The Black Republican., 1865-04-29
Meeting of Officers Of the Army and Navy
AT
Liberty Hall. April 2 L, 4 SOS.
Speeches of Sens. Hurlbut, Banks and
Brayman.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS

A large number of the officers of the Army
assembled in Liberty Hall at II O'clock on
the 2lst, to consider and adopt some appro-
pirate manner of expressing the feelings of
the two branches of the military service at
the deplorable event that has deprived them
of their beloved Commander-in-Chie
Major Gen. Hurlbut was called to the
chair, and Major Gen. Banks Brig. Gen.
Brayman, Commodore Emmons and Brig.
Gen. Brown, chosen Vice Presidents. Lieut..
Commander Gherardi was appointed Secre
tary.
Gen. Hurlbut on taking the chair said:
Brother Ofcers-There are times in all mems lives
when words but feebly express the feelings of their
hearts 1t is ith to-day. The nation has lost
pie ever went through-justas that struggle cul
minating into victory The army and navy have lost
lost one who dear friend, faithful and true 1t
is right that should assemble here-here III this
hall which commentaries one of his glorious works,
to render tribute OF comment to great man OF the
nation who has fallen beneath the blow OF the cow
ardly assassin 1t is right that nature so gentle
heart tender, courage, political and personal so
untainted should receive this spontaneous tribute
his nature, gladly render all tnat can throw homage
over his tomb-untimely to hi1nself-more untimely
to the nation.
We are here gentlemen, in the performance of that
solemn duty. The meeting is now organized by the
appointment of President Any movement in re-
gard to the feeling of the organization may proceed
The emotion of the General during the
delivery of his brief remarks was very great,
and it was reflected in the faces of his hear
ers.
Officers who had formerly held commits
sions in either the army or navy, but who
were now out of the service and present
were invited to participate in the proceed
ings.
On motion, a committee of FIVE was ap-
pointed by the chair to draft suitable reso-
lutions. The chair named Brig. Gen. Bray
man, Col. L. NJ Quincy, Lieut.. Com. Max
well, Lieut.. Com. Meade and Capt. J. B.
Mott as the committee. While these officers
were absent preparing the resolutions, the
chairman introduced Major Gen. Banks to
the meeting and announced that he would
make an address. The following are Gen.
Banks's remarks:
Hy. President and FeEoto O5ieeJ8-I am unable from
consultation with the general committee who repre-
sent the officers and soldiers of this Department and
the navy, TO suggest general course which IS desra
solemn as this. But cannot refuse your invitation
sir to express my feeling with those of the officers
for the great and rreparabe which we have sus
| tanned. can almost say sir as you have said and
others who are near me can echo the voice which they
have heard from you that this great calamity takes
from US friend, as well as leader and chieftain
But it is private that called upon to
proclaim 1t is for the country mourn it is for the
people suffer, and it is for the future which
not be read by u.s. that we fear The great man that
has been taken away has by singular good fortune
| great wisdom, and sublime sense of Justice
so won upon the feelings the judgment the intellect
and the conscience of this country to stand per
haps without equal, even among the great of his
| forefathers. Of ali the men, of the South the
North that have been called to discharge the duties
of that high station, perhaps more important than
that OF any other III the universe, II may De sald
without injustice to any, that President Lincoln had
created for himself as high respect as obtained by
any other, not excepting the great first President.
| who by common consent is regarded and revered as
the Father OF his Country He has done this in times
OF such peril and OF such difficulty as to have over
awed the general Judgment and the general sense OF
point where could clearly and distinctly before
US the restoration of peace, and from which we could
assume the preservatonand perpetuaton OF the iber
ties and institutions OF TINS country Suddenly ne mas
been taken away-stricken down, sir, you have
said-and, as has been said by the committee, by an
unseen hand without cause, IN the pIenltude or ms
power and in thee njoyment of the full strength and
It IS impossible for any man, in crisis like this,
so sudden, so unexpected, to express in words the
for speech-gret will not wait for words. know sir.
you appreciate the difficulties of giving expression
| the sorrow which all OF us feel and only say
IN TINS presence ana IN the presence OF an event so
momentQus, Of crime so atrocious, of loss so II
reparabble that we stand in the presence of God,
| and we bow to His will.
