VOLUME 2.
Amnesty Proclamation.
The Oath Administered to Rebels.
Persons Excepted f>em its Provisions,
Highly Important Official Document
WASHINGTON, May 29, 1865.
PROCLAMATION
By the President of the United States of
America :
WHEREAS, The President of the Uni
ted States, cn tne Bth day of December.
1863, and on the 26th day of March,
1864, did, with the object to suppress the
existing rebellion and induce all persons
to return to their loyalty, and restore the
authority of the United Stats*, issue
proclamations offeriqganwestyapd pardon
to certiin persons who had directly or
by implication participated in the said
rebellion ; and,
WHEREAS, Many persons who had so
engaged in said rebellion, have since the
issue of said proclamations, failed or neg
lected to take the benefits offered fhereby,
and
WAF.REAS, Many persons who have
been justly deprived ot all claim to am
nesty and pardon there under, by reason
of their participation directly or by itn
plica'ion in said rebellion and continued
hostility to the government of the United
States since the date of said proclamation,
now desire to apply for and obtain am
nesty and pardon.
To the cnJ, therefore, that the author
it; of the Government of the United
.State* may he restored, and that peace,
order and freedom may he established, I,
Andrew Johnson, President of the I. nited
States, do proclaim and declare that I
hereby grant to all persons who have di
rectly or indirectly participated in the
existing rebellion, except as hereinafter
excepted, amnesty and pardon, with the
restoration of all rights ot property, ex
cept in cases where legal proceedings,
under the laws of the United ijt.ites pro
viding for the coniscation of propeity ot
persons engaged in rebellion, have beet)
instituted, but on the condition, never
the ess, that every such person sljijll take
and subscribe to the following oath or
affirmation, and thenceforward keep and
maintain said oath inviolate, and which
oath shall be registered for permanent
preservation, and shall'be of the tenor jnd
effect following, to ait:
I do soifimnly swear or affiitn in pres
ence of Almighty God, that I will hence
forth faithfully defend the Constitution
of the United States and the Union of
the States thereunder, and that I will in
like m'inner abide by, and faithfully sup
port all 1 iws and proclamations which
have been made during the existing re
bellion with reference to the emancipation
of slaves, so help me God.
The following classes of persons are
cxcepHid from tlie benefits of this procla
mation :
First—All who are or shall have been
pretended diplomatic officers, or other
wise Domestic or Foreign Agents of the
pretended Confederate Government.
Second—All who left Judicial offices
under the United States to aid the r -
bellion.
Third—All who shall b&»«; been Mili
tary or Naval officers of the pretended
Confederate Government, above the rank
of Colonei, in the army or navy.
Fourth—All who left seats in the Con
gress of the United States to aid the re
bellion.
Fifth—All who resigned or tendered
resignations of ilieir commissions in the
army and navy of the United States, to
do duty in assist ng the rebellion.
Sixth All who have engaged in any
wiy in treating otherwise than lawfully
is prisoners of war persons found iu the
United service as officers, seamen,
or in other oapacity.
Seventh—All persons who have been
or are away from tho United States for
the puroosu of aiding the rebellion.
J Kighth All itiilitaryand naval officers
in the rebel service who were educated by
the overnment at the Military Acedemy
at West Point or the United Sta'es Na
val Academy.
Ninth—All persons who held the pre
tended offices of Governors of States in
insurrection against the United States,
and all persons who left their homes du
ring the jurisdiction and protection of the
United States line, into the so' called
Contiederate States, lor purpose of
aiding the rebellion.
Teuth —All persons who have been
engaged iu the destruction of the corn
'meice of the United States* on the high
seas, destroying the commerce of the
United States upen the lakes or'rivers
that separate tlit British provinces from
the United Stutes.
Eleveutii—All who at UM time
when they seek to take the oath pit
AMERICAN CITIZEN.
scribed, are in military naval or civil
confinement, or custody or under bonds
of civil, military or naval authorities or
agents of the United States,as prisonersof
war or persons debarred for offense either
before or after conviction.
