Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1865-04-22
Weayeryjlle, Saturday, April %, 1865
THE MARTYRED PRESIDENT.

One short week ago the loyal heart of the
nation beat triumphant at the glad tidings of
Ithe successes achieved by our gallant armies,
and the prospect of speedy and glorious peace.
The power of rebellion was crushed and hum
Ebled the tried legions which had upheld its
standard conquered, its Capital city once more
Iunder control OF the national authorities, and its
{chieftain fugitive for whom there could be no
[rest till he had hidden farewell to a country
(which he had served only to betray. The glad
[tidings of triumph flashed through the length
land breadth of the land, and as by one common
Eimpulse the Nation rose in spirit of rejoicing
THAT the terrible contest was so near ended
From every town and hamlet the people came
forth cannon doomed in thunder tones, the flag
sof our country waved from every flagstaff, and
when night threw its mantle over the earth Joy \
GUS throngs assembled to join the may dance
in patriotic revery. Little did we dream of tn q
Change which one week would bring forth-that
the banners which then floated proudly would
be lowered at half mast and draped in the habl-
{imcnts of woe that in the halls whence the
sound of reveiry went forth by night we should
next assemble to pay last tribute of respect to
the memory Of one under whose guidance our
loved country had been brought grandly through
the peris which enviroued her Yet so it is.
There is sadness in hearts to day. A terrible
{crime-a crime before which all others pale into
Iinsignfcance, has been committed. The joy
with which we hailed the restoration of our
Ecountry's unity is deeply mingled with sorrow
for him whom we had delighted to honor-on
whom our country has again and again showered
her richest blessings, lies cold and silent in the
stern embrace Of death
We have no words to express the feeling,
which this intelligence has called forth. Lam
kguage fails in its power of description. Had ne
died as the great and good should die, sinking
peacefully to rest with loving hands to soothe
the pathway to the tomb, we should still have
mourned his loss. Or had he fallen upon the
Battlefield in defense Of those principles which
Emake Freedom eternal, the glory of such fate
: would have softened the bitterness of death.
But that he should be sent into eternity at the
: hand of cOwardly MISUNDERSTANDING shot
down in cold blood at moment when danger
was least to be expected, is too terrible. Not
2grief alone fills the peoples hearts there is a
darker, sterner feeling which says that such a
= crime must recOil with ten-fold vengeance upon
the heads of its perpetrators. 1t is fit culmi-
u
tended to despise the degraded " mudsills'' of
: the North. When treason once enters the soul
" all other crimes become venial by comparison,
efor TREASON is the essence of all crime. They
Swho could dig up the bones of the Union dead
lat Bull Run for necklaces and gewgaws. shoot
kdOw uIarmed men and women in the burning
Hcitv Of Lawrence. bayonet wounded prisoners
. at Fort Pillow, and adopt systematic form of
starvation toward those whom the fortunes of
4war had placed in their hands, would scarcely
Ihesitate At Il single murder. This is their third
Eappeal-frst Mt the ballot-box, where they were
Srepudiated next to the stern arbitrament of
9war. and though on battle-ground of their own
choosing they were beaten again. Now assassi-
nation is He'd into requiSiton. Perhaps our
SGovcrnment may now awaken to a sense OF what
lis needed as it should have done years ago, and
kmete out to them the stern measure of retrbu7
Stion. And if SO, God pity them, for man will not
No man since Washington has had firm al
Shold upon the affections of the American people
Sls ABRAHAM LINCOLN OF humble origin, he has
risen from the cabin of the pioneer TO the high
est station in the land. Elevated to that station
las the champion of principles new in our polit-
Zeal history, principles which did not bow down
! before the Juggernaut of slavery, his elevation
was the signal for the Inauguration of fratr-
| cidal conflict that convulsed the earth. With
Gods blessing that conflict had been brought to
b successful termination, and grateful country,
3foreseeing the result, had accorded to him an
Ihonor such as had been awarded 10 none other
since the days of Andrew jackson, by placing
him again in the highest station known to Re-
publican Government. He is dead, but our
country lives Men die, principles never and
the eternal principles of Truth, Justice and Lib
erty, to which he is the noblest martyr, will live
Through all coming time