Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-24

fbst S,ate ass,n,si A. VIII arts H3te. preparatory
paving their respect to his Excellelc!' Anarsw
johns,1, Preside It OF the United States governor
OgeSb acco npaned by Senator Ri3hald Yates Gene
ltJosrulN HaFuor, Elk senate: o. d. BroWnihS non "a
T.. Philips General r. Farnsworth' Hon: .. ~
mold, Hon. John Wilson, General Cam ole, Colonel
an :. LOOMS Colonel James r. Bowen Governor
rskeiiag OF o. you General White Hon. j. w Hanna
Major L. Wait, Major W. Carroll hdJor L. fIlhn ana :
large cOncOurse Of citizens, repaired to TIE rooms Vi
President johnson in the Treasury building Governor
Oglesby presented the delegation and addressed inc
President as follows
REMARKS OF GovERSoR oGLEsBY.
Mr. Presidsnt.-I take much pleasure in presenting to
you this delegation Of citizens of Illinois, representing
slmo every portion of the State. We are drawn to-
gsheriu this city by the mourntul events OF the past
ET days to give forcble expression TO tbs feeling
in CO nmon with the Whole nation realize as pressing
us 10 the earth by appropriate and res estfu ceremon e.
tSou zht il Inappropriate before Wa shall separate
even this sad hour to seek this interview wiki your
Excehncv that willie the bleeding heart Is ponrhg out
lis me Irnfll anguish over the death OF ou le owed
ate President the idol Of state IN the pude OF the
whole couatry, We may earnest express 70 you, the
gving he ID of this na;n, our debsrats tull ana anld
ug confidence in you as the oae VINO IN THIS dah hOur
must h,ar upon yourself the mighty responsibility VI
minimizing defending and directing is AFFAIR." In the
midst Of this sldless through the oppressive gloom that
surrouudlus We look t. you and to bright future orolr
souuty The assassination Of the President OF the u :
deeply depreses sero ly aggrayites the entire ma
don bat M Ter our blessed Constitution IL does not ceiay
or FOR any great 9Th Of time etard its progres-d0es
no, for instant disUrganze threaten its destruction
The record OF your Whole past life familiar 20 us a-the
spendor OF your recent gigantic efforts TO stay the hand
AZ and assassin alton and 10 restore the nag u
the tterost DO unds Of the Republic assure that noble
State we rpesent aRd, believe the people OF the
gAed states that we may safely trust itS desiines IN
your hands, and to this end IN the name OF the
State of Illinois and we confidently believe, fully and
faithfully expressing the wishes Of our people 70 present
and pledge 70 you the cordial earnest and unremitng
purpose OF or State 70 give TO your Administration the
stropg support we have heretofore Civ TO the Adm MIS-
traton o! our lamented late Presde1t-tae policy Of
which have heretofore d. now and shall continue 70
SPEECH OF PRECEDENT JOHNSON
The fresilsn, said
Cs1ismea: have listened with profound attention
.al kind words you have ssed 70 me- The visit
of this large delegation - speak 10 me through You sr
thee words Of announcement had not sntc pated,
In the midst Of the slddening circumstances which sur
ror I'D u.s. and the immense responsibility thrown upon
expression Of the confidence OF mo vdualS ana
still more of an Influential body like that fore me rep
-eseptjng great Commonwealth cheers and srengtAens
my heavily Jurdened mind am at loss Tor words 20
tespcud In an hour like this Of deep sorrow were l.
possible 10 embOdy in words tie feelings Of ny bosom
could not command my LIS 10 utter them. Perhaps
che best reply could make, and tie one Lojt readily
appropriate TO your kind assurances OF confidence
would be receive them IN silence The thro0ongs OF
nv he art since the sad cItastrope viii has appalled,
she country canul be reduced t. words and oppressed
a. am bv e new and great responsibility which has
dsyo we'd upon me sadden with gref can with dim
Guilty espAnd TO you at all But cannot permit such
exp esOns Of the confidence repOsed in me by abe PEG
pls 10 BASS wit out acknoT ledgme1t' To an ndivdua
like m,s-lf who has never claimed much, but who las
II is true received from generous people many ma *
of trust and honor for long tire, an occasion like this
aud m lnest ito of public feeling so WELT mel are
peculiarly accepta ol,. sprung tr IN the people myself
every pu Sc as with the popular heart hnds an I'm
mediate answer in my own. BY many men IN public
fife such OCCASIONS are often considered mercy form a.
To me thy reyour words Of countenance and g.
coura ge nent sink deep in my heart and were even q
coward cou but gather from them str myth to carry
out my convictions OF ght
rms feeling shall enter upon the discharge Of my
great duty firmly and steadfasy [applause if not witt
The signal ability exhibited by my predecessor which Is
atill fresh in our Fiag minds Ned reIe that
40 heart feels more sensby than mine this great ac-
In what say on this occasion I shall indulge in no
Nettv snirt Of anger-nO feeling Of revenge. But we
bav hehed rotl ole event in the hi tory OF mankind.
IN the midst Of the American people where every citizen
n taught 70 obey Law and observe the rules Of Christian
ondt our Chief Magistrate the beloved OF all hearts
has nee assassinated and when trace this crime 20
II. cause. when we menber the source whence the
ssss.in Dire his inp ration and the ooS at the resnt
We stand vet more astounded at THIS most harbarous
80 diohHlical assassination. Sucn a crime as the
1nr5ar of great and od man honored and respected
the beloved and the hope Of the people springs not alone
Snm solitary nIivdla OF ever 50 desperate wicked.
- We can trace its courses through SUCCESSIVE
tens without my enumerating them here, back 10 The
source which is the spring OF all our woes
one can saw hatf the perpe rator OF this hendsh
~ arrested he should not undergo the EXTREMIST
nsnslty the law knows for crime None VIII say that
mercy should nterpOse Butt he alone guilty Here,
ntem,n YOU pc haps expect me 10 present some indi-
setop Of nv future policy. One thing WI say every
ga teaches its lesson. The times we live in are not
S,itt6nt inst uction Tie American people must be
t,ngbt if they do not already feel that treason is
crime and must be punished. tApplause That the
f,vernment will not always bear with its enemies
Tbst is strong not only TO protect but to punish
Glpolausel When we turn to the criminal code and
xmine the catalogue Of crime we there ind arson laid
dawn "a crime, with its appropriate penalty We there
GA theft and robbery and murder given as crimes ant
there too we find the last and highest Of crimes-rREA
sos IApplause.l With other and inferior offences oul
ls are familiar but in peaceful history treason
keShsen almost unknown. The people must understand
a. the blacklist of crimes aud will be surely pun
shed IApplause.l | make this alnson not TO ex c
80 rsadv exasperaed feelings of the public, but L
n7t ont the principles of public justice which sl0u
&c onr action at this part cuar juncture, d whic
accord with sound public morals Let it be engrayel
upOO every heart n s1at ''fa aSuause y' anu
While we are appalled, and oSeLwatimed a. the ian