The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-31
sTHE UNION DEAD"

Decoration OF their Graves-Addresses
OF General Gurney, Major corbin and
Others.
In pursuance of instructions from Head
quarters Grand Army Of the Republic, to de-
vote the SOth of May to decora ing the graves,
and doing honor to the memory of the soldiers
of the Union army who fell during the strug-
Gle, the graves of those buried in Magnolia
Cemetery were decorated yesterday afternoon,
after solemn ceremonies, under the auspices
of Shaw Post, No. l, Grand Army OF the Re-
public.
Shortly before 8 o'clock special train OF the
South Carolina Railroad, on which were the
members of. Shaw Post and their friends, left
the Ann street depot for Magnolia. Arriving
opposite the Cemetery the Post disembarked,
and, headed by the Chicora Cornet Band,
marched into the ground, where they dis
persed to await the hour of oclock-the
time for commencing the ceremonies. Shortly
after their arrival, the first battalion of Charles
ton nght-iafantry, (colored) headed +. " drum
corps, and followed by large crowd Of COL
ored persons, maEhed to the front OF the
stand-having marched out from the city.
The stand, situated near the chapel, was en-
tirely covered with flags of the United States.
On it were number of ladies, General Cur
ney, Major Corbin, and several of the white
and colored officials Of the city. Around it
was crowd of about twenty-five hundred per
SONS, three-fourths ofwhom were colored. At
o'clock the members Of the Shaw Post, with
dropping banners and with the band playing
dirge, proceeded slowly to the front of the
stand, being saluted by the infantry as they
passed.
So soon as the Shaw Post was 10 position,
Captain Reed called the assemblage to order,
and after brief address, in which he stated
the object for which they had been called to-
gether, and mentioned that the Grand Army
of the Republic he'd not been Instituted to re-
vlve the bitterness OF the past nor to humiliate
fallen foe, but to keep fresh the memories OF
the glorious deeds of the late war, and to do
honor to the Union dead, read the order
(above referred toy from General Logan, COM
mander of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
Captain Reed then introduced Rev. DR.. Web
ster, who fervently prayed that the country for
which those whose graves they had come to
decorate had died to save, would be perpetual
ed, and its citizens be blessed with increased
happiness and prosperity.
ADDRESS OF MAJOR CoRBIN.
After the prayer, Captain Reed introduced
Major D. T. Corbin, United States District At
torney. Major Cerbin, after speaking of the
object for which they had assembled, and pay
ing tribute to those ofthe Union soldiers who
had fallen, defined thafa government was con-
structed for the good of the many, and that
the good of the individual should be overlook
ed when brought into contact. He then briefly
alluded to the various governments which n had
risen, fourished awhile and gone to decay.
And, said he, when the Government Of the
United States was formed, its trainers sought
to combine all Of the good, and reject the bad
which had existed in the governments that
had gone to decay. The result was govern
ment such as never existed before-one OF
which every citizen was proud, and boested
of its institutions While all were congratllla-
ting themselves upon having such glorious
country, and upon being on the high road 10
prosperity, they were ovetaken by storm-a
storm OF passion, which ragged for four long
years, during which blood flowed like water,
reason was destroyed, and man, beast-hke,
sought his brother man but to destroy. Now
the storm is over. The Union which was
torn and rent is restored, and reason has re-
sumed her throne.
The speaker, after speaking at some length
Of the interest felt by fore sn nations in the
struggle, and their surprise that nation could
recover from shock which would have over
thrown them, alluded again to the Union SOL
diers, their bravery, endurance and victories,
and said that, while it behooved the soldiers Of
the United States not to forget these deeds
and victories, yet It did not become them to
say or do anything that would wound or hu-
initiate those with whom they contested; their
terrible failure was punishment enough; but
they must cultivate q fraternal feeling, a nd
ere long all would be united to preserve the
Union.
GENERAL GURNEY's ADDRESS.
General VIM. Gurney was next introduced
BY Captain Reed. The general paid tribute
to the Union soldiers, whom he claimed had
died that right might triumph over injustice,
and that freedom might be given to those who
had been kept in bondage. The war had been
one of Titans, and great was the struggle.
Those who had fought against us, said he,
fought for an 'seffete idea," upon which the
world had set the seal of condemnation, but
they fought with zeal, devotion and bravery
which were worthy Of better cause. 1t is
not in the order OF things that the bitterness
and antipathies ergendered by the war should
cease to exist at once, but every day these
feelings ere softened, and, in u short time, the
Nc-therner and southerner will be moving
hand in hand in the great work Of restoring
the country to Its former glor'' After speak
ing of the necessity of cultivatlng such feel
ings, and stating that all could well afford to
await until these asperities were softened, the
speaker retired.
ADDRESS OF ". J. wHIPFER.
". ]. Whipper, colored, representative
from Beaufort County, then delivered short
address, at first following in the same strain as
his predecessors, paying tribute to the dead.
He then proceeded to speak Of those who had
fought and lost, saying that while he consign-