Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-04-20
PUBLIC MEETING,

day. April 18th. at the Court House, to tax,
action in regard to the assassination of thu
President.
DR.. G. H. Ohr, Mayor of the city, called
the meeting to order, briefly announced it
object, and moved the appointment ofthe fol
lowing officers, which motion was unanimous
ly approved
President-Hon. James Smith.
Tcc Peesidems-Col. Robert Bruce, j
w. Magrudcr.
.Secetaries-Wm. r. McCulley, Geo. T
Knorr.
Rev Mcssrs. j. A. Weddell and Samuel
W. Sears, being in attendance, were invited
to take seats upon the platform.
On motion of Dr. Ohr, committee Of
three, consisting of Capt. Geo. w. Harrison
Alphous Bcall and A. NJ. L. Bush, was ap.
pointed to wait upon BIT. Maj. Gen. Emory
and Staff, and invite them to attend and par.
ticipatc in the proceedings of the meeting.
Gen. Emory having entered the Cour
House, was introduced to the meeting.
Rev. A. j. Weddoll, of the English Lu
theran Church, here offered an appropriate
prayer.
On motion of Geo. A. Pearre, Esq, Com.
mittee of five was appointed to prepare and
submit resolutions for the consideration of the
meeting The Chair appointed Messrs. Geo.
A. Pcarrc, DR.. c. II. Ohr, DR.. s. P Smith
Hopewell Hebb, and Alpheus Beall, as the
Committee.
Previous to the appointment of the above
Committee, DR.. Ohr stated to the Chair that
he had in his possession a series ofresolutons
which had been handed to him by one of our
citizens, and moved that they be referred to
the above Committee, which was so ordered.
The Committee retired, and after short
absence unanimously reported through their
chairman, Geo. A. Pearrc, Esq, the follow
ing preamble ind resolutions, in submitting
which, that gentleman, in feeling manner,
and with his usual elo1ucnce and force, adj
al GSsSu luC uiSSeihS ~ iOiIO MS.
III. President and Felior- Citizens:
The occasion which has called us together
has filled the heart Of a nation with sadness.
The country mourns the untimey death of its
Chief Magistrate. The people are bowed
down with gricf;-they mourn as children for
u departed father. They have witnessed his
untiring energy his deep anxeties, and dis
tressiug cares which, for four, years have be-
yet his path. They have sympathiscd with
him, and sustained him, with self-sacrifcing
generosity during this troubous period, The
people have been anxiously awaiting the day,
when, with their chosen President theT might
r,joice with one accord, over suppressed re-
bclion, and Il natUn once more united in the
bonds Of personal and political friendship
when they, with him, might welcome the re-
turn of peace and good viii; and with the
yirdicaicd and sustained, should hear the
tramp of armed men no more; when the
lrum should cease to beat, and the buglc no
longer sound the onset of battle and fraternal
slaughter when brother should cease to war
agaiust brother. and the nation learn war no
more.
But the great browning glory of his admin
lstration, 1t was not permitted him to enjoy.
God moves in a mysterious way. 10 our
mortal eyes His Providenees are inscrutablc
and pas, finding out. The chosen man of God,
for forty years lead the children of Is.
racl through the wilderness, was not permitted
to enter the Promised Land. From the top
Of Pisgah, he gazcl with longing desire upon
that land which had been promised so long,
and in the seeking of which he had under
gone 80 many trials and sufferines. But tho
Dir. Lincoln was not permitted to entJr upon
The fruition of the result of his labors and
he had stood upon Mt. Pisgah, and
bad seen lying Mt his feet, the pleasing land
scapc, filled with that peace and plenty which
an united country will soon realize.
lie las done his work, and done it well -
As martyr in the cause of free government,
he has laid down his life. In the hearts of
grateful people will abide the monuments of
his fame. A reunited people will reverence
lis memory, and the children OF those wicked
men who brought about this rebellion, will
Join with our children in his praises. The
curses of the fathers will turn to blessings on
the tongues of the children: and like Balaam
Of old, who was sent to curse Israel the God
Of the nations will turn their curses into bles-
sings.
There is but little Doubt that the end of the
is at hand. We have every reason
to believe that the intentions of the departed
President, were most generous and liberal TO
wards the people Of the rcbellious States. His
repeated declarations to this effect. have passed
into history. In the kindness of his heart, he
no resentmonts. He looked upon the
masses as misguided and deluded people. He
needed not tue harsh epithets with which
they loaded him. In mercy and in tender
ness, he exercised his great functions, and
though he was obliged to smite with the edge
OF the sword, he stood ready to pour oil into,
and bind up the wounds of the bleeding rebel.
He was ready at the very honr of his assas-
sinatoD, to kill the fatted calf and feast the
prcdigal son returning to his fathers house.
lie would have lead the hearts of the people
In tho path of mercy and forgiveness.
Let us not permit the rash act of few con-
spirntors to turn the milk of human kindness
into bitterness and wrath. Let us carry out
the oft repeated policy of Mr.. Lincoln, and
bend all our efforts to the restoration of fra
ternal feeling; so that we may be in fact, as
in name, united and harmonious people.
If the poor, misguided wretches, who per-
potrated the foul deeds of that night, supposed
th,f tho daofh of NJ I;nooln ard NJ Cau