Twelfth —All persons who have parti
cipatcd in said rebellion, and the estima
ted value of whose property is over twen
ty thousand dollars.
Thirteen —All persons who have taken
the oath of amnesty as prescribed in the
President's proclamation of December 18,
I*o3, or an oath of allegiance to the Gov
ernment of the United States since the
date of said proclamation, and who have
thenceforth kept and maintained the
same inviolate, provided that special ob
jection way be made to for pardon
by any person, and such eletneney will be
as liberally extended as may be consistent
with the 'acts of the case, and the peace
and dignity of the United States.
The Secretary of State will establish
rules and regulations for administering
and recording the said amnesty oath so as
to insure its benefits to the people, and
guard the government against a raid.
In testimony whereof I have set my
hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed, Pone at the City
of Washington the 29th day of May in
the year ot our Lord, 181)5, and of the
Independence of the United States the
89th. ANDlll'iW* JOHNSON.
Uy the President.
WM. 11. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.
--- ■».
The Third Series of the 7.30 Loan,
The great success of the 73 J Loan
must always he looked upon as one of the
njo-t powerful evidences of the strength
of the United States Government, and of
its strong hold upou the confidence and
affections of t''e people. On Saturday,
May loth, the susbcriptions were over
thirty million dollars , and for the week
ending on that day, over ninety eiyht mil
lion i/ullart. and iu the three months that
the Loan has been in charge of Mr. JAY
COOILK, over Jilt hundred million dollars.
These large receipts will enable the Treas
ury to pay oil' our armies as they are dis
banded, and to rapidly discharge the va
rious obligations that have been incurred
during the war. History will show that
a great war-debt to individuals has never
before been so promptly paid ; and wo
think all will agree tliat Seoretary Mo
Culloch deserves great credit for the abil
ity he has manifested, not ogly in secur
ing the means, but for the financial skill
he hasdisplaycd in so directing these vast
receipts and disbursements as not for a
moment to disturb the equilibrium of
commerce, embarrass individuals, or in
any way tigljtetj the money market. It
is doubtless true that the Secretary of the
Treasury miuht have negotiated there
mainder of his loans at six per cent, in
terest instead ot 7.30, but so much valu
able time would necessarily have been lost
in popularizing a new loan that the great
objpet of the Government, viz., an imme
diate supply of money sufficient to pay all
the debts incident to the war. would have
beeu defeated ; and besides, the difference
of iuterest would not have been equal to
the three days' expenses. The policy
may have looked 'penny wise," but the
best financial authorities, as well as com
mon sense, pronounced it "pound foolish."
As it is—aud will be, no soldier will go
home without his green acks, and the
floating debt in the shape of vouchers
requisitions, ice., will be wiped out as rap
idly as the proper officers can audit aud
adjust the accounts.
The • ecojjd Series of the 7 30 Loan
was exhausted on Satnrday, May 13th
On Monday, the Secretary of the Treas
ury authorized JAY COOKE, the general
Subscription Agent for U. S. Securities,
to receive subscriptions for S-!3O,OUO,UUU
of a Third Series, which is all that is au
thorized by Congress, and is without
doubt the last loan at this high rate ot
interest that will be offered by tte £roy
ernment.
There is no change iq the terms or con
ditions ot this Third Series, except that
the Government reserves the right of pay
ing interest at sij per cent, in gold in
stead of seven and three-tenths in curren
cj*-a right which would presuppose a
return to specie payments, and make six
per cent, in gold even better than the
higher rate in currency—a consummation
most devoutly to be wished.
The privilege of converting the notes
into 5.20 six per cent, gold bonds at the
eml of thre<> years, or receiving payment
at maturity, at the iiuider's optiou, is re
tailed
Thejirst day of the Third Series open
ed with a subscription within a fraction
of five millions, and the jjiontb of June
will certainly see tile lust of the out
of market. How parly in June we can
not predict, but parties wtio wisn to wake
sure ot a portion would do well to be in
tune.
