The Daily Dispatch: July 12, 1861., [Electronic resource]

Despotion in Alexandria.
the right of prayer denied,

Alexandria, Va., July 8.

To a people once accustomed to enjoy the fullest liberty, oppression goes hard. Our sins against the assumed power of Abraham Lincoln have been most heavily visited upon us, and deep is the wound inflicted upon the people by the iron heel of despotism. Daily are the cords tightened, and daily are we made to feel the authority of kind ‘"protectors."’--The Northern arms never meet with the slightest reverse — never run afoul of a pigpen, or a masked battery — that our community is not made to feel deeply the wrong that has been done, in daring to obstruct the passage of our ‘"protectors"’ on their journey to Richmond.

Yesterday the cup of our humiliation was filled to the brim, and an insult offered to humanity and Christianity, which must meet with a rebuke from the powers at Washington, as it will doubtless receive the frown of One who is greater than them all, and in whose hands are the destinies of all. A large congregation assembled on Sabbath morning at the Second Presbyterian Church, to hear the Rev. James Turner Leftwich, one of the most eloquent and able divines in the Church — a man of mark, and one beloved by our whole community. Combining as he does, in an eminent degree, true piety and real bravery, he has more than ever since our late troubles began entrenched himself in the love and esteem of our people; and there being but two other churches, out of the nine or ten in the city, open, his is always crowded, and among the congregation are invariably a number of our protectors, drawn no doubt to the church from curiosity and as spies, as the sequel proves. Mr. Leftwich has never in his sermons in the remotest degree introduced political topics, but has, ever since the occupation of our city, and the absence of our brothers, fathers, and friends, who have gone out to fight for their firesides and liberties, with characteristic Christian fortitude, prayed fervently for them and for the success of our cause. For thus giving expression in prayer for the Southern Confederacy and our soldiers, he was arrested on coming out of the pulpit by Orderly Fairbanks, and taken before his colonel ship Heintzleman, who, judging from the fantastic tricks he sometimes performs, has not been accustomed to the exercise of much authority. In the presence of so much power and buttons, it was of course supposed that Mr. Leftwich, measured by their own standard, would have bent the knee, asked pardon for his grave offence, and promised — as he was authoritatively informed he must do — to pray for the Union and for the President of the United States. But, alas ! for human expectation — as bold and fearless as good, the Reverend gentleman, with an air of triumph, coolly informed his captors that he should on all occasions, whenever an opportunity offered, pray with all his soul for the Southern cause and for those who had gone out to fight for him and his.

Heintzleman then told him, in any thing but a gentlemanly way, that unless he prayed for the Union and the President of the United States, he should pray no more, and he would order his church to be closed. In reply Mr. L. said that his heart could not be manacled; that he (Heintzleman) had the power to close the church, but that if it was open and he officiated, he should certainly pray for the South and her cause, which he believed just and righteous.

Before departing Mr. Leftwitch propounded this question. ‘"Do I understand you, sir, (addressing Heintzleman,) to deny the freedom of prayer as well as of speech?"’ The question was a poser, and for a moment Heintzleman hung his head, and what was left of shame for a second suffused his face; but soon recovering himself he answered peremptorily, ‘"Yes."’‘"Very well,"’ said Mr. Leftwitch, ‘"be it so; but I give you to understand, sir, that I shall pray for whom I please."’ Then turning, he left his captors dumb-founded at the spirit of the man who had dared assert his freedom and independence in their august presence. An anxious crowd awaited Mr. L.'s release, (for all felt sure he must be released,) and when he appeared he was eagerly grasped by the hand, and a number of anxious inquirers gathered round to listen to the accounts of the arrest and to what had been done and said.--Observing the crowd, the aforesaid Orderly, who made the arrest, was quickly dispatched to listen to what would be said. His presence, however, had no other effect than to elicit a 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 colonel ship, when, at night, the sexton was about to open the church, the Provost Marshal appeared, closed the gates, and stationed a file of soldiers to guard the entrance. This proceeding caused much excitement, and a large crowd assembled in the neighborhood of the church, who gave expression to their opinions of this outrage in no measured terms. The ladies, (the truest in the land,) who had assembled to attend church, were particularly caustic in their remarks.

It is said that orders were received from Washington by telegraph to allow the church to be opened, but for the truth of this I will not vouch. However, in accordance with these orders, or because of a returning sense of shame and reason, the order for the closing of the church was countermanded, the guard removed, and the Provost Marshal dispatched to the pastor's residence to inform him that he could proceed with his services as usual.

The account by telegraph of this outrage on the church is, as usual, falsified. There was no request made to have the church opened; on the contrary, it was determined by the elders to let the onus 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 of our citizens, and much shame and confusion of face exhibited by those of the soldiery possessing any refinement of feeling. Mr. Leftwich's course of conduct, under these trying circumstances, is worthy of the highest commendation, and some of the soldiers, who dare express an opinion of their own, severely condemn Heintzleman's act.

The denial of the right of freedom of prayer cannot fail to have its effect at home and abroad, and cause the reflecting portion of the Northern people to consider into what a despotism they are fast drifting, and if they are not already too degraded by the powers at Washington, they will turn upon their tyrannical rulers and indignantly hurl them from power.

Freedom of speech we expected to be denied, but to undertake to manacle the heart and suppress fervent prayer to Almighty God for a just cause, is tyranny tyrannized.