The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-04-26

ed with the fear that he had not yet fill
ed the high measure of his possible useful
ness to an imperiled government. Hea.
en- grant that 10 this universal apprehen
sion, human judgment may err.
1t may be that it was best for Abraha"
Lincoln so to die. In the crushing sorrow
that envelopes the Republic, there is th.
silver Inning to the cloud the hope tha
ilumines the darkest hours Of life, that the
God who has just given victory to human
Il ity and Justice; broken the power OF
cruel bondage aud scattered tie legions Of
the wanton usurper, still "doeth all things
we'll -
To what end, in the overruling wisdom
of the God of Nations, this terrible be.
reavement has come, the fitness of His
purpose alone can tell | rush not where
angels dare not tread to fathom the n6
mite; but with the living, the pregnant
present there is no uncertain purpose-no
doubtful judgment in the acceptance Of
the new duties the blood of a murdered
ruler has inscribed in our laws There
must he atonement. However guiltiess OF
the im,uediae act of the assassin that in
vaded the Nations sacred sanctuary of
power, may be those have given us
causeless, wicked wal, and brought mourn
| ing to every circle in the land, still the
murder that crimsoned our capital with
the blood of our common ruler. is the act
of those who bowed at the savage altar of
treason and drenched this fair land in fra
ternal blood They polluted the heart;
nerved the arm and gave direction to the
bullet and steel which have written this
terrible page iu our history; and justice,
n vengeance, is inexorablc in its demand
that the long imperiled but now rescued
Republic shall vindicate its might and
majesty; assure its future safety, aud
deal mercy to mankind, by booming to
iguomiuious death the chief conspira,ors
of crime.
hope and pray that the new admins
tratioa will not depart from the establish
ed ard accepted policy of Mr.. Lincoln
In it was the Nations hope 1t promised
early aud endurng peace. 1t maintained
our common brotherhood 1t looked to
future with North and South as one peo.
pie, cemeuted rather than estranged by
oar matchless heroism alike in behalf of
wrong and right. 1t justly forgavo the
do!uded generously iavited the fealty of
the erring, aud, scve the arch fends of
death, all seemed to be gathering to the
folds of our proud inheritance again
Peace would have come unmarked by ret.
ribuplou but while it must still come,
AID come | earnestly trust as the martyr.
ed Lincoln bid it come,it must now bring
with II the atonement that a bereaved
Nation demands for this crowning crime.
There must be other monuments to mark
the chequered path way of the Republic;
to teach its power, its love, its justice
We worship at the shrine of Washing
ton as the Father OF our country-hence-
forth all hearts shall bow over the grave
of Lincoln as its Savior From there the
Nation shall turn to the grave of the felon
the resting place of Davis when its justice
shall have been fulfilled and there will
be taught how the Republic is as terrible
in retribution as it is generous in pardon
There will the hopeful living learn the
crime and the peoaIty Of murderous trea.
sou; there will the memory of our mar
tyred dead be renewed in sanctity aud
freshness as we read the story of our
country's woes. There will be monuments
ofjustice now, as well as of generosity ,and
with them ever teaching the priceless
blessings of virtue, liberty and law, |
hope for the perpetuity of our regenerated
A. K. MCCLURE. i