Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1869 — The Dead Soldiers. [ARTICLE]

The Dead Soldiers.

General Logan, as Commander-fn Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, hen Issued an order explaining why the graves of the rebel soldiers are not decorated with those of the Union soldiers, He says that it is from no vindictive emotion, 1 but from the wish to distinguish the feelingwith which the nation regards freedom and slavery, Republican principles and those of a slave-holding oligarchy.. Chief Justice Chase has also written a letter in reply to an invitation to assist at the ceremony of decoration in Charleston. Re asks, “May we not indulge the hope that ere long we who adhered to the national cause will be prompt also to join in commemorating the heroism of our countrymen who fell on the other Bidet" It is a pity that the career of the Chief Justice suggests the suspiciob that his letters are always written with one eye upon the White House. Certainly this letter has the distinction of suggesting a course which would put an end to the festival of decoration by making it worse than meaningless. General Logan’s order states the cape truly. The graves of the Union soldiers are decorated, not because they ere dead, and were breve, but because they gave their lives and their heroism to the no* < blest cause. Calhoun was undoubtedly honest in his ooaivietions. Is he therefore to be equally honored with Abraham Lincoln 1 That the rebel soldiers were sincere and fought bravely has never been questioned; but they spent their liven and their valor for the most inhuman and detestable cense in history. Mr. Chase entirely misconceives the case. It is not heroism that is honored in the decorations of the graves, it is humanity and justice. If be will go to Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill he will find monuments to brave men who fell in the earliest battles of the Revolution. Does he think that they are commemorated for their bravery? No; ft Is for defending their country against unjust aggression. The tall gray shaft on Bunker Hill does net oWtfly say, “ These were brave men; it says, “This was a great cause. Undoubtedly General Gage was as sun of bis cause as Putnam or Prescott or t Warren. Does the Chief Justice think his name should be carved upon the monument r Major Pitcairn at Lexington was as brave and sincere as the farmers upon whom be fired; shall be too be honored by a grateful America r Or is It a greater offense for an Englishman to assert the authority of the Crown in an English colony than for an American citizen to attempt to overthrow the Government and rend his country in order to perpetuate human slavery ? There may be a question of the wisdom of the festival which the Grand Army has established, bet there can be none that General Logan’s view ofit is correct. It is Intended, by refreshing the sweet memory of the brave boys who died for liberty and justice, our brothers whom slavery slew, to renew the national fidelity to the eternal principles of liberty upon which alone human society can be firmly founded. It may be doubted whether the method is wisely chosen. There can be no doubt that the object is as lofty as any. that the American heart can cherish —Harper'* Weekly.