Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-04
THE ASSASSINATION OF THE
PRESIDENT.
speech by wendell Phillips.
trrom The Boston Advertiser of the 2ihl

tFrom the Boston Advertiser OF the oithl
The meeting in the fremont Temple last
evening to consider the great question Of
the country aud its perils was attended by
an immense audience, which filed the leo
ture room to its utmost capacity. Soon af'
ter the doors were opened the Hall was fill
ed, and hundreds we're compelled to leave
the Temple unable to gain admittance.
Wendell Phillips addressed the audience
as follows: -.. f.H.i.t.Ll q |
These are sober days. The judgments of
God have found us out. Years gone by
chastised us with whips-these chastise US
with scorpions. Thirty years ago, how
strong our mountain stood, laughing pros
perity on all its sides None needed the
fire and gloom which slumbered below. 1t
was nothing that giant sin gagged our
pulpits; that its mobs ruled our cities, burnt
men at the stake for their opinions, and
hunted them like wild beasts for their hu-
manity 1t was nothing that in the lonely
quiet of the plantation there fell on the un-
pitied person of the negro every torture that
hellish ingenuity could devise. 1t was moth
ing that as husband and father, mother and
child, the negro drained to its dregs all the
bitterness that could be pressed into his
cup; that, torn with whip and dogs, starv
ed, hunted, tortured, racked, he cried
! How long oh Lord, how long u In vain
did a thousand witnesses crowd our high.
ways, telling to the world the horrors of this
prison house. None stopped to consider,
} nsne believed. Trade turned away its deaf
ear-the Church gazed on them with stony
brow-letters passed by with mocking
: tongue. But what the world would not
. | % Gal hoo I'D in Eob on
t ghastly bright that it almost dazzes US
e blind What the world refused to believe,
L God has written all over the face of the con.
! tnent with the swords point, 'iu the blood
d of our best and most beloved. We believe
the agony Of the slaves hovel, the mother
and the husband, when it takes its seat at
v our board. We realize the barbarism that
IS crushed him in the sickeuing and brutal use
n of the relics Of Bull Run, in the torture and
/. starvation of Libby Prison, where idioey
Il was mercy, and death Gods best blessing
70 and now still more bitterly we renlEe it il
l. the coward spite which strikes an unarnet
RS man, unwarned, behind his back; in the as
ic sassin fingers which dabble with bloed!
h, knife at the throats Of old mon on sick pill
le lows Oh, God let this lesson be enough
10 Spare US any more such costly teschingsl
st This deed is but the result and fair repre-
re sentative of the system in whose defense
10 was done. No matter whether it was pre-
er viously approved at Richmond, or whethe
" the assassin, If he reaches the Cenfedel
ne ates be received with all honor, as tn
n wretch Brooks was, and as this bloodie
| wretch will surely be-, wherever rebels ar
vel not dumb with fear Of our cannon. N
tn matter for all this God shows this terribl
on act to teach the nation in unmistakabl
n terms the terrible foe with which it has
p- deal. But for this fendish spirit, Mort
'as and South, which holds up the rebellion
gh the assassin had never either wished or da
bid ed such deed. This lurid lash only show
a US how black and wide the cloud frol
bis which it sprung. DID, ,............
And what of him in whose precious bloc
w. this monontous lesson is writ? He seel
in the blessings of the poor, whose fette
re- God commissioned him to break. Gil
he prayers and tears to the desolate widow al
Gu the fatherlcss, but count him far above Il
= crowd Of his telow-men. Fervent cries
ely amen" lie has permitted himself
hes deal the last staggering blow which sent +
f belion reelingto its grave; and then, hol
ing his darling boy by the hand, to wa
the streets Of tho surrendered capital, VIII
r. his ears drank in praise and thanksgiv
III II which bore his name to the throne Of u
ola in every form piety and gratitude could
"A vent, md then to seal the sure triumph
'on the cause he loved with his own blood.
reg heard the first notes of coming jubilee a
inu ,''V. found his name in every one. Who amo
o19o living men may not envy him? Suppc
sass that, when boy, he Hoated ON the si'
hiss current of the Mississippi, idly gazing
'eu the slave upon Its banks, some angel h
nc lifted the curtain, and shown him that
cut the prime of his manhood he should 5
inS this proud empire rocked to its foundati
Su' s in the effort to break those chains, Shot
nc himself marshal the hosts of the Almigh
ay. q in the graudest and holiest war that Chr
her tendon ever knew, and deal, with half
- luctant hand, that thunderbolt Of just
lns which would smite that foul system to I
nee dust then die, leaving q name immortal
,;a !; vi the sturdy pride Of our race and the uu.
,,as ing gratitude of anether-would any cred
.1'S - ity, however sanguine, any .enthuSas
, ~. however iervid, have enabled him to
uct. . lieve itP Fortunate man He has lived
,i OuI do it! Applause. God has graciou
oul withheld him from any misstep in the gr
cry. adyance and w;thdra,yn him at tbe |,
Jug nient when his star touched its zenith, q
oo.;a the nati0a needed q sterner hand for
'a,u sau work God gives it to do. 10, .s.,-. n
S aay No matter that, unable to lead and fo
ssse;;j the nation, he was contented TO be only
'G;,a representative and mouthpiece; no mat
In ,ni that, with prejudices hanging about h
nsu o", he grouped his way verp slowly and sol
ana uu, times Reluctantly forward let US remem
sa1. auu how patient be was Of contradiction, b
ears s;I little obstinate in opnisn, how willing
,so, Lord Bacon, ito light his torch at ev
law, ,t mans candle" With the least posi-
'na' personal hatred, with too little seetio
bitterness often forgetting justice in NOR
tender-hesrted 20 any misery his own Q
], | saw, and in any deed which needed his
dec tual sanction, if his sympathies had linn
life, reeollect he was human, and that he '
the coined light more than most men, was m
ons, honest than his fellows, and with truth
Her his own convictions such as few politici
ONO achieve. With all his shortcomings,
dest point proudly to him as the natural gro,
IS OF cf Democratic institutions. Applause
prop Coming time will put him on that galax.
d to Americans which makes our history the
Q an star Of the nations. Washington, Har
han. ton. Franklin, Jefferson and Jay Hist
ate will add his name to the bright list wit
the more loving claim on our gratitude Il
in either Of them. No one Of those was ca