The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-04-27

IN my heart; ana were l ever so great
a coward. | could but gather from
them strength to carryo ont my cofvic-
tions Of right. Thus feeling, 1 shall
enter upon the discharge Of my great
duty firmly ard steadfastly, If not with
the signal ability exhibited by my
predecessor, which ia still fresh in our
sorrowing minds. Need repeat That
no heaft feels moro sensibly than mine
the great affection. In what ] say on
this occasion, ] shall indulge no petty
spirit Of anger, no feeling ofreycngc:
bat VIC have beheld notable events in
tic history Of mankind Tn themidst
ofthc American people, where every
citizen is taught to obey the laws and
observe the rules q Christian conduct,
Our Chief Magistrate beloved Of al
hearts, has been assassinated, and
when We trace this crime to its cause,
when we remember the source from
whence the assassin drew his inepira-
ton, and then look at tho result, we
stand yet more astonishcd at this most
barbarous, most diaboiical assassiha-
ton. Such a crime as the murder Of
a great and good man, honorcd and re-
vcred, the beloved and hope Of the
people, springs not alone from soli-
tary invidual. of ever so desperate
%ickedness. We can trace its cause
through successive steps, without
enumerating them here, back to that
source which is the spring Of all Our
woes. No one can say thatit the pcr-
petrator of this fendish deed be ar
rested, he should not undergo the ex-
tremc penalty the law knows for
crime; none will say that mercy
should interfere. But is he alone
guilty? Here, gentlemen, you perhaps
expected me to present some indica-
tion of my future policy. One thing
! will say, every era teaches its lesson.
The times we live in are not without
instruction. The American people
must be taught, if they do not already
feel, that treason is crime. and must
be punished; that the Govern ment
will not always bear with its enemies
that it is strong not otly to protect
but to punish.
When we turn 10 the criminal code
and examine the catalogue Of crimes,
we there find arson laid down as crime
with lis appropriate penalty; we find
there theft, and robbery, and murder
given as crimes, and there, too, we
lind the last and highest Of crimes,
treason, with other and inferior Of
fences with which cur people are ia
miliar; but in our peaceful history
treason has been almost unknown.
People must understand that it is the
blackest of crimes, and will be surely
punished. l make this aIlusion, not
to excite the already exasperatea feel
ings of the public, but to point out
the principles Of public justice which
should guide our action, at this partic
ular juncture, and which accord with
sound public morals. Let it be en-
gaved on every heart that treason is a
crime, and traitors shall suffer its pen
atty. While we are appalled, and over
whemcd at the fall of one man in our
midst by the hand of q traitor, shall
we allow men, | care not by what
weapons, to attempt the life of the
State with impunty? While We strain
our minds to comprehend the cnormi-
ty Of this assassination, shall we allow
the nation to be assassinated? | speak
in no spirit of unkindness. l leave
events Of the future to be disposed o.
as they arise. regarding myself as the
humble instrument Of the American
people in this, as in all things, jus
tico and Judgment shall be determined
by them, l do not harbor bitter OF
rovengcful feelings toward any; in
general terms, Iwould say that pub.
lie morals and public opinion should
be established upon sure and inhexi-
bio principles OF justice; when the
question Of exercising mercy comes
before me, it will be considered calm,
ly, judiciously, remembering that am
the Executive of the nation. | know
men love to have heir names spoken
of in connection with acts of mercy
and how easy it is to yield TO this i'm
pulse, but we must not forget that
what may be mercy to an individual
is cruelty to n State. In the exercise
of mercy there Should be no doubt
left that this high prerogative is not
used to relieve few at the expense Of
the many; be assured 1 shall never
forget am not to consult my own
feelings alone, but to give an account
to the whole people in regard to my
future course. | will now make nc
pledges. | have been connected somc-
What actively in public affairs, and to
the history of my past public acts,
which. is familiar to you. | refer to
those principles which have governed
me heretofore, and will guide me here.
after. My opinions as to the nature
of popular government have longbcen
cherished, and constituted ds | am, ii
is now too late in life for me tochange
them. | believe that government was
made fer man, not man for govern
ment, This struggle of the people
against the most gigantic rebellion
the world over saw, has demonstrated
that the attachment of the people tc
their Government is the strongest ma
tional defense human wisdom can de.
wise. So long as each man feels that
the interests of the Government are
his interests so long as the public
heart inclnes toward the right direc.
ton, and people understand and ap-
,,rnoin 10 th "A fhaO,.. nf our EOracn want