The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-21
"a time to mourn. &c. 3:4.

"a time to mourn."-Ec. 3:4.
The question might be raised, whether
these words were intended simply to-
teach that there are seasons when men
do mourn, ior to declare that there are
occasions where it is proper to exhibit
grief However, it is unnecessary to-day
to settle the answer to this inquiry. All
of you are prepared to admit that both
of these truths are fully exemplitied at
this hour. The people of these United
States are weeping all over the land, and
the impartial Judgment of God doubtless
will be that they have abundant cause
for their sorrow.
The circumstances which have brought
us together are well known to each of
you. On the evening of the I4th inst,
at about half past nine o'clock, as
Abraham Lincoln, President OF the
United States, was sitting in company
with his wife and several friends in his
private box at Ford's Theatre, III the
city of Washington, he was shot in the
head by an assassin One of the cOnpan-
ions of the President also was wounded
by the murderer while making his es-
cape. About the same hour another as
sassin attempted to kill William H. Sew
ard, Secretary of State, in the Presidents
cabinet, and did succeed in severely stab
bing him. Two of Mr.. Stewards sons
also were attacked by the same individ-
ual and one of them was very danger
ously wounded A nurse was so severe
ly wounded that, it has been reported,
that she has since died, and u messenger
ofthe State Department was much hurt.
At twenty-five minutes after seven
o'clock, on the morning of the 18th inst .,
Abraham Lincoln died. Since that time
the acting Secretary of State has issued
the following circular to the people of
the United States:
"The undersigned is directed to an
nounce that the funeral ceremonies of
the lamented Chief Magistrate will take
place at the Executive Mansion, in this
city at IL o'clock, noon, on Wednesday
the 10Th inst.
1.-The various religious denominations
throughout the country are invited to
meet in their respective places of wor-
ship at that hour, for the purpose of sol
emnizing the occasion with appropriate
ceremonies.
w. HUNTER,
Acting Secretary of State.
Department of State.
a.. WASHINGTON, April II, 1865"
In obedience to this announcement,
and also to the recommendation of the
proper authorities of this State and this
city and of thepeOple in mass-mecting as
sembled, we, in company with thousands
of congregations, from Maine to Califor-
mia, have met in the sanctuary of the
Most High. Personally could have
preferred to have taken my place i'll the
pews with you as mOurner on this sol
emn occasion. The calamity in every
way is so dreadful that it almost para
lyzes the tongue. Still actuated by
high sense of duty, must give public
utterance to my sentiments. 1t is GER
tainly possible, let me add, that all of you
may not entirely agree with every view
which may be presented. Some may
think that certain ideas are too strong
i'm their expression, while others may
regard them in the opposite manner
Yet l am persuaded that all of you will
accord to me pure desire to express my
deep conscientious convictions
The first thing which we may consider
is the crime which has been committed. 1t
is the duty of us all, but especially of
those who occupy the position of Gods
ministers, to hold it up to the utmost OPP
prObrium The crime TdS The highest Ukich
one man can commit tOwaid another. 1t was
murder which,, among civilized nations,
has always been visited with swift and
severe punishment God himself has
prohibited this sin by express laws, and
has ordered the life of him who is guilty
of it to be taken by the officers of Justice
Who so sheddeth mans blood, by man
shall his blood he shed; for in the image
al God made he man" Gen. 96. Some
times a sickly sentimentalism prevails,
which would relax the rigOr of the di-
vine rule States have, for brief periods,
abolished capital punishment. Let us
put away any such-foly, and recogniz-
ing the awful guilt'ot murder, demand
that human laws shall be made so as to
enforce the decree of heaven. BIT this
crime lpas not an ordinary assassination.
The blow was not struck at a private in
dividual in order to crafty personal NAL
ice; but it was intended to be repre-
sentative act and was directed toward
the most exalted officer of our govern
mcnt Just because he occupied that sta
ton. 1t was murder and the highest
treason combined 1t was an effort to
take the very life of our nation, and
must therefore be regarded as hundred
fold, aye ten thousand fold more guilty
and execrable. ,.,. Led.
Ind the crime also Uds INTENDED to be rta.y
comprehensive, til ugh i'm the midst
of our sorrow we are permitted to
thank God that it largely failed to be
executed. Six, persons altogether were
wounded, and there seems to he abun-
dapt reason from which to conclude that
n plan had been matured to take the
lives of several other prominent men con-
nected with the government, among
whom were the Vice President and the
Secretary ofWar. Indeed, it appears to
have been the purpose of the band sud.
denly to murder SO many of our rulers rs
to paralyze the nation, and so to accom-
plish o revolution of some kind. While
Providence prevented the destruction of
any except the President and perhaps a
faithful nurse, the failure does not in the
least mitigate the sin which the mnr-
derers intended to commit. In the
Judgment of God the will no doubt shall
be reekoned for the deed dnd ace may say
that the assassination ,ras mean and coward-
H. While it is utterly wrong for us to
suppose that there isi anything noble or
manly aboht any such offence. still we