I 1 all particulars be found iu our
advertising columns.
"Let us have Faith that Right makes Might; and in that Faith let us, to the end,dare to do our 'jty as we understand it"— V LINCOLN.
BUTLER, BUTLER COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 18G5.
Resident's Proclamation.
State Government of N. Carolina,
Wm. W. Holden Appointed Governor,
WASHINGTON, May 29.
PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES. —WHEREAS, The
fourth section of the fourth article of
the Constitution of the United States de
clares the United Stales shall guarantee
to every State in the Union a Republican
form of Government, and shall protect
them against invasion and domestic viola
tion. And
WAEREAB, The President ol the Uni
ted States is, by the Constitution, made
Commander-ip Cllijjf of the Army and
Navy, as well as Chief Executive Officer
of the United Stales, arid is bouud by
solemn uath faithfully to execute the of
fice of President of the United Sta*es
and take care that the law 3 be faithfully
executed ai«4
WHEREAS, The rebellion which has
been waged by a portion of the people of
the United Slates against the properly
constituted auth rities o't the Govern
ment thereof, in the most violent and re
volting form, but these organised and
ant ed fqrpes havp.pow almost overcome
the people of the State of North Carolina
of all civil Government; and,
WHEREAS, IT becomes necessary to
carry out and enforce the obligations ol
the L'uited States to tlie people in North
Carolina in securing a Republican form
of Government, now,
Therefore, iu obe .ieuce.to tlie solemn
duties imposed by tlie Constitution ol tlie
United fetates, and lor the purpose ol eu
abling local people of said Siaie to organ
ize a Sjtate Government, whereby peace
may be established, domestic tranquility
ou tiO.sured and loyal citizens protected
in all their rights ol' iiie, liberty and
property.
1. Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States aud Couimander-iu-Cltief ot
the army and navy ot the United States,
do hereby appoint Wm W. 11 olden Pro
visional Governor of the State of North
Carolina, whose duty it shall be at the
earliest practicable period, to prescribe
such rules and regulations as may be nec
essary and proper for convening a con
vention, com pi sod if delegates to be
chosen by that portion of the people ol
said State remaining loyal to the United
States, for the purpose of altering or
amending the (Jon titut on, 'eof. aud
will' authority to exercise within the
boundary limits of said State, the power
necessary and proper to enable such loyal
people of North (,'aroliua to restore to its
constitutional privilege, and to present
such 112 rtn of State Government as will
entitle Ihe State to the protection of the
United States, and, therefore, that people
to protection by the United States against
invasion, insurrection and domestic vio
lence : provided that, in any election
hereafter held for the choosing of dele
gates to anj State 'convention as afore
said, no person shall be eligible as a mem
ber of such convention, unless he shall
previously have taken and subscribed to
the oath ol amnesty, as set forth in the
President's proclamation, May 27, 1805.
Second—That the Secretary of State
ptoceed to putin force all laws of the
United States. The Administration,
whereof, belong to the State Department
applicable to the geographical limits afore-
Third—That the Secretary of Treas
ury proceed to nominate »or appointment
Assessors of taxes and Collectors of cus
toms and internal revenue alio such other
officers of the Treasury Department as
are authorize 1 by law, and put ii. execu
tion the revenue laws of the United
States, within the geographical limits
afoiesaid. On mak.ug ilie appointment
preference shall be given to loyal persons
residing within the «Ji~tiii t» where their
respective offices are performed; but
where suitable residents of the districts
shall not be found, then persons residing
in other States or districts shall be up'
pointed.
Fourth—That the Postmaster General
proposed to establish post routes, and put
in execution tlie postal laws of the Uui
ted States within the said State, giviug
loyal residents the prelerence of appjiut
metments from other States.
