The Portland daily press., 1865-04-24
Letter from the Federal Capital.
WASHINGTON. April IS. 1865.

WASHINGTON. April Is. 1868.
To the Editor Of the Press:
The three days now elapsed since my last
have TO us been sad and mournful ones indeed.
The capital which, only the evening previous
to the fatal one, was the scene OF an inumina-
ton, CAV and brilliant almost beyond prece-
dent. which on the fatal night was enlivened
by iubilant demonstration, has been as SOL
emn as place Of death. The public mind is
completely possessed by one thought SO terri
BILE that one can hardly find heart to speak OF
1t. Signs aud symbols of grief appear every
where. have often been reminded OF Irv-
ings touching description Of the poor widows
attempt to put on mourning for her son
George. The other evening noticed little
shanty built of rough boards, lighted by four
panes OF glsss, as poor dwelling as One can
see, which by shred of black tackled to the
outer wall testified to the participation of its
inmates in the general grief Similar exhibit
lions Of sorrow meet your eye wherever you
GO. Said colored woman, 20 dat could
hab died for President LinkunaL Yes
tcouId hGb gin up my own life and my sic
children all gladly If he could hab been
spared" Said lady of strong Southern
sympathies respecting the murder, "N Is the
most dreadful thing eoer heard of. OF I
could haze giuen my life for his how gladly I
oould haze done it!" and know she spoke
sincerely. When reminded that Southern
man had taken his place, she replied, 81 don't
care for that; he has not the heart of Mr..
Lincoln" XA88 - eH "a
On Sunday, the churches were draped with
black, and the national calamity was In nearly
ali alluded to befttingly, and In most 1t form
ed the subject Of the morning discourse. Ma
ny heartfelt tribute was paid to the abili-
ties and worth oil the late President. The day
set apart BY the entire Christian Church as
one OF gladness and rejoicing at the resurrec-
ton OF our Savior was made by our great be-
reavement one of lamentation.
The day was marked by one singular occur
ence. A minister whose name is not known,
having said In his sermon at the Mis-
sion Church, near Camp Fry, "if Mr.. John
son foIloacs in the footsteps of Mr.. Lincoln in
has treatment and hatred TO the South, he ,oill
share the same fate, and that, too. shortly,
or something to that effect, was summarily
elected from the pulpit and house by some
Veteran Reserve boys who were present, and
was saved some rough treatment only by the
interference Of an officer. He was arrested
and turned over to Col. Ingraham. The ar
rival Of some rebel officers also gave occasion
for furious commotion, which was quieted
only BY great exertion, Ex-senator Hale, and
General Spinner addressing the crowd.
On Monday business was but partially re.
snmed and tho streets wore strange and un-
familiar aspect. Even the announcement that
Mobile had been captured, with many prison.
ers and immense stores, kindled hardly q
CLEAN of enthusiasm. The commitment OF
several prisoners to the Old Capitol, one Of
whom was recognized as Suratt, was the occa-
sion of serious excitement. So furious were
the multitude that the prisoner was with diff
Guilty placed in the prison after receiving sew.
eral wounds from missiles.
To-day the body Of Mr.. Lincoln has lain in
State In the East Room of the White House
Owing to the insufficient time allowed the peo.
pie to look their last upon that face they have
learned so to love, the press was very great
and many were unable to gain admission. The
people were admitted by the western entrance
to the Presidential grounds. from which al
some times, dense line, from two to five
deep, extended along the front Of the man.
sion and grounds, eastward past the State
Department, and around the angle made at
that point by Pennsylvania Avenue, south
ward along the eastern front Of the Treasury
distance of about half mile. The pillars
of the front portico ofthe White House were
covered with black, and the door and win
dows were lestooned with black. As we
pass from the press and jostle, the bright
ness and sunshine of the outer world into the
dim hall of the mansion, every voice is hushed
and every step as noiseless as If heavy tread
might disturb the repose of the dreamless
sleeper. From the outer hall we pass
through the main hall Of the edihce, throughthe
"Red Room" th-ough the "Green Room where
80 many thousands remember to have taken
that hand so warm in friendship, SO strong in
rule, so true and faithful always, into the spac-
ious East Room, the scene of SO many pleasant
meetings and brilliant assemblies, now conse-
Grated by the presence Of Death. Man
persons ofrank and distinction, "guard Of
honor" are present, including Maj. Gen.
Hitchcock, who stands like statute at the
head OF the coffin, but they receive scarcely a
glance or thought. On raised platform, Gov
cred with finest black broadcloth, In the Ger :
ter Of the room, eleven feet long, four feet
wide, aud three feet high, surrounded by q
base or lower platform about eight inehe 8
high and two feet wide, and surmounted by a
black canopy lined with white satin, from
which depends curtain-like drapery, lies the
body of Abraham Lincoln. Calmly, peace
fully, amid all this wild lamentation of a
stricken people, it lies in its marble sleep. The
face 10 discolored, especially about the eyes,
butts otherwise perfectly natural Not till
this moment have we been able to realize that
he whom We have so delighted to honor is
? gone from among us forever. The seal OF
Death upon that honored face is broad and
PLAIN. We shall 60 to him, but he will never
return to US. And SO, for we can gain but q
hurried view Of the great sleeper, turning
again to catch last brief look. with hard
aching at our heart, we pass once more into
the open air.
Inc cofha is mahogany, lined with lead and
covered with superb black broadcloth. II has
iour massive silver handles on each side, is
richly but chastely ornamented between the
nanoies with shamrock leaves and stars of
silver, around the top with a pendent silver
fringe, and it bears silver plate with this IN.
scription-
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
18th President Of the United States,
Born February 18th, 1909.
Died April 18th 1885,"