Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-05-23

mortal--how II would have sofened or assuage
, something of the grief. Tbera might, at least
have been preparation for the event. But N
moment of warning was given to MIN or to US
, lie was stricken down, too when bis hoP;s 10
the end Of the rebellion were bright, ant
prospects Of a joyous life were before him
There was n cabinet meeting that day, said 4
have been the most cheerful and happy OF all!
+ held since the beginning Ct the rebellion. Ate
this meeting he talked with his friends, aut
spoke OF the four years Of tempest of the storu
being over, and Of the four years ot pleasure
and joy now awaiting him, as the weight OF CAR
and anxiety would be taken from his mind, an.
he could have happy days with his family again
10 the midst Of these auticipaliOus he left biz
house never TO return alive. The evening wal
Good Friday. the sadlest day in the whole
calendar for the Christian Church-hencefortl
in this country to be made sadder, it possible,
by the memory Of our nations loss; and 30
filled with grief was every Christian heari, that
even all the joyous thought of Easter Sunday
failed to remove the crushing sorrow under
which the true worshipper bowed in the house
of God
But the great canse of this mourning is 10 be
found in the man himself Mr.. Lineolu was no
ordinary man, l believe the conviction has been
| growing on the natiOns mind, az II certainty has
been on my own, especially IN the last yesrs OF
his administration, that, by the hand OF God, he
was especially singled out 10 guide our govern
ment In these troublesome times, snd Il seems
to me that the hand of God may be traced iu
many Of the events connected with his history
First, then, recognize this in the physical edn.
cation which he received. AMI. which prepared
him for enduring herculean labOrs. In the tolls
| Of his boyhOod and the lahors of his manhood,
God wns giving him an iron frame. Next TO this
was his identification with the heart Of the great
people, understanding then feelings because he
was one OF them, and connected with them in
their movements mud life. Ills education was
simple. few months spent in the school-hOuse
gave him the elements OF education. He read
few books, hut mastered nl he read. Banydn's
PTogTess Hsop's Fdbies, aud the Life Of Wdsh-
ingioA, were lis favorites In these We reeog-
nze the works which gave the bias TO his char
acter, and which partly moulded his style. His
carly lite, with ita varied struggles, joined him
indlesolubly to the working masses, and no e!e-
walton in society diminished his respect for the
sons Of toll. lie knew what it was to fell the
tall trees of the forest and to stem the current
of the broad Mississippi. Ills home was in the
growing West, the heart Of the republic, aud,
invigorated by the winds which swept over its
prairies, he learned lessons of self eliance
which sustained him in seasons Of adVersitY.
His genius was soon recognized, as true genius
always will be, and he was placed in the legis-
lature of his State. Already acquainted with
to matters of public interest, aud begun to be
looked on as the coming Statesman. AS early
as 839 he presented r, solutions in the legisla-
ture asking for emancipation in the District Of
Columbia, when, with but rare exceptions, the
whole popular mind of his State was opposed to
the measure. From that hour he was steady
and uniform friend OF humanity, and WAS prs-
pairing for the conflict of later years.
Ii you ask me on what mental characteristic
his greatness rested, l answer, on quick aud
ready perception Of facts on memory usually
tenacious and retentiye and on a logical turn
OF mind, which followed sterny AMI uuwaver-
ingly every link in the chain uf thought on
| every subject which he was called 10 investigate.
| think there have been minds more broad in
their character, more comprehensive in their
scope, but doubt ii there ever has been man
who could follow step by step, with more logical
power, the points which he desired TO Illustrate.
| lie gained this power by the close study Of ge-
omeiry, aud by determination 10 perceive the
truth in all It's relations and simplicity and
when found, to utter it.
1t is said of him that in childhood when he
hal auy difficulty, in listening to a conversation,
to ascertain what people III, ant ii he retired 10
rest he could not sleep till he tried to under
stand the precise points intended, aud when un-
deTstood. to frame language to convey 1t in q
clearer manner to others. Vino that has read
his messages fails to perceive the directness aud
simplicity VI his style: Aud this very trait,
which was scoiied ut and decIitd by opponents,
is now recognized as one OF the strong points OF
that mighty mind which has so powerfully in
huenced the destiny OF this nation, aud which
shall, tor ages 10 come, influence the destiny Of
humanity
1t was not, however. chiefly by his mental
faculties that he gained such control over man
kind. Ills moral power gave bin pre-eminence.
The convictions OF men, that Abraham Lincoln
was an honest mau, led them TO yield TO his
guidance. As has been said Ol Golden, whom
he greatly resembled. he made all men feel a
sense OF himsef-a recognition Of individuality
"a self.relying power. They saw in him man
who they believed would do what is right, re.
gardless Of all consequences. 1t was this moral
feeling which gave him the greatest hold on the
people, and made his utteranoes almost oracuar.
When the nation WAS augerei by the peThdy OF
foreign ma Ions 10 allowing privateers to be iilted
out, lie uttered The signifcant expression, Zone
war al a time" aud it stllled the uatioha heart.
When his own friends were divided as to what
steps should be taken AS TO slavery, that simple
uttGrauee. " | will save the Uuiun. if can, with
saVery if not, slavery must perish, for the
Union must be preserved" became the rallying
word. Men felt the struggle was for the Union,
and all other questions must be subsidiary.
But, after ALL by the nets Of IL man shall his
fame be perpetuated. What are his acts .
Much praise is due to the men who aided him
He called able counseur4 around hm--some o!
whom have displayed the highest order Of talent,
united with the puIest and most devo:td pRlri-
oii,m. He summoned able Generals into the
feld-men who have borne the sword as brave
ly as ever any human arm has borne 1t. He had
the aid Of prayeriul and thoughtful men every
where. But, under his own guiding hands,
wise counses were combined, aud great move
ments conducted.
Turn towards the different departments We
had an uuofgauized militia, mere skeleton
army yet, under his care, that army has been
enlarged into a force which for SKILL intelli-
which the world has ever seen, Before its vete.
rams the fame OF even the renowned veterans Of
, Napoleon shnll pale [npplause /, aud the moth
eIs and sisters on these hill sides, and all over
! the land. shall take to their arms again brayer
sons aud brothers than ever fought in European
wars. The reason is Obvious Money, or n
desire for fame, collected those armies, or they
were rallied to sustain Av0rite thrones or dy.
| aasties; but the armies he called into being
fought for liberty. for the Union, and for the
right OF self. government aud many OF them felt
that the battles they won were for humanity
everywhere, and for all time for believe that
God has not suffered this terrible rebellion Il
oUme upon our land merely for chasti,emcut
. to u.s. or as lesson TO our age. There are mo
ments which involve in themselves eternities -
There are iustauts which seem to contain germ
r which shall develop and bloom forever. Such a
moment came in the tide Of time TO our lnnd
4 when question must be settled which affected
all the earth. The contest was for human free
= d, m, not for this republic merely not for the
Union simply, but o decide whether the people
S as a people, in their eutre majesty, were des
e tiued to he the government, or whether they
were to be subject to iyfauts or atstoerais or lC