Fifth—That the District Judge for the
Judicial District in which North Carolina
is included, proceed to hold courts within
said State in accordance with the provis
ion of the act of Congress, the Attorney
Geueral will iustruet the proper officer to
libel and bring to judgment, confiscation
and sale, ptojierty subject to confiscation
and euforce the administration of justice
within said State iu ail matters with ifie
cognixanceand jurisdiction of the Federal
Courts
Sixth—That the Secretary of the Navy
take possession of all public property be
longing to the Navy Department within
said geographical limits, and putin ope
rati in ail acts of Congress relative to na
val affairs having application to said
State.
Seventh—That the Secretary of Inte
rior putin force the laws relating to the
Interior Department, applicable to tfce ge
ographical limits aforesaid.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand, and caused the seal of the
United States to be.affixed. Done at the
city of Washington, this 20th day of
May, A. D., 1865, aud of tiie independ
ence of the United States the eighty
ninth.
[itgued] ANDREW JOHNSON,
By the President,
W. U. SEWARD. Sec'y of State.
Places for our Returning Veterans.
A large proportion of our veteran troops
will, according fo the wise policy of the
Government, be soon disbanded. We
look for their return from ihtf severe but
useful service in which they have been
engaged, and hope to see them greeted
with thank illness and joy by the people
at home. Mos.t of these nun, now reck
oned as veteran soldiers, were, within the
period of four years past, occupied in the
pursuits of ordinary industry. They came
from the shops, offices, stores, factories
and farms of our country Many of them
bad. up to the time of their volunteering
for the de ense of the country against its
domestic foes, never handled or fired a
gun They could construct engines, or
run thctn; they could turn a furrow
they could keep a school; they understood
ge.'jnetry ; tliey could woik i-kilfully at
trades; but they were no soldiers. They
did not know how to march ; they could
not tell '• right shouldei shijt" form
" order arms."
dt.l not know how to inarch ; they anqld u hag n „ ver re „ cll(Jl( be l..re j„ „ ny „,v Jer
not tell '• right fhouldei ah;|f. w form country . | u essential character was
'• ordor al ius. never before no displayed, nor its influence
They are now as good soldiers as the upon liumm character seen .su s nkingly
world ever saw. In all military qualities It has 112. mcuted the uiost causeless and
they arc equal to anjrof the famous corps Jen pious rebellion ever undertaken by
which have been eminent anion# veteran man. It has instigated innumerablemur
troops. They may be less showily uni ders of men for daring to be tue o the
formed than the pet. regiments that at- governinent'hat had protected them in
tend on royalty, but for endurance, bra- enjoyment of life and liberty ; it has at
very, movement, reliableness—\\ ellin# .emptcd a wide spread system ol iucen
ton's u Old r.uards, 'or-- Horse Guards,' diarism of" cities, town;: and ic- vlsj it
cannot excel then:. has made efforts t» int.o In eo c nit t^iuu
Tiny are corn in# home They have and disease over the wh le country; it
homes. The country has kept them in has oflcied rewards iu public prims for
mind of their citizenship while fjiey were the assassination of leading ineij. >loro,
in the field. They hive voted while tlie\ it has accomplished the assassination of
were fighting. They have kept up their the ruler of our country. It his tnur
old identity. They will ere lon# resume tiered thou-an Is of prisoners of war by a
their former places at the plow, in the deliberately planned scheme of starvation,
shop, at the counter, at the school. VY hat proofs has it not given to all na-
But there will We embraced in the "ons and to all time of its nature i-nd in
number of returning veterans many who flueuce .' What crime can coinpaie in
will be unable to pursue their lontier em niaguitude and pnoruiity with the delib
ployments. Some have lost their right t ' ll,,e " l " 1 continued murder of prisoners
hand, others are enfeebled by disease, of war? Ilistiry does not record that
crutches support many a strong body ; such a terrible crime was ever committed
some are racked with rheumatism ; a l,elijru It is a crime of such an atrocjoui.
large number have broken physical con- enormity that it cannot bo forgotten,
stitutions • Prisoners have been slain on the field of
. , battle, or in cold blood after victory.
