The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-04-26
him the earnest support of his State and

of the country.
In reply, President Johnson said:
The hrobbiugs Of my heart, since, the
sad catastrophe which has appalled, US,
cannot be reduced to words; and op.
pressed as I am, with the new and great
responsibilities which have devolved
upon me, aud saddened with grief, l can,
with difficulty, respond to you at ALL
But can not permit such expressions
Of confidence, reposed in me by the pco.
pie, to pass without acknowledgement.
10 an individual like myself, who has
never cluimed much, but who has, it is
true, received from generous people
many marks Of trust and honor, for a
long time, an occasion like this. and the
I manifestation Of public feeling, SO veil
timed, are peculiarly acceptable. Spring.
ing from the people myself: every pulsa.
tion Of the popular heart finds imme.
diatc answer in my OVID. Thus feeling,
shall enter u pom the discharge Of my
great duty firmly and steadfas,ly, if not
with the sisnul ability exhibited by my
predecessor, which is still fresh in our
sorrowing minds. Need l repeat, that
no heart feels. more scnsibly than mine
this great atllictiou. In what | say on
this occasion, | shall. indulge no petty
spirit Of anger, no feeling Of REVENGE
But We have bchcld notable events in
the history Of mankind. In the midst
Of the American people, where every
citizen is taught to obey the laws and
observe the. rules Of Christian conduct,
our Chief Magistrate, beloved ofall hearts
has been assassinated, aud when We
trace this crime to its cause, when We re-
member the source from whence the as.
sassin drew: his inspiration, and then
look at the result, we stand yet more as
tonishcd at this most barbarous, most
diaboiical assassination. Such crime
US the murder Of great aud good man,
honored and reverend: the beloved and
the hope Of the people, springs not alone
from Il solitary individual, Of ever go
desperate wickedncss. We can trace its
cause through successive steps, without,
cuumera,ins them here, back to that
source which is the spring Of all our
woes. NO man can say that if the per.
pctrator of this licndish deed be arrest.
cd. he should not undergo the extreme
penalty the law knows for crime; none
will say that mercy should interfere
But is he alone guilty? Here, gentle
men, you perhaps expected me to pre-.
sen, some indication Of my future policy.
One thing will say, every era teaches
its lesson. The times We live in are not
without instruction. The American
people must be taught, if they do not
already. feel, that treason is crime. and
must be punished; that the Government
will not always bear. with it's enemies :;
that it is strong not only to protect but
to punish.
When We turn to the criminal code
and examine the catalogue Of crimes, we
there tind arson laid down as crime, with
its appropriate prualty We find there
theft, and robbery, aud murder given as
crimes, and there. too, We find the last
and highest Of crimes, treason, with
other and inferior offences with which
our people are familiar; and in our
peaceful history treason has been almost
unknown. People must understand
that it is the blackcst Of crimes, and
will be surely punished. l make this
alusion, not to excite the already exas'
pcra,ed feelings of the public, but to
point cut the principles Of public JUS
iicc wkich should guide our action, at
this particular juncturc, and which &C.
cord with sound public morals. Let it
be engraved on every heart that treason
is crime, aud TRAITORS shall suffer its
penalty. While We are appalled, and
overwhelmed at the fall Of one man in
cur midst by the hand Of 4 traitor, shall
we allow men, l care not by what wea.
pons. to attempt the life Of the State
with impunity? While we strain our
minds to comprehend the enornity of
this assassination, shall we allow the
nation to be assassinatcd speak in
30 spirit OF unkiudncss. leave events
Of the future to be disposd Of as they
arise, regarding myself as the humble
,instrument Of the American people; III
this, as in all things, justice and judg.
ment shall be determined by them. |
do not harbor bitter or revengeful feel.
ings toward any; in general terms, !
would say that public morals and public
opinion should DO established upon sure
and iuaexible principles ofjustice; when
the question of exercising mercy comes
before me, it will be considered calmly,
judiciuusly, remembering that am the
Executive Of the nation. | know men
love to have their names spoken of in
connection with acts of mercy, and how
easy it is to yield to this impulse, but VIC
must no, forget that what may be mercy
to an individual is cruelty to State. ln
the exercise Of mercy there should be no
doubt left that this high prerognirc is
:not used to relieve few at the expense
of the many; be assured I shall never
! forget am not to consult my own feel
iugs alone, but to give an account 20
the whole people in regard, to my