The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-08-01
To the Laaiss' nIsmorial Associations OF
-.y-- 49, vl,o- gc<ash,

When tho papers announced that on
the day set apart for the decoration of
the graves Of the Federal dead at the
Arlington .oemetery..- near Washington
City, q United States officer, with q de-
taohment of troops detailed for the ex-
press purpose, kept guard over few
Confederate graves within the enclosure,
to prevent visitors from putting flowers
upon these graves either in ignorance or
Intentionally. and that this officer had
made his guards walk pest, not around.
but upon the graves, and had offered to
the graves and to the few persons who
in ignorance (for no one seems to have
done it knowingly threw flowers upon
them, every insult and indignity his rage
could invent, there went through the
South, with the news, deep-felt thrill
of pleasure. The malice of our bitter
enemies, the malice which, under the
name of Loyalty to the Union and Con-
stitution," has devastated, oppressed,
and sought to degrade the South for
eight years, not only here threw off its
disguise, for shis it has done so often
that loyalty is no longer q disguise but
only the recognized fashion, but in this
case it displayed its pitiful meanness to
the scorn and contempt of the world, and
we could, but rejoice over it. And tho
insulted dead We're amply reyenged by
that sentiment Of civilization which pro
tects the grave even of the felon, and
oh ,af al kxkI I, L A.
soldier who died fightihg bravely for his
mains lie in the Federal cemeteries may
then rest secure in the protection of this
sentiment, for the hiss of scorn has stung
too deeply for this act ever to be re-
peated.
But these insults were aimed, not only
at the thirty dead within the walls of
Arlington Cemetery, but ut the memo
ries Of the Confederate dead wherever
they lie, and as such they are recognized
by every heart in the South which
mourns a soldier of the lost cause. And
there is, thank Heaven, yet one organi-
zatlon left which no tyranny can either
intimidate or destroy, and whose express
purpose and grateful task is tho pre-
servation and honor. of these dear me-
mories. The Ladies' Memorial Associa-
tions, and these alone, can speak and act
on this occasion for the South, and to
these associations the South looks for
the fitting response 60 the indignities Of
fered its most cherished sentiments. Let
our memorial ASSOCIATIONS, as many as
may be necessary. unite in publicly de-
manding from the United States Govern
ment the remains they have sought pub
licly to insult, md let them he buried
with every honor, in spot specially pre-
pared, md monument erected to tell
the tale to our children. and proclaim that
the South will never cease to revere the
memories of those who fought beneath
her banner and laid down their lives in
vain for her liberty.
The writer is aware that the removal of
these bodies to Confederate soil hos al-
ready been proposed, but that. for fear
of q refusal on the part of the Govern
ment to give them up, it is desired to
proceed as privately as possible. He is
convinced, however, that he represents O
very widespread sentiment, when he begs
and protests that it shall not be done pri-
vately, but, on the contrary, as publicly y as
possible. The honors we will pay should
not be in private when the insults were
public. The application for authority
to remove the insulted remains should
expressly state that we honor them the
more for being 80 hated by the people,
by the wrath of God, our conquerors
and oppressors. There need be no fear
that the United States Government would
refuse the request, for it would be en-
forced, ifpublicly and persistently made,
by the public sentiment of the world,
and to refuse would be to endorse afresh
the dishonoring of the graves and to
keep them for the very purpose. And,
even if the request should be refused, its
having been publicly made and refused
will be far better vindication of the
memories of our dead than any success
full application made privately and with
out full statement that we would re-
move them in scorn of the insults offered
and in stronger attachment to and deeper
regrets for the cause in which they fell
And tho ground to receive them should
be prepared and beauti6ed, and the pub
lie application renewed from year to year,
until it is granted for very shame.
In the hope that these views will meet
the appreciation of those whose memo
ries of the Confederate dead have not
died with the cause, or cooled with re-
construction, and to secure unity of ac-
1