Soldiers, so far as we know their char- J
... , . LI, lint no history of heathen or christian
acters ana wishes, uesirenot to he burdens
. • r , . , ,« ~ nations has ever recorded that any people
or beneficiaries ol the country, but prefer .
. , . , , ' i- i i hid ever before shown such depravity as
to share the independence which they ' ,
, 111. i.l • to conAivc in its councils and execute by
nave helped to preserve, and earn their
, - , , . its offi'-ers such a scheme of murder by
own subsistence., in any honorable way ■, . '
... starvation. Can it be that this was per
that is open tQ them, in common with - 1
initted, that men miuht see that silvery
otiicrs. , . , . J
links men to a lower abyss than it ever
Wo do not advise men who are able to , . , „ ,
reacneu before;
prosecute any business towbich they are in- ~ ii-u.i_-.ri
' J .... Having seen and felt this tearful revo
clined, to seek public i ffice for a liveli , . ~ . -. , ,
1 lution in its terrible hour, can we as a
hood nut there are many of our men , . „ . .'
J jieop',3 be safe, if we do not us a people
who are competent todischarge the duties . . .. ,
r u s e all the means in our power to utterly
of such offices, who are disqualified by . , . . ~ . „
1 J exterminate and root out the influence
wounds or infirmities from the severe la- , . ~ . , . .
ihat could produce such cr mes. li is
bors of body or mind. These may justly ||ot neceß , aril „ the uieu lhut huve jieUeJ
claim appointment to .uch positions, both t(j th|H influeucc lhat we wou , d olterml .
as a means of usefulness and support. uat(j uk fc|t uuw # c , laracteristlc
They, of course, have the right on the , 4 ' uur Bge that principles huve become
-core of citizenship, but the preference is of mure i(UJ , thau eve r before, and
claimed for then, on the grounds of ser- men re | alivu | J of lesg Afld it is the
vice dune, privations borne, and physical p r j uc jp|e a ud the uitlueuce of slavery that
disabilities incurred, f'>r the country. we should exterminate, without a thought
The plga does not, we trust, require to be o j' werC y.
pressed, in order to secure us considera-, Al?(i lt is that the question of.dif
tion by the people, and by those official ficult y octu s . How s baU this be accTui
functionaries who have appointing pow- pished if the political powei iu the South
ers. The mere suggestion is sufficient. leujaius ; u tlie hau j ß ol those who have
Hut this suggestion is not intended to buberto wielded it !—fills. Com.
embrace army officers alone. Our re#i- «« i»
merits embrace numbers of private sol- Ihe L>x> of. iHii JiiußlSLWON.——By
diers who, in all intellectual and moral the surrender of Kirby Smith, the last ot
qualities, are the equals or superiors of rebel generals in the field, by which
the average of officers. These have had all the rebel mil.tary and naval forces west
the hardest lot in military service, .nd of the Mississippi river, are extinguished,
, . „ the Ureat .Rebellion is at an end, and the
have received a small Herpetui(y Union, on the basia ot
pay. Their olaijn is, therefore, stronger Universal Freedom, insured. 'I bus ha
in thei" behalf. slavery and its kindred curse, "Mate
... . , , c 1 lliuhts.'" talleu never to rise ill.
We have hopes of eeeini; ourmen, who r,. °
. V. 'Ve now en reiog uuou a career.as
have been so long distinguished for their u Dilt i»u.of i'roeperity aud Ureatne-a, a>
military achievenienta. so-'n mingling in the Kquality ol \i, bei .re the law of
the quiet, peaceful scenes of life, sharing tlie|iuisuit ol l.iie Lil n l ll iji.ui -
ih comforts they have »o long an iso ''' L ' l;l I '* H<i 1
. , I ,ii-i • .'ie ih-i' i' will id i with
cheerfully torgone, and receiving the .
