The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-16
THE NATISSS DEEP AFFLIC-
TON.

The popular heart was terribly
shocked yesterday by the telegraphicl
announcement that President LincolnI
had been basely assassinssed. The
manifestations Of indignation and sor-
row we're intensified by the coincident|
Intelligence of the brutal and murde-'
RUS assault made upon Mr. Seward,
his son and otherl keeping vigil in theI
distinguished invalid's chamber TheE
community were in the midst of pref
variations 20 celebrate becomingly theI
recent important victories of our armiesE
and Of the restoration OF the national
aag on Fort Sumter, when this dis
srsssiugly painful information was re
S>;ved, changing their joy to sorrow
1Ieir exultation TO woe The gay fsgsI
~ 81 Suffered in the morning breeze,
rereinstantly draped in mourning and
hung At half mast, and during the rel
uasinder of the day minute guns were
fired
The expressions Of regret for this ma
l.li5nal calamity--for the death OIL
k.hAM I.NcoLN, at this important
luncture. is nothing less than a nation
alcalamity-were universal. All shades
of opinion-men who have supported
him warmly, and men who have asE
warmly opposed him-were equally out
spoken aud sincere in their condem-
nation of the bloody iniquity by which,
the nation, and friends of law, order,
and peace, were robbed of the wiseE
head and pure heart, around which
40 many hopes and such vast and mo
,neptous interests concentrated. III
any there were who did not realize theE
extent of the affection, and deplore it,
they had the good taste not to show
themselves.
What the effects OF Mr.. Lincolns
death upon the 6estinies of the Union!
NAV be, is at present known onlyI
10 Him who knoweth all things. TheI
swift revolving wheel of time will soonE
develope them; and it were unwise to-
deal in speculation. Let us hope, how
e,er that the salvation of this Union
is not dependent upon the life of one
r man nor many men.
Happily, the practical operations of
our beautiful system of government
have, in two instances, shown that there
is not, necessarily, any danger to bel
apprehended of the stability of our in
stitutions from the decease of the Chief
Magistrate. Nor are the people, the
source of all power, 10 be feared. They
bow to the will of the Supreme Ruler,
and to the majesty of the Law, without
which they know there is no safety fors
them or for Liberty.
The Vice President has already as:
Eumed the authority which the Consti
1utio4 develves upon him, and,we feel
doubly assured that he win so conduct
himself in his high Office as TO merit
he affection and applause of his coun
trymen.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN was a great and
good man, and his administration off
the government, whatever may be thes
future career of our nation, win ever
be regarded as one of extraordinary
sagacity, vigoz, and efficiency. And he
will always be regarded as a publicE
benefactor-our SECOND WASHINGTON.
Penetrated with grief by the nations
great affiiction, we have no heart to
90 into an investigation of the probablea
motives which impelled the assassin to
fire the fatal shot. We bow in deepH
humiliation, amazed that any one withE
human heart could be found TO per 3
petrate SO dastardly crime, and trust
TO the justice of God for its punish s
ment