American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-07-12

Republican party ofthc North West,
thus expresses itself III regard to the
decoration of Confederate graves:
"a national organization solemn
~ decorating the grave of a confed
crate soldier who fought and died
while striving to destroy its Gov
eI nment would be Il ridiculous spec
taclr, not to say an exhibition Of
imbecility AS well might tie
American people be asked to weep
over the tomb of Benedict Arnold
every time they celebrate the ami
verSary of the birth ofGeorge Wash
iDgton.'
This extract shows that the eX
treme Il idIcalS, and possibly all of
them, regard the whole body of the
Confederate dead AS traitors, like
Benedict Arnold. They ignore the
fact that thousands who took up
arms on the Confederate side had
been brought up in the school of
State Rights and rcligiously brlitv-
ed that their first and highest duty
was to the State in which they were
born. These men could not without
violatingrcaSon and conscience fight
on any side except that of their ma
tive S ates. When they cast III their
lot with their own people, it was in
accordance with their convictions of
duty, and if the Apostle Paul can
be accel ted as authority upon such
questions. these men would have
sinned had they taken up arms in
opposition to these conscientious
convictions of duty; for he lays
down the broad doctrine: 'What-
soever is not Of conscience is H."
Again, there were thousands of mere
boys and plain, uneducated men,
who did not understand the queS-
ton at issue, hut knew that their
kirdreds, friends and neighbOrs
were engaged in an unequal strug-
gle with the whole world in arms
and chivalrOuSly came to the aid of
the weaker side, and arrayed them
selves with their own flesh and
blood. 1t does seem hard to de-
nounce as traitors those who could
not comprehend the abstract prin-
ciples involved, but who knew
enough to make Il natural and hero
&c decision. The Inter- Ocean prob
ably knew that the cOnscriptiOn was
enforced at the South. as well as the
draft at the North. A large portion
of the Southern troops were con
scripted. Were these men traitors
who were thus forced into the field =!
The three classes above enumerated
comprised, as we suppose, the whole
army: LIST. Those who
fought from Conscientious cOnvic-
tons of duty 2nd. Those who did
not understand the nature of the
struggle, but believed it to be right
to stand by the side of fathers,
brothers and kInsmen 81. Those
who had no choice in the matter and
were compelled to take up aims for
the Confederacy. These three elias
SEES are all compared to Benedict Ar
mold.
So powerful and intelligent a
Journal as the Inter Ocean ought to
know that the only bright part of
the history of Arnold belongs to his
career as d rebel. His name is obi
Dus in America because he deserted
his own people, turned his back up
on the rebellion, became a loyal man
and helped to slaughter those of his
own flesh and blood. There Tds
one class of creatures at the South
" no di, resemble Benedict Arnold,
but that class was not in the Con
federate army it was made up of
tories. deserterS and renegadeS. |
That fo1l and filthy monster, Brown
ow, is the type of these traitors to
he land of their birth. When Ar
mold ceased to be IA rebel and was |
received into the loyal ranks, he
.arried the torch and the sword to |
his native State, burned her towns |
md drenched her SOL in blood.
Brownlow deserted the flag be was |
he first to hoist, and though unlike |,
Arnold he did not expose his per
son in the field, he resembled the |
New England traitor in the JOY |
which he felt in seeing the smoking |
-uins and wasted fields of his native
and, and in hearing the shrieks and
walls of the widows and orphans
among his own people.
But we have a &c the extract i
lbove in order to call attention tot
me point. So far as we know, not
/ single Southern newspaper or
speaker ever east any reflection up |
ID the great mass of Federal dead.
Southern hands have even decora- !
ed their graves, and Southern lips
AVE spoken kindly of their valor. !
Some weeks ago we told the truth
lbout Gen. Canby'S treatment OF
he South, not as IA Federal officer,
)ut as IA harsh ruler over Il conquer
ii people, who had laid down their
,rms. There was no eXultatIon over
lis death it was simply a warning
20 oppressors that God reigned and
would vindicate wrong and outrage.
\ series OF facts was given, which
none but an Atheist could regard
is accidental. The facts cannot be
lenied, no more than 1t can be de-
ned that the anniversaries of fear
al burning by Federal orders at
he South have been marked by
earful burlingS at the North.
nut II twas wrong in us to speak
If Gen. Canby's unkindness, not as
soldier, but as ruler, because ne
vas dead and of the dead no evil
hould I've spoken how much more
yrouD il is TO denounce the whole