Year: 1861

tence, and promise-as he was authoritativey in
formed be must do-to pray for the Union
and Tor the President Of the nited States. But,
alas! Tor human expectation-a bold and fearless
as good, the Reverend gentleman with air of
triumph co0Ily informed bis captOrs that he should
on dH occasions, whenever an opportunity offered,
pray with all his soul for the Southern cause and
Tor those who bad gone out to fight for him and his.


Helm zeman then told him, in any thing but gen.
tlemaniy way, that unless he prayed for the Union
and the President OF the United States, he should
pray more, and he would order his church to
be closed. In reply Mr.. l.. said that his heart coud
not be manacled; that he (Heintzeman) had the
po"er to close the church, but that if it was open
and he oiciated, he should certainly pray for the
South aud her cause, which be believed Just and
righteous.


question: Do | understand you, sir, address
ing Heinzleman,) to deny the freedom of prayer as
well as of speech? The question was poser, and
for moment Henzleman hung his head, and what
was left OF shame for a second suffused his face
but soon recovering himself, he answered peremp-
torily, Yes. Very WELL said, Mr. Leitwch, be it so;
but give you to understand sir, that shall pray
for whom please Then turning, he left his cap
tors dumb-founded at the spirit of the man
who had dared assert his freedom and
independence in their august presence. An
anxious crowd awaited MIR. LIS release, (for all
felt sure he must be released and when he ap-
peared he was eagerly grasped by the hand, and
3 a number of anxious enQuifers gathered round to


listen to the account of the arrest and to what had
been done and said Observing the crowd the
aforesaid Orderly, who made the arrest was quick
ly despatched to listen to what would be said. His
presence, however, had other effect than to elicit
few jeers from the boys in the crowd, and some
remarks upon himself by the elderly portion
which must have made him feel decidedly small.


In accordance with orders from his Coloneshp,
when, at night, the sexton about to open the
church, the Provost Marshal appeared, closed the
gates, and stationed file of soldiers to guard the
entrance. This proceeding caused much excite
ment, and a large crowd assembled in the neigh
borhood of the church, who gave expression to
,skher opinions OF this outrage in measured
Trims. The ladies (the truest in the land) who
had assembled to attend church, were particularly
caustc in their remarks.


1t is said that orders received from Wash
ington by telegraph to allow the church to be
opened, but for the truth of this will not vouch.
However, in accordance with these orders, or be-
cause of returning sense of shame and reason,
the order for the closing of the church was coun-
termanded, the guard removed, and the Provost
Mashal despatched to the Pastors residence to in
form him that he could proceed with his services
usual.


The account by telegraph Of this outrage on the
church is, as usual, falsited. There was NO re-
quest made to have the church opened; on the Con
tracy, it was determined by the elders to let the
lie where it properly belonged, and to let the
church stand closed. As you may imagine, there
was much excitement and indignation manifested
on the part at citizens, and much shame and
confusion of face exhibited by those of the soldiery
possessing any refinement of feeling. Mr.. Left
wch's course of conduct, uader these trying cir
cumstances, is worthy of the highest commenda-
tion. and some of the Soldiers who dare express
opinion of their own, severely condemn Heintzie
mans act.


The denial of the right of freedom of prayer
cannot fail to have its effect at home and abroad,
and cause the rejecting portion of the Northern
people to consider into what despotism they are
fast drifting, and if they not already too de-
graded by the powers at Washington, they will
turn upon their tyrapnical rulers and Indignantly
hur them from power.


Freedom of speech we expected to be denied, but
to undertake to manacle the heart and suppress
is tyranny tyranDized. LIBERTY.