I I uiouaii 1 1l irm IK UII-I b "hmuiy
honors which they have so nobly *»rn- bleaawli »-ih,he , r.c«i»-s. th.- h,-j.es atu!
ed.— J'itu. (JvmmtrtiuL i Uie cuiuoliUiuiiaui' ilciiiivu
Some of the Perils of Pea e.
The dangers which menace us on the
dawn of peace have their origiu from two
sources, both we think sources of error.
One, those who ever keep uppermost in
mind the price we pay for peace, and can
not forgive the terrible crimu which Jjas
cost us s* much, and who when they talk
of justide as a duty, mean, perhaps, un
consqipusly vengeauce. The other springs
from thosS, who in their desire for peaqe
aud the fruition of peace, forget that jus
tice is not only our duty, but it is our
only safety.
In the upheavals of the social elements
questions of an aspect not inviting, force
themselves upon us. The question as
suming the most prominence before the
Country is that of rigMof suffrage for the
freed men* And this question earries
with it many many difficulties.
In the outset many conted that the negro
is unfit, in important respects and to an
importaut degree, to exercise tire high
right of political power for the good of his
country or for his own good. Here the
case may bo concluded in the minds of
many; for surely, they say, is not this
reason enough for withholding this pow
er? Vory true, unless there are reasons
of greater forge for giving it.
During the great events that have con
vulsed the nation, there has been steadily
a growingfaith in the ways of Providence.
It is felt more than ever that the allwise
Creator roigns, ami works out His will in
Bis own way by Hi« appointed means.
With this must come the growing belief,
that great events are intended to teach
great lessons, that wo cannot disregard
without peril. The system of bondage,
the overthrow of which 've are now,wit
nessing, has been permitted to attain to a
power and influence in this country, which
L'uiouaii'i ny niu b < --» i, 'iotljyiy
UleastMi, w>ih *l»e | rtcMici's, tlie hupe> ain!
ilie cuiiauiiiUwiidui .
FAST DAY SERMON,
Preached in Butler, Pa., June Ist, 1805,
on account of the assassination of Pres
ident Lincoln.
BY REV. LOYAL YOUNG, D. D.
Victory turned unto mourning.
1 Samuel. 19;2. " And the Tictory that day waa turned
unto mourning unto all the people."
Absalom's rebellion was the darkest
page in Jewish history.
It was pot up in the spirit of ambition,
and carried on with reckless arrogance
and hate. It was a causeless assault upon
one of the ludst mild and benignant of
governments.
Under the pretext of beiag oppressed,
and under promise of greater justice to
the people, Absalom succeeded in
ing away the earls of multitudes of the
subjects of David; and induced them to
declare in his favor. -'And the conspir
acy was strong; for the people iDcieased
continually with Absalom."
who had been in Da
vid's Cabinet, (to speak in modern style)
joined the conspirators. David's nephew.
Atnasa, treacherously turned against his
uncle, and became the leader of Abea
lom's army
They at length joined battle in the wil
derness; iu the wood of Ephraim ; east
of the Jordan; where the kings troops
were victorious, and 20,000 of Absalom's
forces were slain. He, himself caught in
the branches of an oak, had three darts
thrust into his heart, by Joab, David's
General; and thus miserablv perished.
There was cause for great rejoicing that
the lawful and good government had thus
been preserved, and that rebellion had
been overthrown. But because the king's
son had been slain the outward demon
strat.iirap of joy were not indulged in.—
" And the victory that day was turned
un'o moijrniijg unto all the people."
