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4 F .j. T H REV. A. J. RYAN, Editor- AUGUSTA, GA„ MAY 16, 1868. POLITICAL BLINDNESS. There is one thing in the political world of to-day that the people of the United States seem not to compre hend, and that is that the political fate of the South is to bo the political fate of the whole country—that the tyranny which oppresses the States of the South to-day> and is attempting to fasten degradation and shame upon the highest officer of the Nation, will soon oppress the North as well, and destroy the liberties of the one, as they have already destroyed the liber ties of the other. It requires no prophetic eye to see this. It is the example of history—the logic of events—the arithmetic of tyranny. Why cannot the people of the North see it ? It is because they do not feel that grinding oppression as we do hero. The South sees it, feels; it is with us, about us, around us. It compasses our States with its bayonets, enforces its own laws, and disregards the constitutional rights of the people. Is it going to stop here ? Is it going to be satisfied with destroying public liberty in the South, and establish ing the philosophy of the sword hero ? We believe not. Tyranny doesn’t like to let go—it doesn’t like to give up its sway—it doesn’t like to g*ive up its power. The history of every tyranny teaches this. And it will not relinquish its power in this country, unless it is forced to do so by the mightier power of an enraged liberty-loving people. If this power is not exerted for this purpose, then the lesser power will be come the greater, and will sweep over ihc .North as it lias over the fair and sun nv South. The central power of this tyranny is Congress. That body is in the hands of the enemies of Constitutional liberty, and they are not going to rest satisfied with the very doubtful possibility of gaining a half dozen States of the South to their party. No! The Democratic States of • the North will be wheeled into line as well. They need reconstruction. They must help to swell the majorities ; and so, the Constitution, set aside and spit upon, by this power, will not be in the way to pre vent them from encompassing the destruc tion of Northern liberty, as they have that of Southern liberty. Unscrupulous ambition never stops to count costs, it sometimes advances cautiously, to deceive—sometimes rushes boldly forward, to crush its victims una wares. The first course has been adopted by the Congress. It has gone forward, step by step, deceiving the people as to its “true intent and meaning.” What, toon, is to be done to stop its progress? The South is weak and chained. If she had the will she has not the strength to rend the conqueror’s chains ; hence he may rest easy on that score, we shall not advocate so treasonable a thinar as “re sistance to tyranny” here ; but what ex cuse lias the free untrammelled North got, for permitting us to be oppressed, and their liberties to be endangered ? The ballot-box there is free—suffrage there is * l ' ee —and a lew thousand votes can hurl the tyrants from power, and consign t.u ii names to the infamy which they de serve. Are they going to do it, or will they tin inglorious case,” until the final bio , shall come which will destroy the one proud temple of Liberty, and scatter its beautiful ruins to the four quarter of Heaven ? 'Twill then be too late, hue chains which bind our limbs will bind theirs, and we shall only be able to mourn together the sad fate of the once grand and mighty edifice. Already its walls are tottering a„d crumbling, and : some of its pillars are broken and fallen to the ground ; but it is not yet too late to save it from the hands of the fell des troyer. It is not yet too late to wrest it from the grasp of the rut!dess despoiler, and restore it once more to its wonted splendor and grandeur. The South, as we have already said, is powerless ; the North, we all know, is all-powerful. The one is in the chains of bondage: the other is free and untram olcd. Arms and bloodshed are not re quired to effect the revolution. The bailot-b ix and its paper pellets can accom plish the desired result, and “free the land from bondage.” Why, then, dwell in apathy and ease, when this mighty work is to be done ? Why not sound the tocsin of alarm throughout the broad acres of that free land ? Why not ring, in clarion notes, the dangers which beset its people ? Why not proclaim it from every hill and in every valley there, and so arouse the sleeping lion from his lair, so arouse the people to a sense of their terrible danger, and the necessity of prompt and united action ? If this can be done, our liberties shall yct' he saved, and our country become once more the glorious laud of freedom which our forefathers framed and bequeathed to us as a rich and invaluable legacy, and a charge to keep holy and inviolate. If not—then wo he to these people, who have slept while their chains were being forged, and their prison bolts and bars riveted and welded by their tyrants, Let us hope, therefore, that the noise of the oppressor's hammer and the clank ing of his chains, will awaken them to a sense of their impending fate, and secure through the peaceful revolution of the ballot-box the destruction of tyranny, and the restoration of liberty. [For the Banner of the South,] MEMORIAL DAY AT MILLEDGEVILLE. Editor Banner of lhe South: Knowing that anything connected with the decoration of our soldier-graves will be of interest to your readers, I give a short sketch of the