Year: 1867

Burial OF the Confederate Dead.


Mr. SPEAKER My appeal is not alone
in behalf of the noble dead The living
and the unborn future, who will control the
r destines of Georgia, are the peculiar OBJ
jects of my solicitude Preserve this re
cord of the past that it may become as
: household words - to the immigration
) which you are inviting to your shores. -
With Time, the passions engendered by oul
recent struggle will pass away, and posteri
ty will recognize the great fact that all
America, except the Radicals, was engaged
, in common struggle for the perpetuation
, of constitutional liberty. The valor of each
, section will rebound to the glory of both.
; The contending armies were animated by
the same sentiment they marched upon
diyerging roads, but each sought the same
goal. Gather the ashes Of yourdead bend all
your efforts to the restoration of the Union,
and when we are once more thoroughly uni
ted, America, the great exemplar Of well
regulated liberty, will applaud the humble
tribute which you this day offer to your
hero dust. No State can be truly great that
does not do honor to its noble dead.


You may with lavish hands aid internal
Improvement until your State shall be CO.
vered with network of railroads. You
may penetrate your mineral regions, until
the disemboweled earth shall pour forth the
rich treasures which lay there, hidden fo1
untold centuries. You may cultivate your
soil to the highest power of agricultural
science, until your rich fields shall be laden
with their luxuriant crops. You may build
q factory upon every inland stream, until
the music of the spindle and the loom shall
join in one choral song with the glad wa
te-s as they leap from point to point through
their rock embedded channels. Your com
merce may whiten every sea. immigration,
invited by avarice and adventure, may
cover your valleys and your hill sides with
a teeming, busy, and successful population.
Your treasury may become over-burdened
with it's rich revenues, but your State will
never be truly great, unless you cultivate,
foster, and encourage the sublime spirit OF
patriotism ; and this can never be done sue
cessfrlly, while the history of the Confed-
crate war; written on the neglected names
of the unburied dead, rroclaims the States
lngratitude.


You must remember, Georgians, that you
will be but as drop of water in the stream
of immigration which, in time, will flow to
your shores, and unless you preserve your
individuality by constant and proud re-
currence to the early history of your State,
instead of impressing the Georgia charac-
ter upon the infowing tide of population,
your individuality will be lost in the Euro
pean food and Georgia, in the hour of her
most boundless prosperity, will not be the
noble old State, which now, amidst the sur
rounding desolation, when asked for her
Jewels, can point to her sons.


am led to these reflections by an Incl
| dent which occurred to me on Sunday last
While the church bells were ringing, [
strayed to the Milledgeville cemetery to visit
the grave of General Doles. AS [ entered
the gate, I was attracted by a neat and
somewhat expensive obelisk, before which
stood youths dressed in Confederate gray
[ walked towards it, curious to see what in
scription patriotism had placed above the
gallant leader of the Fourth Georgia. I
found that it had been raised above the
grave of a wealthy and successful planter.
Saddened and disappointed, I read the in
scription and found that it taught this use
full lesson ''Be rigid and just, firm of
purpose, energetic in execution, and sue
cess will crown your efforts" Let the ris-
ing generation ponder upon its teachings,
and it will nerve the young as it now does
me, to persevere in this object


Turning from the spot, [ sought in vain
the tomb of General Doles. Seeinga grave
digger busy in his vocation preparing for
some incoming tenant of the tomb, [ ask
ed him to point me to the grave. He led
me to q plain, unlettered slab no monu-





worship of the heart was there ; wreath of
ha!f-blown roses was freshly laid upon the
erave-placed there, doubtless, by wo-
mans hand, and watered with her tears
AS [ cast my eyes from this unmarked spot,
to the imposing obelisk whose base [ had
surveyed, L was attracted by a brave old
oak, its rich autumnal foliage reflected by
the rays of the morning sun, tinting it with
halo Of light, forming background, and
throwing out, in bold relief, chaste and
beautiful figure of Hope, which rested on
the apex of the monument her eyes up
turned, the right hand raised and pointing
heavenward. L gazed upon it some min
utes then, turning to the humble grave
beside me, [ mentally exclaimed, the he
roe's reward is written there and as hope
springs eternal in the human breast " so did
it in mine, that earth would soon recognize
the sacrifice, and build amonumentt to COM
memorate his deeds. I went to draw an
inspiration from the dead, that might
breathe it to the living as / do here and
now.


Let the history of Georgia be written in
her monuments, so that all who tread upon
her soil may learn to love her; cultivate
the spirit of patriotism, lest with accruing
wealth her greatness pass away.


This bill, Representatives, is a step in
that direction. Woman makes the appeal.
It is the first time that the grave has sent
it's messenger to ask tribute for the dead,
and when she comes, for what is the petit
ton presented Not for monumental mar
ble expensive columns, or rich cenotaphs,
She only asks for the dead, little spot of
earth-a part of the Gland they died for,
but could not save "a place in it's bosom
to rest, that their bones may not lie unbu-
ried on the fields made classic by their
daring.


You all know that after the battles OF
Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Resa-
ca, the fields were covered with the bleed
ing witnesses of Southern valor Some lay
stiff and stark and cold. They had passed
at once from life to death. Some were gasp
ing away life's last, feverish breath some
lay in agony their flesh quivering and
torn. Among all, gentlewoman was pass
ing, assisting in the removal of those from
whom life had not already fed. As one By
one they died, far away from home and
friends, they were so hastily and imperfect
| ly buried that the winter floods exposed
their bodies, and their bones lay literally
bleaching in the sun-neglected, but not
Torrotton NaooSSitv drOvo man into the