There are many points of resemblance
between that ancient rebellion and the
result of it, and the rebellion so recently
put down in our own country. Both "ere
got up in the spirit of ambition, and car
riod on in bate. The latter ng well as the
forme . wis a causeless assault up n one
ol lie most mild and benignant of gov
einuionts. Tbe leaders, like Ab-aloni,
preten led that the people had injustice
done them, which they were seeking to
red ress
Some that hal stood ln;.'h like Ahitho-
I'hel all.l Ani isa, in the Cabinet afid in tlie
aimy; headed the conspiracy. After ter
rible slaughter, the govornmeiit succeed
ed.—and (lie laws are established.
lial David been assassinated after the
victory, the parallel would have been al
most couiplote.
Now, a§ then, the victory is turned in
to mourning. Then, however, the mourn
ing arose from the death of the Couspir.
ator, simply because he was the Chief
Ruler's son; and because of the king's
sorrow. Now the uiouri iug arises from
the death of the Chief Ruler hii*.s»lf,
fallen by the hand of a ruthless assassin,
employed, no doubt, by meu in the inter
est of the rebellioa.
Let us consider, First—Our causes for
mourning and humiliation.
Second —Our causes for rejoicing and
thanksgiving.
The first cause for mourning apd hu
uiiliation, and thqp 'o which Presidem
Johnson especially refers, is tlie death by
assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Thea rocityof the deed, the relation
which President Lincoln held to his coun
try, and his great excellence of character,
all conspire to fill the laud with grief and
humiliation.
The civilized world stands aghast at
the magnitude of the crime. Suthasen
sation has, perhaps, never before been felt
anion* men, at the death of any one.
Political mejo who differed from him on
great national subjects, as well as those
who approved of his doings, unite in ac
knowledging his great worth, and in hon
oring his memory.
We have accumulating evideijcp that
President Lincoln was a good man in the
best sense—that he was a God-fearing and
a pious man. When he left home to en
ter upon his high office to which the peo
ple had called him, you remember, with
what earnestness he asked for the prayers
of his old neighbors and his fe.ilr.gr citi
zens.
He was eminently humane and mag
nanimous. What a different spirit did
he breathe from that of his antagonist,
Jefferson Davis The latter, tp addres
siug his countrymen on fin way to his
>i«urped authority, said : -/The time for
It- 'UipniUtise is past, and we are no 1 * de-
I term ned to 'maintain uur position, an 1
I make aii who .oppose us juiell Suuther*.
powder and ttfl Southern steel."
This was lung before the at tuck or I'
' Suujpter. ' ■«
On his way to assume the duties of of
ac«j as I're-iii ":t ol tho United Stales. Mr.
. IL itddlks u ilia COUUU jU.sU,
NUMBER 26.
said : " Now, in my view of tho present
aspect of affairs, there need be no blood
shed or war. r i here is no neceisity for it.
lam not in favor of such a course, and
may say in advance that there will bp no
blood-shed, unless it be forced upon the
government.and then it will bo compelled '
to act in self defence."
At that very time the New York Ob
server, said : " In behalf' of tbe christian
people of this country, in behalf of civ
ilization, religion, commerce, huiranttjr
and freedom, we thauk Mr. Lincoln for
those noble We send them out
in coutrast with tho word 9 of Mr. Jeffer
son Davis, an 1 we wish to Write thetn
distinctly and hold then up in the sight
of Heaven and earth, that all tnen may
know on whom the responsibility rests if
the country is plunged into the horror* of
civil war." And then listen, once more,
to tho clos*ng words of his first inaugural.
"We must ijot be enemies. In your
hands, my dissatisfied follow countrymen,
and not in mine, is the momentous issue
of civil war. You have no oath register
ed in Heaven to destroy the
while I have the most solemn one to pre
serve. protect and defend it. • '
Tho mystic chords of memory, streti h«
ing from every battle field and patr ot
grave to every living heart in this broa'd
land, will swell the chorus af the Union,
when again touched as surely they will
be, by tho better angels of our nature."