Mr.. Lincoln was called to the office of President
Unexpectedly and ALMOST without being known to the
great mass of the people of the country He had not
had great experience in public affairs; but of
the citizens of the United States where all in
terested and all to degree intelligent and instructed
he was suddenly found to possess the qualities that
| were required in the Chief Magistrate in such an
emergency as no mind had ever appreciated. Those
| principles which were connected with a peaceful
his natnre. that his sentiments were received With
universal satisfaction and the doubt which existed
IN the minds OF all men before his election whether 1t
would be possible to unite the chiefs of the different
parties of the country in support of one policy,
Congress and to the people OF the country IT
Is l not & perhaps hip surprising tnat he should
era! judgment, and to have pronounced the gem
eral views of the people of this country in this great
he was sir you have said, by the Constitution of
the country, made Commanders Chief and invested
with the military and naval power of the people. as
well the direction of their civil aairs-and it is
here perhaps, that history will accord him greater
charge of his constitutional duties as civil officer
the Chief Magistrate of the country. You have
and every one before US, whether officer or soldier
has known him more or less as Comman nderin- Chief
mander-in Chief that we deplore his loss and can
say for myself that believe no of our time has
the United States. He has given, perhaps, as
fairs, and has known better the events of each day
as they transPired, than any other man connected
been able with justice to individuals and the general
traditions OF our history so to sum up the events OF
each day, to form just opinion, and to give exact
and precise orders as to the course to be pursued
In this he has been more remarkable than any
in the history OF our time, equal perhaps to the
traordInary capacity which has been manifested in
slmliar position at any time l believe 1t viii be
traces the acts and the opinions and the cOunses Of
the President IN all the trials through which
Iud
uaTy affairs has been profound, that of any
OF tine present age Wlth wisdom which has dis
tlnguisheG him above other men, he has not sought
to subvert the judgment of all others to his own
h t III ino ne ianissSe1 t & paIbence % wnlcn mas
and has given to his country Success in this great
crisis that is beyond the expectations Of the
most sanguine of our people.
1t Is not merely in this regard that
we have cause to revere his memory to honor
his career and to mourn his loss A connection
of the military leaders with the institutions of the
Government and their influence upon the career of
the country, which momentariy they direct, is
always source OF great socitude to the people, and
of government is the concentration of its physical
strength In which for the moment it suborns intel
lect and controls conscience. Whenever this i'm
mense and concentrated power is placed as it must
be- in the hands OF one man, have to shrink
%en tbe udpen S Of open to h especially
when the good sense OF the country comprehends
er in order that he may maintain the rights and pre-
serve the interests OF the people. When friends
on the one hand urge upon him the assumption of
power, and opponents the other, inveigh against
its anticipated assumption-when the weak men OF
the country fear destruction, except through the
manifestation OF that power by the strong. consd
crate hand-when these things urge man to take
possession OF the power and influence within his own
nanGs, the people and the country have right to
fear the consequences The course of history known
to Us all 1t Is not necessary to refer to single in
stance where the power of the people has been lost
in passing through transition like ours we l1nay
we'll ask ourselves where has there been a single
instance where the power has been preserved to the
people under such circumstances; and we rnavhsk
where is the man who has not feared the conse
quences, In this regard, in this great struggle In
the President of the United States we are nroud +o
say, we have had a leader of whom we have had no
cause for fear. He has been SO clear in his great
views, has understood well the degree OF n1vTar
necessary, and the limitation necessary to sustain
on the hand, institutions and main+air nrg
Government and on the other to Derpetnafa tba
liberties Of the people, that Mr.. Lincoln today will
be held by every man. whether in the ranks Of our
enemy or thes camps OF our friends to have heen
ever, haunrrd the e. a.. DVo1