The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-05-12
Henry Ward Bsecher's Sermon on the
Assassination Of President Lincoln.

A.SdSslHdllOH Ol EISSluCUJ LluCOlH.
Henry Ward Bcecher's church ives
crowded on Sunday, The 23i ult., 10 It's
full capacity, aud hundreds were turned
away Iom the doors. Half an hour be-
fore the services commenced all the seats
were filled, and large numbers crowded
The aisles and entrances, and persons
even sat upon the preachers platform and
stood outside, looking in at the windows.
after prayer, the singing Of hymns and
the reading Of the oOth Psalm Mr. Beech
er took as his text the first five verscN Of
the last chapter Of Deuteronomy, ard
commenced his discourse by drawing n
parallel between the history of Moses, af.
ter leading his people many weary yerrs
through the wilderness, obtaining only
vision and not a realization OF the prom.
ised land, and dying; and lhal OF the late
President passing through toll, SORROW and
war, TO come near TO the promised land
OF peace, into which he might not PASS
over. The speaker wen. on 10 say .Lat
two such orbS of joy and sorrow never
before came together. as we had wit
messed in one week. The joy of the ma
ton came upon us suddenly, with such a
surge as no words could describe. Men
laughed. embraced each other, sang and
prayed, and many could oaly weep for
gladness. In one hour Joy had no pulse.
The sorrow was so terrible that it
stunned sensibiliy. The first feeling was
the least, and men wanted TO get strength
10 feel. Other griefs belong always to
some one in chief, but this belonged 10
all. Men walked for days as though a
corpse layin The house. The city forgot
10 roar. Never did so manv hearts in so
brief time touch two such boundless
feelings. 1t was the n;termost Of JOY and
the uttermost Of sorrow-Eoon and mid.
night without space between. We
should not mourn. however, because Tie
departure of The President was SO osuGden.
When one is prepared TO die, the sudden
ness OF death is blessing. They that
are taken awake and watching, as the
bridegroom dressed for the wedding, and
not those that die in pain and stupor, are
blessed. NeiIber should we mourn the
manner of his death. The soldier piays
that he may die by the shot OF the enemy
in the hour Of victory, and it was meet
that he should be joined in common ex-
perience in death with the brave men 10
whom he had been joined in all his sym
pathy and life. This blow was but the
expiring Rebellion. Epitomzed IN this
foul ACT, we find the whole nature and dis.
position Of Slavery. II is fiji that its ex.
piring blow should be such as TO take
away from men the last forbearance, the
last pity, and fire the soul with invincible
determination that the breeding-system
OF such mischiefs and monsters shall be
forever and utterly destroyed. We need
ed not that he should put on paper that
he believed in Slavery, who, with treason.
with murder, with cruelty internal, bov
cred around that majestic man 10 destroy
his life. He was himself the lorg.lil.
sting with which Slavery struck at Liber
ty, and he carried the poison that he
longed to Slavery and as long as this
nation lasts it will never be forgotten that
we have had one martyr President-nev-
er, never while time lasts, while Heaven
lasts, while hell rocks and groans, will it
be forgotten that Slavery by its minions
slew him, and in staying him made man
i'est its whole nature and tendency. This
blow was aimed AT the life OF the Govern
ment. Some murders there have been
tha. admitted shades Of palliRtion, but
not such one as tlis-wilhout proyoCa-
ton, without reason, without temptation,
sprung from the fury Of a heart cankered
to ali that is pure and inst by Slavery
The blow has failed Of its object. The
| Government stands more sohd to-day
Than any pyramid of Egypt. Men love
liberty and hate Slavery to-day mole
than ever before. How naturally, how
easily the Government passed into the
hands of the new President, and l avow
my belief, said the speaker, that he will
be found man true 20 every instinct OF
/ liberty, true TO tbe whole trust that is i'm
! posed in him, yigi!ant Of the Constitution,
careful Of the laws, wise for liberty, in
that he himself for his life long has known
what il is to suffer from the stings Of
Slavery, and TO prize liberty from the Bit
ter experiences Of bis own life. Even he
! that sleeps has by this event been clothed
with new influence. His simple and
weightv words will be gathered like those
of Washington, and quoted by those who,
were he alive, would refuse 10 listen
Men will receive new access TO patriot
ism. l swear you on the altar of his
memory 10 be more faithful to that coun-
try for which he has perished. They
will, as they follow his hearse, swear a
new hatred 10 that Slavery against which
he warred, and which in vRnquisbing him
has made him martyr and conqueror'
l swear you by the memory of this martyr
10 IA otto SIaverv with an unabatable hatred