Throughout all his presidency not a
vengeful word did he speak. K7en the
New i'ork World, a paper that most bit
terly assailed him while living, says:—
" The loss of such a man in such a crisis :
of a man who possessed So large and grow
ing a share of the public confidence, ajd
whose administration had recently bor
rowed new lustre from the crowning
achievements of our armies : of a ruler
whose victories were inspiring with the
wise «nd paternal magnamnity which
sought to make the conciliation as cordial
as the strife had bean deadly ; the loss of
such a President at such a conjuncture,
is uu affecting dispensation which bows a
disappointed and stricken nation ins r
row more deep, sincere and universal,
than ever before supplicaled the compas
sion of pitying Heaven."
Butlneet} nc.f offer further extracts
from the voice of the universal press of
the laud. Suffice it to say, that Mr. Lin
coln did say, to a question concerning hi»
personal piety, asked by a minister,' that
he had given his heart to God ; or conxe.
cr'ted himself to Christ at Uetiysl urg,
when sun the graves of the martyr
ed dead."'
It has been objected to his piety thaj
he often attended the toeatru. and wjg
jistsijmg to a play when assassinated. '" t
1 have always been opposed to theatri
cal performances, and my mind is un
changed on that subject, Hut we have a
clue to the conduct of our lamenied Pres
ident in this respect. in bis own CQnver
sations. The caies of State lay so he.ny
on his heart, anil the shedding of bio< d
so affected his sensitive uature,that he felt
that he must die without relaxation He
accounted to a friend for attending the
theatre iu this way Some other kind of
relaxation no doubt, have answer
ed as well, but this seemed to be one that
he thought suitable for the purpose, and
convenient. Could you have entered hiik
chamber, you would probably have found
him pass.ng many a nijjht iu sjceplasa
anxiety, through concern for his beloved
country. him not, then, too harsh
ly, tor occasionally driviug away his pares
by uttering a jest or witnessing a play?''
The play and the jftst were on the suc
lace, while there lay deep within his
bosom an anxiety too intense for utter
ance.
The result of President Lincoln's at
tendance upon the theatre may produce
the same happy effect that tho tall of
Alexander Hamilton had. IJU charae
'ter, otherwise.upright, was sadly stauftd
by his accepting a cballergj to fight a
duel. It was a sad hour, it resulted in
his death, hut it made dueling forever
detestable in the North. So, Presideut
Lincoln's fate at Ford's Theatre, (though
his attendance there was virtue compared
with duelling,) may servo to show the
country the importance of giving no en
couragement to this species of amusement.
It is eminently fitting, now that our
President (jas gone, that the nation should
lay it to heart, and manifest unfeigned
grief; and that all should be huuible in
the presence of God, who rules in awful
majesty.
If it was proper that the victory over
Absalom should lie turn d to mourning
because the King's son was dead, though
he was a traitor, how much more appro
priate that our great victory be turned to
mourning, when our wise apd good tiler
is slain by ai'i assassin. Heaven and earth
would chide us if we were not sad. '
Another cause for our snrjwy and hu
miliation to-day, is the death of thousands
of our brave soldiers who offered them
selves as a sacrifice for their country. -i ~-
Our country has, for four years, tieen 4
land of mourning; a great funeral. Rach
el ha? been weeping for her children, refu
sing to be comforted fcefeause they wero not.
When news came of great batil«, atffl
even of great victories, the father's heart
trembled; the motiaj wept; the wife
betook herself to her closet and poured ottjt
her tears to God. Anxiety was on every
countenance tiu the result wuf announced
in the public journals. Iben, while <otu®
112 he ' unsioas hearts were, felisvjd-,
hi»'s w re" crushed witij a more over
whiiii e. Whocan te 1 whatisleep
les* n trb.Wwn I day-» of care havo"been
Hj pn> by the soldier-- t'riendn,'during these
*"'l y<ai -of war The ;inxi<ty hasof!i?r,
bi-eif too ir.;.- ;j«e f»r tcar-«. The n,
lb J 1 . perform a critical and pain-
nerves for hiisolemn
work. With cool heart an" l Steady hand
—w itiid wLiitl b: t