day in this place. Though it was not my «aJ pleasure to gather with those who met that day to strew with flowers the graves ol those brave heroes of my own home—who sleep within the shades of Laurel Grove, where the waves of the bright flowing Savannah sing for them a dirge—yet /it was my privilege to unite with the ladies of Milledgevillo in doing honor to the graves of some of Georgia’s fallen braves. Many and beautiful were the decorations prepared for the occasion, and, while every soldier-mound bore its generous floral offering, yet the grave of the gallant Gen. Doles, and the Monument erected by the Ladies’ Menuyial Association to the Confederate dead of this place, were among the most beautiful. The Monu ment stands in the centre of a square on which are the graves of many a gallant one, many of them “unknown ’’ These seemed to call for a tribute from every heart, and the monument erected to them was most beautifully decorated. Every device that flowers could fashion— wreaths, hearts, anchors, crosses, stars— all were brought as grateful tributes of honor to our fallen heroes ! On the front of the monument, and encircled by a wreath of laurel, and formed in letters of evergreen, was the inscription, “Brave Defenders of the Lost Cause.” On an other side, arranged in the same manner, “Our Gallant Dead !” and still upon an. other a tribute in verse. From the top of the shaft to its base was wreathed a beau tiful garland, which fell in festoons around the decorations on each side ; while the base of the monument was also tastefully adorned by handsome floral offerings. There was no ceremony at the graves; but at night a most appropriate and elo quent eulogy to the Confederate Dead was delivered by a young man who had borne a partin the struggles of the South. The hall was handsomely decorated for the occasion ; and we have never listen ed to a more eloquent discourse than the eulogy offered to the memories of our de parted heroes! The exercises opened with prayer, after which several young Mills ©1 fll To-day, all through our sunny land Fair garlands are wreathed by woman’s hand; And soft and gentle shall be our tread As we twine them over our gallant dead! Wherever they slumber their dust is ours, Aud v/e’ll wreathe tlieir graves with sweet, fair flowers. Oh ! not alone where the marble stands, Will be twined fair garlands by loving hands; But wherever the humblest soldier may sleep, Sweet flowers their sentinel watch shall keep, And their spirits will look from the world abov*. And smile on the offering of holy love ! Though the marble above them may never bear The deeds of the brave who are slumbering there, Yet pure as the marble is fair and white Was the honor they kept so nobly bright! And proudly it stands o’er these graves of ours, As we wreathe it to-day with these sweet, fair flowers. Wo give them to those who so nobly died As tributes of holy love and pride ! Then take them, oh ! gallant dead, who sleep, The marble that guards you, the tears that we weep, And long as it stands these graves shall be ours, And 'well wreathe them each year with beautiful flowers ! Milkdgeville, On. MEMORIAL DAY, We continue in this number of the Banner our Press notices of Memorial Day in eeveral Southern cities, believino that it will be of special and general in terest to our readers : MEMORIAL DAY AT VICKSBURG. There was a large gatheiing yesterdav at the cemetery to participate in the cere monies of the decoration of the soldiers’ graves. Flowers were delicately ar ranged into bouquets and placed upon them The scene throughout, though sad, was of the utmost sublimity. Cap tain Upton M. Young, opened the cere monies in a few, but beautiful remarks, in reference to the fallen heroes. Sing ing, and prayer by Ilev. Mr, Barnwell, preceded Rev, C. K. Marshall, who de livered one of the finest eulogies we ever listened to r ihe address was closed with the reading of the beautiful poem of Fa ther Ryan, which terminated the cere monies.— Yicl&mrg Herald. MEMORIAL DAY IN TENNESSEE. The ladies of Tennessee have selected the 10th of May as the day to decorate the graves of the Confederate dead. They are obliged to defer it later than the -6th of April, owing to the scarcity of flowers. The hours at the Nashville Cemetery and Mount Olivet will be from three to six o’clock, P. M. We do not know whether any demonstration will be made in this city or not, but we do think that the neglected condition of the graves of the Confederate soldiers adjacent to the Rutledge road, in East Knoxville, is not very creditable to a civilized community, ladies and gentlemen united in the touch ing song, “The Jacket of Grey.” Ah ! well might we say : “Fold them up carefully—lay them aside! Tenderly touch them—look on them with pride ! For dear to our hearts must they be evermore, The jackets of grey our loved soldier-boys wore.” Many were the sad memories that filled the heart, as those touching notes were sounded ; and I could but think that the soul must be lost to every holy principle of honor that could witness these demon strations of love and sorrow for our hal lowed dead, and then scorn as a defeated people those who cannot forget their Lost Cause or the brave who battled for it! Cold and callous must be the heart that can turn from this holy devotion, or forget the deeds of the past. The Cause for which our brave defenders fought may be lost forever, but their blood has sealed the sacred right to their memories’ 0 I and well might the shades of our slum bering heroes