our government would permit the graves oil
Americans to be desecrated by its hireling
uniformed representatives, much less en-
courage it by withholding censure. But
such is the fact A more Infamous case oil
weaking vengance upon the bodies oil dead
enemies cannot be found among the tradi-
tons of the most savage barbarians. These
outragas were insults offered to Americans,
and Americans high In authority raised not
hand to prevent them. Well did the
cowardly miscreants known that the nerve
less arms Of the dead braves beneath their
feet no longer could resent the insult offered
them, and that their Falstaflan bravery |
could be exercised with impunitY. The iol- |
lowing extracts give q concise history OF the |
whole proceeding. The first is a despatch |
to the New York Herald, containing letter
to the Washington Herald from an ex-Union
volunteer, who was an eyewitness to the
outrage letter from the N. Y. Tunes cor
respondent; card from DR.. GaTnett, TO the
Washington Intelligeneer in reference to the
decoration Of the graves of Confederate sol
diers and a characteristic letter from CHIEF
Justice Chase, an old conservative kepub-
lican, breathing the most manly and Chris
tian patriotism.-Ed journal and States
man.
WASHINGTON, May 30.1-The action Of
lieutenant and a small guard of marines at
Arlington yesterday, in preventing people
| from throwing flowers over the graves oil
the Confederate dead, is the subject OF much
talk here to-day, and the general sentiment
| Is condemnatory. 1t turr out that tine ON
eurs OF tho Grand Army of the Republic were
not altogether responsible for what occurred
They merely arranged to have the marines
there SO as to prevent people from making
mistake but mistakes were made on the
wrong side. The marines misunderstood
what they were placed there Rand thought
ii was part OF their duty TO insult people who
happened 10 throw flowers on the graves ol
the Confederate dead. The lieutenant il
command was partially offensive In hi
manner. Seeing o lady throw small bou
quet on one of these graves, this lieutenan
rushed to the spot, picked up the mowers
and, throwing them on The grouna az III
feet, commenced stamping on them IN suci
q manner as to attract about him crowd o
wondering spectators In very lew minutes
Some of the lockers on, learning the caus
OF the lieutenant's rage, commenced to mur
muir disapprobation, when tue lieutenan
shouted out, "D-n you, get away iron
here, every one of you, or I'll make yol
Guards come up here and disperse thi
crowd" The lieutenant accompanied thes
words with angry gestures, and swinging
, his arms about as II he intended to ,pitc
, generally into the crowd. HIS guards an
, swered his call but the crowd disperse
,, without waiting to be bayonetted, An ca
!, Union volunteer, writing to the Washing
! ton Herald, gives the following account
what he saw
"While marching with the throng alon
/, the central walk of the cemetery, accom-
panied by several children whom had SUI
plied with flowers, / noticed q crowd and
a squad of several marines gathered about
a small plat in the grounds, to the right oil u
/. walk, just to the north OF the little iot
ia bridge. We walked on across the prldg
/. and having given our tribute to the deau v
: returned. The crowd was still at the lit
q plat. -Four marines and sergeant, assiste
. at intervals by two officers, were pacing !
a. and down, not on the walks or between Il
!. graves, but literally across the graves
h some thirty soldiers. Upon examination
h found that they were Confederate dea
d Several ladies, evidently not knowing th
/, they were Conlederates and with no Int
le tion OF exhibiting any special feeling, quiet
IF placed their offerings upon the graves. Tht
e were at once accosted by the guards, wi
e. compelled them to take them up Sever
n gentleman were treated in like manner.
=. saw ono Union soldier who was forced
f. take back the offering he had made to pea
be and forgiveness. An ex-Union officer, VI
tv known to me, was ordered 10 receive bacl
Id few roses that he had, without knowledge
er the forbidden ground, ,strewn upon the gra
,st1 of one OF these soldiers Astonished, mye
ri. fed, and dlsgusted, / asked one Of the guar
n. the source OF the orders. He told me I'll
Y. they came from the superintendent of
M cemetery, whose name do not know.
he The people demand to know from when
ly these orders came, that the responsible
r. may be placed where It should rest. Th
he demand TO know whether a subordinate C
nut shape thus the policy OF a Government,
DIS whether the head OF the Government a
10. the army has sanctioned this act, and I'll
Ale explains and interpTets his oracular, 81
vi us have peace" They demand to know
he what purpose were these dead Confedera
II. buried there, and how long they are to
re mani Was it that they should be thus
he suited, and are they to remain there as 10
n. sary literally trodden under foot by the Il
he formed representatives of the Governme
1is pointed out as an example that we v
nd wreck vengence ever upon the bodies
'ed dead enemies The course pursued
Arlington Is in strong contrast with wi
lal which prevailed in Alexandria yesterdi
n. There all the graves were honored ali
for flowers having been strewn upon Confed
N. ate and Union dead without distinction.
he The N. Y. Times correspondent says;
BILE The only events of any importance VIII
iv- occurred here to-day Sunday were
in decoration ceremonies oil the soldiers gra'
he at three or four of the smaller national ce
Ter eteries, aud the religious observances in m
bo' OF the churches. The sermons had more
'ed less reference to the same subject. Cons
ob cradle bitter feeling and anilnosity appe
he 10 have been aroused by the distincti
The made between the Union and the rebel d.
in the sslemnilies OF yesterday and tod
!, The unklndness, to give it a gentle Tel
len finds vent In newspaper communicating
church sermons and general conversati
lop The members OF the Grand Army OF
Republic, in maintaining their side oil
case, and one or two of the city elergyr
D. | have exnreaRed themselVe in strong term