Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-06-01

the respective legislatures had authority, 10 the
exercise Of their ordinary functions, to do away
with slavery. Since that time the attempt has
been made in what are called slave States to
make the condition of slavery perpetual; and
events have proved with the olearness Of demon
stration, that constitution which seeks 10 con-
tnuo a caste Of hereditary bOndmen throug b
endless generations is inconsistent with the
existence Of republican institutions. So, then,
the new President and the people Of the United
States must insist that the proclamation OF
freedom shall stand as reality and, moreover,
the people must never cease to insist that the
constitution shall be so amend ed as utterly to
prohibit slavery on any part OF our soil forever
more.
Alas that State in our vicinity should
withhold It's assent 10 this last benefoent meas
ure its refusal was an encouragement to our
enemies equal to the gain Of pitched battle,
and delays the only hopeful method OF pacihea-
tion. The removal Of the cause Of the Rebellion
is not only demanded by justicei II is the
policy Of mercy, making room for wider
cemenoy; il is the part Of order against chaos
Of controversy, It's success brings with It true
reooncilement, o lasting peace, continuous
growth Of confidence through an assimilation Of
the social condition Here is the fitting express
sion Of the mourning Of to-day.
And let no lover Of his country say that this
warning is unoalled for The cry 10 delusive
that slavery is dead Even now it is nerving
itself for q fresh struggle for continuance The
last winds from the South watt to us the sad
intelligence that man who had surrounded
himself with the glory of the most brilliant and
most varied achievements, who but q week ago
was named with affeetionate pride among the
greatest benefactors of his country and the
ablest generals Of all time, has usurped more
than the whole power of the Executive, and
under the name Of peace has received slavery
and given security and political power to traitors
from the Chesapeake to the Rio drande.
Why could he not remember the dying advice
Of Washington, never to draw the sword but for
self-defense or the rights of his country; aud
when drawn, never to sheath it till it's work
should be accomplishedS Aud yet from this
bad act, which the people will with one united
voice condemn no great evil will follow except
the shadow on his own fame. The individual,
even in the greatness of military glory, sinks
into insignifoanoe before the resislless move
ments in the history of man, No one can turn
back or stay the march Of Providence. No sem
timent Of despair may mix with our sorrow.
We owe il to the memory of the dead, we owe
II to the cause of popular liberty throughout
the world, that the sudden crime which has
taken the life Of the President Of the United
States shall not produce the least impeachment
in the smooth course Of public affairs This
great city, in the midst Of unexampled emblems
Of deeply seated grief has sustained itself with
composure and magnanimity. 1t has nobly
done its part in guarding against the derange-
ment Of business or the slightest shock TO public
credit. The enemies Of the republic put il to
the severest trial but the voice Of the faction
has not been heard doubt and dependency
have been unknown.
In serene majesty the country rises in the
beauty and strength and hope Of youth, and
proves to the world the quiet energy and the
durability of institutions growing out of the
reason and affections of the people Heaven
has willed it that the United States shall live.
The nations Of the earth cannot spare them.
All the Worn-out aristocratics Of Europe saw in
the spurious feudRsm Of Baveholding their
strongest outpost, and banded themselves
together with the deadly enemies Of our national
life. II the Old World will discuss the respec-
tive advantages of oligarchy or equality; OF the
union of Church and State. or the rightful
freedom Of religion of land accessible 10 the
many, or of land monopozed by nn ever
decreasing number of the few, the United States
must live to control the decision by their quiet
and unobtrusve example.
1t has often and truly been observed that the
trust and affection of the masses gather natu-
rally round an individual; il the inquiry is
made WI, ,Nther the man 80 trusted and beloved
shall elicit from the reason of the people endur-
Ing institutions Of t,ssir own, or shall sequester
political power for sapeTintending dynasty,
the United States must live to solve the problem.
Ii question il raised on tho respective merits
OF TimOlen or julius Cesar, OF washington or
Napoleon, the United States must DO there 10
call to mind that there were Twelve o~sars'
most Of them the opprobrium OF the human
race, and TO contrast with them the line OF
American Presidents.
The duty Of the hour incomplete, our mourn
ing is inplncere, if while we express unwavering |
trust in the great principles that underlie our
Government, we DO not also give our support 70
the man TO whom the people have entrusted ite
Andrew johnson is now, py
the Constitution, the President OF the unlted
States, and he stands before the Rorlu as inc
most Conspicuous representative OF the industrial
classes. Left an orphan at four years 0ia,
poverty and toll were his steps to honor. His
youth was not passed in the nails Of colleges, |
nevertheless he has received a thorough political
education in craftsmanship in the school Of the |
people, and by long experience Of public NE
A village funetionary; member sucoessVely |
Of each branch Of the Tennessee Legislature, |
hearing with q thrill Of Joy the wOrds-"The |
Union, it must be preserved :" Representative
in Congress for successive years Governor OF !
the great State Of Tennessee, approved as It's
Governor by recollection; he was, at the open
10 Congress- Then, at the Capitol, when
Senators, unrebuked by the Government sent
word by telegram to seize the forts and areenals,
he alone, from that Southern region, told them
what the Government did not dare to tell lhem
that they were traitors, and deserved the
punishment Of treason.
Undismayed by perpetual purpose of public
enemies to take his life, bearing up against the
still greater trial Of the persecution of his wife
l.. d,an8 8tV,uu ha Nuan kunk
State, determined to restore it to the Union, or
die with the American flag for his winding |
sheet. And now, at the call OF the United !
States, he has returned to Washington as q |
conaueror, with Tennessee as u free State for
HIS trophy. 1t remains for him TO oonsummate |
the vindioRtion OF the Union. To that Union
Abraham Lincoln has fallen martyr. His
death, which was meant to sever 1t beyond
repair, binds ii more closely and more firmly |
than ever.
The blow aimed at him was aimed, not at the
native of Kentucky, nor at the citizen Of Illinois,
but at the man who, as President, in the
Executive branch Of the Government, stood az
the representative Of every man in the United
States The object Of the crime was the life of
the whole people and il wounds the affections
of the whole people. From Maine to the
southwest boundary on the Pacific il makes US
one.
The country may nave neeuou an lmperlbnanle
grief to touch it's inmost feeling. The grave
that receives the remains of Lincoln receives the
martyr to the Union the monument which will
rise over bic body will bear witness to the
Union his enduring memory will assist during
countless ages to bind the States together, and
to incite to the love Of our undivided, iniiyisbe
country. Peace to the ashes of our departed
friend, the friend Of his country and his race.
Happy was his life, for he was the restorer of
the Republic; he was happy 10 his death, for
the manner of his end will plead forever for the