blush with shame for the Southern heart that would refuse its de votion to the humble sods that enshrine their dust! We may lose every hope— dark clouds may still hang over the land of our love—but Heaven will never re fuse to our desolate home the incense of sweet flowers to brighten the gloom. And these, on that day sacred to them, shall be gathered from every blooming bower of the South, and offered at the graves of our gallant dead as grateful tributes of love for the brave whose mem ories we will ever cherish. The follow ing lines it was the writer’s sad pleasure to offer at the shrines of our hallowed dead on the day of the decoration : TRIBUTE TO THE CONFEDERATE DEAD. For the Decoration of our Soldier Graves, by the Lauies’ Memorial Association, April 26th, 1868. BY MISS CARRIE BELL SINCLAIR. We come with flowers to strew their graves, They are offerings of love to fallen braves ; We have gathered them fresh, and their sweet perfume, Like holy incense, will fall on each tomb! For the breath of the South and the April showers Have brightened the bloom of these Summer flowers ! and so is the graveyard in the rear of the Second Presbyterian Church, and that in the rear of First Presbyterian uhurch.— Knoxville, Press. MEMORIAL DAY IN FLORIDA. The 26th of April, which was sot apart for decorating the graves of the Confed erate dead, failing this year upon Sunday, last Saturday, the 25th, was devoted to that holy labor of love. A large con eourse of our citizens, composed princi pally of ladies, repaired to the cemetery about 11 o’clock, the graves of the sol diers having been previously adorned with beautiful wreaths and flowers. Dr. Har old, Hector of the Episcopal Church, was called upon and offered up an earnest prayer for those who had survived the fallen heroes to whose memory they had come to pay trsbute, and for the restora tion of peace and happiness to our dis tracted and suffering land. Dr. R. N. Gardner, of Centreville, one of Florida’s gifted young men, and during the war a gallant soldier, having lost an arm in Die cause of the Confederacy, was then introduced by I)r. James H. Ran dolph, and delivered an address appropri ate to the solemn occasion. A prayer was then offered up by the Rev. J. 0. Branch, and the assembly slowly retired from the scene, long to remember the impressive ceremonies which they hud witnessed. The names of L. M. Anderson, killed April 6,1862, at Shiloh ; S. E. Randolph, died December 8, 1862, at Manassas ; and F. Lawrence, died December 22, 1861, at Evansport, Ya., whoso remains are mouldering on some far-off battle-field, were conspicuously posted in the ceme tery, and surrounded by wreaths of flowers. Below them were placed the sol ing lines : “While our country staggers ’ncatli the cross, They’ve risen with the crown.” The graves of two noble Southern ma trons, whose kind offices in the Wayside Home, at this place, during the Avar, will long be remembered by those who were the recipients of their attentions, were not forgotten, and they, too, were decorated with flowers. The grave of the United States soldier who was roasted in the flames, during a late fire in this city, while attempting to save the property ot some of our citizens, was also visited, and decorated with evergreens and flowers. All things considered, it was the most impressive and solemn scene it has been our lot to witness.— Tallahas see Sentinel. MEMORIAL DAY AT WILMINGTON, N. C. For some weeks past, under the direc tion of Mrs. J. A. Oakley, President of the Ladies’ Memorial Association, the remains of the Confederate dead in Oak dale Cemetery, have been undergoing re moval from their resting place to the new lot donated by the company to the Asso ciation, and on Saturday last ihc re-inter ment was completed. The number is near 500, and are all being interred in one common grave, which course it was found necessary to pursue. The lot is of an oval shape, 50x75 feet, situated upon a hill immediately fronting the entrance to the cemetery, and is ap proached by a broad carriage-way. It will be immediately enclosed by a hedge, and very soon the Association trusts to place an iron fence around the inclosure A spot in the centre has been selected for a suitable monument, which it is hoped the liberality of our people will soon cause to be erected. The Constitution of the Association has set aside the 10th of May for the an nual decoration of the graves, a day generally observed heretofore by similar organizations throughout the fetate and rendered immortal as the anniversary of the death of our lamented Stonewall Jaekson. Falling this year upon Sunday, Saturday was appointed by the ladies, and it is sincerely trusted that all our people whose hearts are in the cause (and whose are not ?) will take a melancholy pleasure in repairing to the Cemetery in full force, and there do honor to those who died to save us.— Wilmington Dis patch. MEMORIAL Day AT MEMPHIS. A correspondent writes to us from Memphis : At the floral decoration of the graves ot the Confederate soldiers buried in the Glen wood Cemetery of this city, it was estimated that there were at least -0,000 persons on the ground. I am glad to say, that Virginia had several hundred representatives of her good peo-' pie present, among* them were many veterans ol General Lee’s army j soldiers well known in General Mahone’s and i lekett s divisions, A. N. \ . Richmond I ctersbuig, Norfolk, and T redcricksburg, were well represented. Wo felt proud at this gathering of the ladies of the i>luir City, actuated by the simple impulse to pay affection’s silent tribute to the sleeping heroes. It was estimated that at at least tnree tons of flowers were used in this floral decoration .