The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-04-21
The JefferSOnian Democrat
JULIUS o. CONVERSE, Editor.
CnlRDOy, QUO, FRIDAY, APRIL 81, 1865.
The Assassination of President Lincoln

q CHARD0N, 0lI0, FRIDAY, APRIL 81, 1861.
The Assassination of President Lincoln.
v A sad duty is ours, and how can We per.
form It; "A great and good man--tbo loved
!. and honored, tho tried ard trusted Chief
= Magistrate of these United States-bas
. fallen by the hand Of a vile assassin, and
umph, and in the midst OF unwonted rejoic
. ing, quick as the lighthings flash is d,rl
shadow cast over all loyal hearts. Wha
\ means this mighty pageant Of q nation
grief IL is not that death and mourning
nre in tho land, for il was filed with those
before: not that our hopos of succcss have
been suddenly bligbted or dimmed, fer tho,
were mover brighter: but that tho Head OF
tho Nation, with his great work seemingly
but half accomplished, hos fallen, tho no
blost of all tho victims Of the crime that ha,
deIuged our country in blood To expros
the significance Of an event in the preseuc,
ofwhch all the people stand appalled,, or tt
give voice, in fecbIo words, TO grief so pro
found and measureless as to Gil q nations
heart to ovetflowing, 10 q task In attempting
which our mind and pen sliko would fail us
Evory ono feels instnc,ivoIy that the weap.
on which laid the President low in death
was aimed al the heart of the Nation and
this feeling both deepens and iutensifes the
general sorrow and iodignatiou,a and the gou
oral purpose, now nero determined thar
over, to strike down, at whatovor cost, the
fell spirit which prompts and justifies such
crime Seek TO disguise the fact as eomc
may, that spirit is tho solo animrs of the
sIavoholdors' Rebellion ugainst which VIC
havo to contend. .t.
But tbere 10 bettor and moro hopeful
view to be taken OF this great national ca
iamity. We must not, amid tho darkness
OF our sorrow, refuse to see the light which
still illuminos our way. Abraham, Lncol1
is dead, but tho Nation he strove 10 save
still lives, and The samo God that appoint
cd for bin his wonderful work, may BE-
safely trusted to bring US through the fiery
ordeal in which wo arc now being 80 sorely
tired. New instrumeutslities may be en-.
ploycd, new policies adopted, but tho end is
suro. It's said that ,,. s.... -. .'a.r. b..
''Gref hath mission holier than joy :, 4
and the sentiment 10 not less true than beau !.
tiful, l,audis he applicable to nations as to-
individuals. Who shall say that. iss q pa.
:ion, wo have not needed tho subduing.
Christening influeuco Of grief, to mingle With
our joys, and dispose US to that reflection
necessary to a duo appreciation Of our great|
daties in this hour Of natioaal trial aud
peril gt,A3ta n4o itsdf paa. ra.bpa
At no tme in the Administration
Of President Lincoln, could bis 'sssas.
sination, Of which there was constant dnn,
ger, hayo boon at!esded, with conse q quences
loss disastrous, or could ho bavo passed
away more loved and honored by His coun
try and race. Ills virtues will bc emplated
and bis name revorod. throughout tho world
and 10 sll coming timo. The common peo
pie will ever remember him % tbo. repro
sentative, tho oppressed as their doliveror
and tho defenders, of all good govornmon
as their noblest martyr. Even bis error
were on tho side Of mercy aud forgiveness
and the very rebols, in whose interest ho hu
been sacrificed, will yet bo made to realiz,
that they have lost their trnest friend. w,
could wish that bo might have lived 10 en-
joy tho full fruition of all his labors and
hopes. But his mission 10 ended. and, If the
thought Of bis death shall nerve the Gov
nrnmental arm while. under tho guidance oi
another, it strikos tho relentless blows .ba,
shall lay the coDspirators against tho life Of
the Nation in tho dust. and savo our coun.
try to freedom and civilization, it will he
come us, in humble resignation, to fec
that he dod not in vain. .'.-.9s -7'f"
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1s-A report is in circulation of tho sur
render of Gon. Johnston, after tho nanne
of Con Leo '