The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-22
NO MONUMENTS FOR
SOUTH'S PRISON DEAD
White Marble Headstones All That the South
Wishes for Confederates Buried in the North.
The Government Should Nj ark the Graves,
but Not Erect Monuments Under the
Law Alleged Violations of
the Federal Statute

very small compass they must neces-
sariiy prove unrcadabie. exccp, upon
close inspection. aud further illeyibility
W.. occur from, oxidation. ana denosit
OF earthly matter from dust of The air.
ana Debris from treos
The most appropris,e AMI ncr,,.
nent monument Tor thcse prizon. dn,,
u the maintenance OF ndiyldunlitv
Tor in this method the ne;ns an
rounds of tho burial lands would ~.
preserved and thus in effect aid Ii,
securing tho graves from moIes;aflon
ana probable oblteratlou. "Cona,r,,c-
uons or MONUMENTS o. nasonry" (mcn.
TONED in the BILL solcl,. would in time
result IN the entire obii;erat;on of the
burial grounds Except the spot re.
CURED for the erection. all else OF tn.
teld Of burial would be abandoned
Deyond doubt the bronze tablets would
DC stolen for tho vaiuc OF the metal In
them. after which the monument would
stand for nothing save as :eIGoach
TO the United States government In
having failed in It's duty to valiant
zoo. and - the Southern people in hav-
in;' failed to scr tina: such duty had
been performed. Thus the 'construc-
lion or monument" would soon disap-
pear from vandalism and lack OF care
leaving no Observable ves;ige OF tho
graves
]; IS hcld 10 ne possible and practi-
caole TO ascertain the boundary lines
OF the burial grounds. and to locate
the individual graves. Is state other-
Wise Is 10 cast unworthy reflection
upon the great government, or the
United states. upon whose bosom rests
the remains Of these patriotic aui VAL
crous soldiers whose DUTY ended no,
by sI,npl! providing place Tor scpul
ture hut is Imperative to protect tho
title to their graves 50 that they may
no. 10 disturbed: the laws Of humanity
arc not FULFILLED bs laying them in the
earth Without securing their resting
place from molcstatton, Without grave
reflection upon tho business quaiiiiea-
tions and methods or the officials ot
the War Department o: that war
time period, and since that time. =
cannot be contendcd tina. the affairs OF
the government we're and arc so reck-
lcssiy misnnnagcd that records OF ac-
QUESTIONS IL lands and bnrals were
not made or cannot be found. II could
not have heeu that this great govern
ment regarded human bcirgs--eountry-
men and kiDsmcn OF many ~ the peo-
pie of :hc North--as OF no more con
sidaration than beasts OF the field. IT
Is true thai under the plea OF military
neccEsity cartels for exchange NJ pris-
oners OF war ceased to he observed by
the government iS64l. and In conse-
aucnce these prisoners were held In
confinement in tho North and died
there. But the authorities have al
ways contended that they were given
honorable burial and honorable care.
1t is Impossible to believe that II va.
otherwise. To state now that the
boundaries of the burial lands cannot
&c determined and the graves located
ut,
mcnt with having abandoned those
lands and graves. Such cruel abar-
Gonment In view of the extensive blood
Kindred and family connections OF
these soldiers. is not deemed to be
worthy of serious consideration.
The United states Congress after
nearly four years consideration, evil
denced By the enactment OF the law.
approved March .. 1906 that II most
earnestly intended that full honor and
justice should he done Ia those graves
by appropriation of a liberal SUM of
money for that purpose 5000. ooC.
That this was done in Difference TO the
wishes of the Southern people, as well
aa from sense of duty by the gov
eminent OF the United states. is fact
iEdtsputablc.
II is OF tho utmost Importance to
the honor OF lie United states that
II permit not this great work to he
neglected or sighted in tho least de-
gree. but shall see With watchfuf care
that ii be carried out in n thorough
and honorable manner, rs would be
come great country. il Is the i'm
perativc duty OF the comrades of those
dead TO aid the government in iis
watchful care at all times, ~ making
known such observations as may come
to them In the progress OF the work
and their views regarding the same.
II seems 10 appear that the require
ment OF file law Of 1906. for the said
work to be completed within two.
years. al the end Of which report
Of tho Same shall be made to Cen
No report was made at the expiration
of two years ito l90S), yet the Con-
nress continued the act in full force
and effect for two years longer (to
February &c. 1905: srll yet without
report to Congress having been made.
on February o5, 1910, there was like
continuation for one year 90 February
IS. l9lD, and thus. nearly five years
after the establishment of the COM
port made to Congress according to
the law.
In view Of the fact that fun infor
nation was not before II In it's recent
that Congress may take up the re-
consideration Of the bill fust passed
and that no legislation shall be en-
acted until n fun detailed report of
shall be made. according 20 law: and
Congress shall have had time and OPP
portunity TO make full inquiry.
'Jkeep Them Mt Home
Tho above caption was made the
kind article published in The Times
Dispatch OF December II by an un-
known friend OF tho Con Tolerate SOL
dier, but who concealed his identity
IL -