Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-06-10
SOLDIERS GRAVES.

We make the following extract from
the Washington correspondence of the
Philadelphia Press, Of May 2sth, on the
subject of decorating the soldiers
graves. 1t is a very beautiful and
sensible tribute:
By a happy concurrence the graves OF
the Union soldiers all over the country,
whether On the coast of California or
on the coast o. Carolina, whether on
the hills of New Hampshire or on the
p~rairies OF Illinois, are this year to be
dedicated on Saturday, the Sabbath OF
the Jews, and on Sunday, the Sabbath
of the Christians. And rs all races,
like all religions, on the continent,
fought for the old flag, there will be, as
there ought to be, no distinction in the
grateful remembrance OF every one OF
those who gave up their lives for the
common liberties.
Their sacred dust is scattered over
the land they saved and their brave
deeds have gone forth
Like nower-sceds by the far winds sown,
Where'er beneath the sky Of Heaven
The birds Of Fame have flown.
Every battlefield has become u Union
cemetery; every ~prisou-lot n Union
graveyard; and there, where contending
hosts struggled for the mastery, or suf'
fered for their patriotism, their devotion
to liberty is commemorated by q gener'
Gus Government and u grateful people,
1t was o touching sight, in my late jour
ney through a part Of the South, to come
upon these Meccas Of the war. Save
from the national forts and the public
buildings in the States controlled by
Republican officers, the old flag was ig
uored, except where it waved over th'
beautiful cities of the Union dead. Tit
long arm of n Just Government had beer
stretched forth to guard and TO cultivate
them aud as | saw them at Culpeper
near Bull Run, ut Richmond, aud ye
further south, with their silent streets
more eloquent than the most thrilling
oratory, every head board II witness o
the eternal blessing to secure which
these brave men had cheerfully gon'
out to die, I felt that their fame woulc
be as perpetual and as constantly re
vered as that undying Nature which wa
clothing their tombs with the luxurian'
foliage and flowers Of the Southern
spring.
But let US not forget, either to.mor
row or the day that succeeds to it, thai
there is a duty only second to that o
gratitude for the Union dead. l NEAR
that Of forgiveness for their late enc
mics sleeping at their side. Pledged t
peace with the living, We cannot wal
with the dead. All our statutes breathe
ultimate pardon to the worst offenders
There is no such thing in this land o
law and liberty as reyengeful punish
ment. We have executed none OF th'
bad men who began the war, and man,
of whom live 10 unrepentant exul,ation
Coufscation is so exceptional as to b
ridiculous. And what Is complained o
as Acknowledgement is so light a chas
tisemeut for what in other lands woulC
have been followed by immediate death
that the men upon whom it bears resis
it only because so much has been over
looked by the conqueror. His yer.
magnanimity makes them impatient o
accepting even his lightest penalty, an
his noble liberation prompts them I
overlook what he has already forgotten
and to insist upon n full absolution.
is the mission Of the Republican part
to govern, no. to Cypress; to convince
not to crush to enforce the laws NOR
by suasion than the sword. If the rebe
has sinned, he has also suffered aud
no more doubt his complete submission
to the destiny he has provoked than
doubt the power of the Government t
command it.