The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-31
The Arlington Cemetery.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commerc

correspondence C1nclnnatl Commerclal.J
THE ARLINGTON. Jan. %, l871.-The fact
has come out that the only statesman of
Kentucky, the rude McCreery, made his
move looking to the restoration of the Ar
lington property to the Lee family on his
own motion. He not only failed to consult
the other leaders of his own organization.
but he did not advise with the parties he
proposed to interest. The widow of Gene
raj Lee was as much shocked and disguised
at the resolution as was the country at
large.
I learn from near relative that she has
no wish, but, on the contrary, would be
shocked Mt the idea of removing the dead
from that populous graveyard. 1t seems
Jeremiah S. Black and one or two other
DISTINGUISHED lawyers as to whether some
compensation might not be asked from
Government in behalf of bis wife aud chill
dren, as the property had been seized with.
ont anv proccss$of law, and of course held
without any title.
MIR. stanton, while Secretary of War,
seized the property and made, as he said,
| title that could not be disputed, by bury
| inc thousands of Union soldiers there. But
| this does not prevent the widow OF Gen.
Lee and her children from asking now, and
demanding at some future day, n reasona-
| BILE compensation.
! While the war feeling engendered by the
late civil contest continues in existence
such demand, of course. Will be consIdered
at first infamous, after time unreasonable,
and, as that spirit dies out, eventually Il
! inst claim. If we could always keep in
mower such men as Sumner, Chandler, and
| Morton, we might treat the demand with
contempt but day will come when these
gentlemen will have passed to private life,
and Others will take their places. 1t
| is not unreasonable to suppose that
the Democratic party may intervene,
| and. as an indication of this. have only to
| call YOUR attention to the fact that General
| LonGstreet holds q handsome moneyed Of
| flee in the gift Of the Republican party, and
the late elections North and South are any
thing but encouraging to our organization.
| The sooner a settlement Is had the less we
will have to pay, and as this property be-
longs to the widow of the offending General, ,
| and ms we never made war on the women,
| il would be we'll to have the Attorney-Gen-
eral authorized by resolution Of Congress
| to secure title to this National Cemetery.
7 want no better indication of small
mind than to have some enthusiastic he
publican go wild on question OF this sort.
| He is Just the sort of a man to sell out to
Loncstrcet from whom he could make some
return, and fight the woman to the bitter
end on high patriotic impulses. For my
part l never want to see the day when the
judiciary of the United States will be influ-
enced in its decisions by any such prejudices
and impulses rs these. [ have such high
| opinion of our courts that believe now that
? if Mrs. Lee were to carry her case before the
proper tribunal it would receive decision
! in accordance with the law and fact. And so
| long as this remains, we can have a reason
able hope of the Republic. When it ceases,
| the last substantial landmark, built up with
50 much care and pains by the fathers, will
| have Misrepresentation Piatt.