Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-05-11
ooHmExoRATroN DAY.
Imnhe1se Crowds at MT. Olives and She
city Cemetery.
The Exercises at Mt. OI,vct.
Grafton of Gov. Brown.
Rev. DIR. Yeuns's Address.

memoration Day. The morning brol
bright and beautiful, and an Gncloudy SIX
continued throughout the entire day. Til
hour appointed for the exercises at NJ
OliVet was fixed at o'clock, but as earl
as IL o'clock the streets were crowded wit
people, who were proceeding in th
direction of the line of the stree
railroad. Up to one o'clock, ia
cars running TO the City Cemeter
were comfortably filed, but after this
time, and until nearly O'Clock, the rusl
was beyond description. A large numbe
Of extra cars were placed on the track
and every five minutes car passed Ia,
posloffice corner densely packed with men
women and children.
While this immense iconeourse Wert
making their way to the City Cemetery
the streets, too, were crowded with buggiei
and carriages moving towards Mt, Olive
Cemetery.
Thousands Of persons congregated at the
Old Cemetery, and afterwards repaired to
Olivet. The large number of omnibnses
belonging to Capt. Little's line was insuf.
icient to transport the crowd from one
cemetery tOithe other, and.hacks, caIryaIIs
and express wagons were pressed into SER
vice, and then there were many who could
not get a conveyance TO Mt. Olivet.
At the Old Cemetery, flowers were acat-
tered in profusion over the graves of the
sleeping heroes. As We walked through the
aisles of The city of the dead, we occa-
sionally came upon decorations that be-
tekened that loving forms had been bend
ing over those who he'd been near and
dear TO them. He.e is an enclosure which
marks the spot Of all that is left on earth
of three gallant spirits that enlisted in the
Rock City Guards. There again is a
beautiful arch Of evergreens and rare
flowers, blooming above the remains
of that young hero who fell
while leading his brigade loac &c, and
here again are wreathes covering particu-
lar graves. But the hillocks of these who
died far away from home-they too were
remembered by the fairy forms fitting
with graceful steps around the graves of
the soldiers from every Southern State.
At Mount Olivet, the dedication of the
Confederate Cemetery took place, and at
this place the attendance was very large,
the crowd being estimated at upwards of
six or eight thousand persons. ...
The order of exercises opened with
music by the Odd Fellows band. Then
followed prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Ellis,
afterwards hymn, and then the Grafton
as follows of Gov. Brown:
EX-Gov. BROWNS ADDRESS.
At the solicitation of the lady managers
of this ceremonial | have consented 10
make a few remarks on the present ocea-
sion. / could wish that such task had
devolved upon another. The day, the
place, the purpose OF this assemblage, all
conspire 10 suggest field of thought and
reflection that might we'll beguile the
tongue of the orator or the statesman. No
one, | apprehend, could be present under
such circumstances without a feeling Of
awe and solemnity. We are in the midst
of the dead and the living. We stand on
the ground, beneath the surface Of which,
in very few years, most Of all whom |
now behold will sleep that sleep which
knows no awakening.
Here all passions and resentments, all
hopes and fears, all aspirations and disap-
pointed expectations will lie buried for-
ever. If there is anything that could
bring us 10 pause it is such place, such
a scene, and such associations. ... /
This assemblage is here TO witness the
dedication of this spot a. receptacle OF
the Confederate dead that fell in the late
conflict. it3 purpose is in no sense TO
commemorate the cause in which they
fell, or 10 discuss its merits or dement's.
That il left TO the verdict of history and
the Judgment ofprosperity.
But these brave, gallant young men
who repose in their rude sepulchres are
our brothers and Sons and neighbors, and
are bound to us by lies Of kindred and
affection, which defy all political opinions
or preindices, and challenge our sacred
regard. We are met TO pay tribute to
their personal memory, and 10 devote a
spot of earth where their remains may
sleep in security in all coming years and
ages.
And is not this a natural sentiment? 1t
has been so in all ages, amid all the con-
yulsions of society, and all the discords
that have tormented our hapless race. The
dead have always been cared for. This
has been Iious emotion in all countries,
civilized and savage, and the earth, at last,
has no more enduring monuments than
the stones that mark the resting place Of
the departed. Those nations, il there be
any, who have erected no mausoleums TO
their illustrious dead, have faded from
the records of history and the annals Of
tradition, and have no share in the hOm-
age of posterity; and those individuals
who have forsaken their dead friends have
no claim upon living sympathy.
All nations have been more or less con-
vulsed by civil wars. None have come
down TO our inspection that do not carry
with their names and careers the blemish
of internal commissions. And yet, if they
we're not always true TO the living, they
have generally been true to the dead. The.
dead have found a home safe from the
storms Of battle and tempests Of life.
Whence this native, Unborn sentiment Of
our race? The undying devotion to the
dead of all ages? 1t has its foundation in
a sense of immOrtality-faith that looks
far beyond these decsying frag-
ments, the feetiDg career, this
sort-Iived glory, this imperfect happiness,
these misunderstood motives and these
hapless failings-a faith that transcends
the duration of these venerable oaks and
this mountain of granite where the dead
slumber
There is something beyond which the
living aspire to, and which they cherish
in all the honors and homage and affection
that they pay to the dead. But whatever
NAV be the eventual truth of this faith,
its exercise has ever been found fruitful
of good results Go with me in imagina-
ton 10 Westminster Abbey, and gaze
upon the Wondering monuments OF sde-
parted greatness which have been retired
| for centuries in that venerable pile,
and tell me if they are not mute, but elo-
quent, opponents of genius-of great
achievements in all departments of life.
Go to Pere la Chaise in Paris, and read
| the varied story of human effort and hu'
man glory, and witness the daily offerings
| of affection at the shrine of departed
worth or friendship. 1t is impossible tc
conceive the effect produced by this sort o
half-living presence of the dead. There
is in it an inspiration that has moved the
energies and kindled the ambition of III,
votsTies of genius, of science, of yirtu,
| and religion in all ranks and classes 0