New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-29

ADDRESS ON DECORATION OF SOLDIERS
GRAvEs.-At a meeting of the Tenth Ward
Republican Club, held at Temperance Hall,
on Josephine street, on the evening of the
twenty fifth instant, upon the reading of a
communication from the American U Mon
ceremony of decorating the soldiers and
sailors graves at Chalmette, on the thirtieth
instant, Mr.. George Grindley addressed
the club as follows:
Mr.. President: l would like to say few
words on this communication, with which
we have been honored by the American
Union Club, If there are no objections.
Three years ago this coming Monday-the
thirtieth instant-the American Union Club
inaugurated the praiseworthy object which
it now proposes to carry out another time.
What is there that can call forth the half
forgotten trials of the late war. or more fill
the heart with thankfulness to the fallen
heroes, who now lie buried on the plains of
Chalmette, than that of devoting one day
out of the three hundred and sixty five to
the purpose of streWing flowers upon their
graves
If all felt as do in regard to this matter.
every voice in this room would, with one
spontaneous uproar, cry none" Many OF
you, no doubt, have former friends and
comrades in arms for the defense of this
glorious Union, and the consummation OF
those great principles tor which we, as d
club, are gathered together here tonight to
perpetuate, buried there. o, that | could
call back some of those who fought beside
me on the plains of Shiloh, Vicksburg and
numerous other battle fields. What would
not ID, and what would you not give to do
likewise
There lie buried at the National Monu-
mental Cemetery the corpses of IA, 524 SOL
diers and sailors, of whom H. 709 are white
and 1888 are colored. What an army! You
look around you and say, this is large
audience. But O! how small compared with
the host buried there And again, what a
mite the dead army of Chalme,te is, COM
pared with the dead armies of the Union!
On Monday next, throughout the length
and breadth of this Republic, fathers,
mothers, brothers and sisters will
arise with the dawn OF day to make
the pilgrimage to the graves OF those
who fell, perhaps, beside some of their
relatives, and the pilgrims will shed tears of
mingled Joy and sorrow at the thought that
others are performing the same right to
their dear lost ones IN some other distant
portion of our com non country. Tears OF
joy are shed at the thought that they had
one near and dear to them VINO sned MS
blood at the altar of our country. Tears of
sorrow that his merry laugh will no more
be mingled with theirs around the hreslde;
and the last hope of years past that he
would return to tell the many tales of JOY
and terror through which he had passed
during his absence.
Then, Mr.. President, let US each think Of
the vast throng of mourners and sympathi-
zers who will participate in the ceremonies
of that day, and resolve to be one of the
many ourselves. The cause is holy, and
the spirits of the departed dead lowering
around us as we wend our way to their NOR
tai remains, will, in company with the an
gels. breathe silent blessings upon US as we
pass.
1t is not desirable to attend in body, but
it is desirable that we should all attend.
Ample preparations have been made and all
persons will be conveyed to and from the
cemetery, free of all expense, on one of our
finest river packets.
I hope the invitation will be accepted and
spread upon the minutes. Thanking you
for your kind attention, 1 close with
another exhortation, that you will all at
tend, and endeavor to have something, If
naught but one rose, to place on the grave
of some fallen hero.