Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-05-11
The Confederate GrnveS

citation was held last night in WASHINGTON to
take action upon the question Of the decoration
of Confederate solii'rs' graves at Arlington.
DR.. Culver stated that he had called at the
QuArLermaster's department. last Wednesday
md saw some OF the officers who had the care of
the cemeteries. They had no authority further
tan to preserve the records of the Confederate.
inferred ut Arlington, and they had no authori
ty to make improvements further than that OF
preserving the record of those buried. They
stated h II in consequence of many of the hesd-
boards becoming '!ecayed, new ones would be
erected, but nothing further. He had CONVEX
satioIis with Others In the Department., and they
manifested general good feeling, and were will
ing to 10 all they could to make such improve
rnenls rs would prevent distinction among tho
dead. They ex pressed pleasure regarding tho
manner in which the Grand Army of the R"pub-
H.. have acted: He (Dr. Culver thought the
u. A. Il. bad been brought 10 the sense of their
obligations to the American soldier, ard that
feeling which had formerly existed h d died
nut. Ihese gentlemen of the department ha:
expressed the desire that both organizations
would unite on the same footing, and show no
distinction. He CDR. Cu:ver) had been informed
by n menbsr of the q. A. Il. that an invitation
would be extended to tie Southern Memorial
Association to participate in the decoration Ger
enlonics at Arlington. TIL" only objection this
gentleman knew was the be.icI that cA listed in
wv Ll'ht| VI h"S Vi NV ~. \ ~ bb6G
the southern Memorial Association WAS made
up o. 5 uthern sympathizcrs, and not ,ldiers
Tho Doctor denied tbs assertion, and stated
that, So far II, he know, he was the onl" member
who mad not Eeen Il soldier. He was in the
South, in charge OF II hospital in Georgia. He
opposed tho war, but after it began he lid all he
could t" serve the outh. At the next meeting
Of tho q. A. T.. these facts would be laid before
th" Organization, and he thought u general in
v~itation would be extt nd d. The Doctor favor
ed letting the In"ttur rest until the q. A. T..
could be heard from, and if nothing WAS doi.e,
then g ahead md decorate tho G.n!ederate
graves on the first day in Juae, rs had bcoA de-
cIdcd upon by the association.
DIR. Garnett lid in regard to that portion Of
DR.. Culrer'S report which relsted to improve
nlcnt> and repairs he approved, but III reference
To- renal: ing lnactIi L un,il the u. A. +. should
act he held very strong objections. II" favored
ulhering To tho action already taken by The AS
ISOLATION, and not waiting for the u. A.. Il. Thn
object sprlngs from the feeling for those buried.
1t WAS well known that on ali occasions of d CO.
rations u class of people 60 TO Arlington who
would not hes tutc TO offer insult, and therefore,,
in order 10 avoid taking any risks, the assocla
ton had better act n It's own responsibility.
When the management of the Government
falls into other hands atf,irs would be different.
He took tn ground for anott or reason, that WA
from the fact that he did not consider the Grand
Army Of the Republic composed Of Representa-
tive soldiers, and further, that he did not want
10 huinillate himself
Mr.. Wilson desired II iull representation on
the cDlnnittee OF the Grand Army Of the Re
Iublic having the deco stlon in charge but e
did not desire the association " n:ake d bid for
HI invit4lion.
DR. Garnntt tn ,ught i. best 10 have q decora
| ton Il ~ independently of tn. Grand Army OF
the Republic, and thereby prevent tho posslbii'
ity Of any unplc"santncss
DR.. Culver said he did not desire to wait for
49,, -, sc No. Nr,pl rnr ~ IN, u .,li Al,
but thought it good policy to deter sction for Il
little while, and i tho Grand ,rmy of the Re.
public should send An invitation such rs cuuiC
be accepted i'll would be right. If not, the Mem
orial Association could 90 ahead in their W
way.
dc would not commit the association, but he
did desire To show II disposition to meet The &
A. K. hall Way, and try to break down all dis
| tinctions, and resch across the chasui which
should have been filled up long ago;
MIR. Dean SAID it had been decided to decorate
on = different day tr IN the u. a. r., and II
would be discourtcous to the absent members Of
tho association to change that decision. -Four
years ago the u. a. K. had n detail of marines
u; 4 arlington, and all the flowers they saw on
Confederate graves they threw off with thor
b-yonets. lie believed that the men who com
posed the u. A. K. were those vino enlisted
early in the var, were Obliged TO leave their
homes, and by soma means thy got into the
hospitals, and from there into the different de-
, .rlments OF the Government. He opposed bid
ding tor An invitation.
DR.. Garnet hoped g]entlemol would avoid any
REMARKS OF n political nature. 1t WAS not u po-
lii ri organization.
Mr.. Dean moved that all soldiers Of the Fed
eral and the late Confederate armies be cordial
" invited TO JOIN thY Southern Memorial Asso-
citation in decorating the graves At Arlington,
June !, 1873, which motion was adopted, and
the meeting adjourned.
Victoria Woodruff it is said has been notified
that she will DOT be required to testify in the
Bccchcr case. She T, fused to give any iukllng
lu advance as to what would be the nature OF
her testimony. 4 statement is promised the
public BY Mrs. Tilton.
During the trial, yesterday, of the ex-prlest
Gerdemaun, at Philadelphia, for embezzle.
u.ent, it was proved on cross. examination OF
the accountant that the church WAS indebted to
the defendant $467 IS. This has created quite
a sensation.
DIED.
In Fredericksburg, on Sunday night, at II!
o'clock, ROBERT KEYSER, in tho lorty-trst
gear of his age.