—Southern Opin ion. MUSIC AT GENERAL MORGAN’S FUNERAL. The music at General Morgan’s funeral was rendered by some of the finest ami most cultivated voices, both male an 1 female, that can be found anywhere. It was the feature of the occasion—the selections, the most beautiful and appropriate, were <nven in a style of unsurpassed accuracy and good taste. The tender pathos and sweetness of each voice showed the thorough sympathy of each with the sad ness and solemnity of the occasion. The chant recited at his grave was especially touching—its effect, no doubt, being heightened by the surprise of all present, for presently there arose from a small party of ladies and gentlemen who stood upon the green sward near the out skirts of the crowd around the grave, a strain as soft, and low, and sweet, as the tones of an vEolian harp, and rising like a swelling breeze, took captive the sympa thies of the great throng of mingled females and gentlemen. It was a scene rarely witnessed and never to bo for gotten.—Lexington Observer and Im porter. TIIE DEDICATION CEREMONIES AT MANASSAS. The ladies of the Memorial Association propose to have the “Manassas Cemetery'’ dedicated to-day. A number of distin guished gentlemen will be present and deliver addresses. Among them will be J. R. Tucker, Esq., James F. Clarke, James Barbour, Col. J. is. Mosby, Colonel Carrington, Maj John W. Daniel, Judge Sinclair, Judge Moore, Gen. Fitz Lee, Col. E. V. White, Col Berkeley. The occasion will be one of touching and mournful interest. —Southern Opinion. MEMORIAL DAY AT CHARLESTON. The association of ladies who have un dertaken the care of the graves of the Con federate dead had designated the 10th of May, the anniversary of Stonewall’s Jack son’s death, as the occasion to deck the graves of the fallen with floral offerings. The tenth hilling on Sunday, tills solemn ceremony was performed last Saturday. Every arrangement had been made to secure a full attendance of those who hon ored the dead of the Lost Cause. Extra trains were run on both the South Carolina and the Northeastern Railroads, and before the hour appointed for the ceremony to commence, the little hedge enclosing the Confederate burial ground was surrounded by an attentive audience of about three thousand persons, a large proportion of whom were ladies A number of car riages, wagons and private conveyances were also on the ground, and the occupants from these elevated positions obtained a good view of the impressive scene. In the centre of the burial ground a cross had been erected, which was draped with moss, and at one angle of the hedge there was a temporary stage crowned with a mossy arch, under whicli the venerable Dr. Bach man took his stand. The ceremonies were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Bach man, alter which an invocation hymn, composed for the occasion by the Rev. C. S. Vedder, was sung. The ladies of the Association, assisted by their attendant cavaliers, then proceeded to lay their 11 oral tributes on the graves. Every headstone was crowned with a wreath, some of them extremely beautiful, but the majority were tastefully formed of laurel and cedar, while the body of the graves were decorated with crosses, wreaths, boquets, and other floral offerings. The tombs of other Con federate soldiers who were buried in pri vate lots were also visited, and the same tender care was lavished upon them. That ot Captain Mitchell, the son of the distin guished Irish patriot, was beautifully adorned. 1 his tomb is one of the principal points of interest in Magnolia, and was visted by a large number of persons. After the ceremony of decorating the graves had been concluded, the visitors walked slowly through the burial ground, and read the brief record which was placed on each headstone—the name of the soldier with his company and regiment. One row at the east end ot the enclosure caused many to stop and gaze sadly at the simple word “unknown, which was tlie only in scription on the stone. The unknown dead were, however, not neglected, and the. flowers were liberally strewn over their graves. I ho return trip of the cars was fixed for halt-past six o’clock, which allowed ample time tor a stroll through the beautiful City ot the Dead. The graves of Colonel 'Wash ington, and those or historical fame in the recent war, were severally visited, and many a silent tear was brushed away as the last resting-place of the Confederate dead was passed. The shrill whistle and the lengthening shadows reminded the crowd that it was time to turn their faces home ward, but it was with lingering steps that they left the hallowed spo\ The t ars were soon freighted, but, notwithstanding t! o extra accommodations furnished bv the two roads, it was found necessary to make a second trip before all of the visitors we e borne back to the city. In the ditierent grave-yards attached to the churches in the city, the graves of the soldiers were not forgotten, for tend er and loving hands had crowned them with laurel wreaths. Calhoun’s grave, in St. Philip's Church yard, and that of Mr. Peter Mani gault, in the Huguenot Church yard, an old veteran, who lost his life at the close cf the war, were profusely decorated with flowers and wreaths. The day was bright, clear, and beautiful, the air being pleasantly cool and refreshing.— Charleston Sews.