Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-18

ooin VIII De nelu 70 REVERENCE. hlslng from
among the poorest Of the people, winning
his slow way upward by sheer hard work,
preserving in every successive stage n char.
aoter unspotted aud name untanted, ,secur.
ing wider respect as he became better
known, never pretending TO more than he
was, nor being less than he professed him
self he was at length for very singleness of
heart and uprightness Of conduct, because
all felt that they could trust him utterly, and
would desire to be guided by his frmness,
courage and sense, placed In the chair Of
| President at the turning point Of his nations
history. A life so true, rewarded by dig
nifty so majestic. was defense enough against |
the petty shafts of malice which party spirit, |
sgainst him. The lowly callings he had |
6rst pursued became his titles to greater
respect among those whose respect was
worth having; the little external rusticities
only showed more brightly, ms the rough
matrix, the golden ore, the true dignity Of
his nature. Never was any one, set in such
high place, and surrounded with so many
motives of furious detraction, SO little i'm
peached Of aught blame worthy. The Bit
terest enemy could find no more to layto his
charge than that his language was some
times too homey for supersensitive taste,
or that he conveyed in a jesting phrase what
they deemed more suited for stateier style.
But against these specks, what thoi iough
nobility have we not to set2 A purity Of
thought, word, and deed never challenged,
a disinterestedness never suspected, an hon
esty Of purpose never impugned, o gentle
ness and tenderness that never made
private enemy or alienated a friend-these
are indeed qualities which may we'll make
nation mourn. But he had intellect as well
az goodness. Cautiously conservative, fear
ing to pass the limits of established systems,
seeking the needful amendments rather
from growth than alteration, he proved
; himself in...-t the crisis the very man best
suited for his post He held back the
ardent while he gave confidence to the timid;
! his reluctance to innovate did not prevent
him from recognizing and accepting the
: changes in the situation which the progress
of events brought to pass; and the 6rmness
, with which he refused to proceed faster than
, they warranted was equaled by the tenacity
1 with which he refused to retire from the
G position be had at last thought it right to
g take up. SO found years OF trial convinced
t his countrymen that there was none among
< them who could better fill his place. And
9 there can be no doubt that in his known
j respect for established rights. as well as in
q bis known justice, impartiality and benev'
g olence, South, as we'll as North, had begun
$ to look upon him as their surest friend and
t as the safe arbiter in whom they could both
e trust to exact not more and to claim no less
e than might suffice to make their reconclia
y tion perpetual.
g But he has fallen, and by a Southern
l. hand. We cannot as yet tell the motive
Is that urged the treacherous blow, but the
o fact that two had conspired to murder, the
y one the President, che other the Secretary
IS of State, shows that at least there is no
insanity to be reckoned as possible ex
d PLANTATION. But we will not, without over
y whelming proof, let the horrible conspiracy
d or the phrases Of its actors, lead US TO la
,f it to the charge of abettors in the South
n We will not doubt thatfrom what lately wa
lie the Southern Government and people ther
sr will come at once earnest disavowals of an
at knowledge of the meditated orime, and tina
IN if the murderer of MIR. Seward has reached
he the territory their pewor yet holds, he Wi
IN be seized and surrenderd as one guilty of
Of crime against humanity itself Onno othe
to terms at least will their English sympu
h. thizers believe in Southern chivalry. -
For though some among US have by growt
ca of prejudice come to think Slavery not.a sir
40 there is no Englshman yet whom secre
ne assassination does not horrify. And th
st kindly nature, the earnest desire to do righ
OF WulCu tfcH His Cbu'co>tu
NJ Abraham Lincoln, will now that be is gnnt
IA, turn to him all sympathies and make a
xt among us call with one voice for vengeanc
he on his deteaable murderer.
he From the Daily Telegraph. April 81
b. No touler crime stands c,Aonicled in o
In history than the murder of Abraham Lin
H. coin. The sorry pleas of State necessity {
Dg political interest that havo been advance
he time out of mind to paliiate assassnatio
he cannot even be heard with toleratiOn in sue
ly u case as this, for the act is one that ou
IL RACES humanity aud shocks the commo
Mt conscience of the world 1t is accurssd an
lis supremely Infamous it is most cowardly
w most cruel. Every war has its horrors an
as the great ii sht between the North and tn
10 South has been no exception to the rule
N but there never was anything mere base tha
,rt the slaughter Of man who, during years
- great excitement, had scarcely made sill
'rs gle personal enemy. In the agony an
nd Terror, Danton said, The Revolution, lii
ed Saturn, is beginning to devour its ow
ss chidren" Abraham Lincoln was the chi
IL in no invidious sense, we may even 50
lis the puppet-of the passions OF his tim
It, and now he has become their victim. A fir
it, spirit of popular enthusiasm made hi
he Chief Magistrate Of the greatest Republ
or, ever known; the ferocity and the NADINE
gh of few desperadoes have abruptly ended
ne career which already loolned so largely.
of wonderful life was Lincoln's-a life quite
rd startling and surprising as his death bu
tly at any rate, the worst part OF his work seen
Ter ed over. The resistance Of the South ha
rs been crushed. A sturdy, sensible Westei
re man, with long limbs and longer heat
~ Mr.. Lincoln had worked his way in the wor
de without any disbonorabe subtsriuges
nd mean devices. Clear, direct, simple, al
res straightforward, he had already during b
lat brief term of office outlived many isusT
rse cious, jealously, misconstruction and di
lg ikes He bore his honors we'll, and VI
ke settling down into quiet, simple dignity
lSe manner, and kindly moderation of thcug
nj and temper Terrible had been the tri
'p- through which he had victoriously passe
yu- He was emphatically one Of the peopl
10. but his hsmespun virtues seemed to justi
ho the peoples choice. At any rate hei hi
ice diligently, faithfully, and not unskilful
st, labored according to such light as was Civ,
nat him; aud now, as he seemed to touch Il
ng goal, his course 10 abruptly checked, I
day all party feeling, all political jealouse