Smyrna times., 1865-04-27
MIR. EDITOR :
We were somewhat disanpoint-

We were somewhat disappoint- |
cd in attending services held in one Of the |
churches OF your town on Wednesday last. |
Although the mortal remains of the illustrious
dead were not brought and laid before us, vet
our understanding of the matter was, that our
churches, in unison with the the ten thousand
loyal churches of our country, were to offer
funeral services appropriate to tho greatness of
the occasion that had called them forth. But
such was not the case. In some of them, SER
vices such as might have been called forth by
the death of any in the community were offered.
An occasion calculated to call forth the deep
est emotions Of the soul of the true lover of our
afflicted country, was upon us, Treason, Ia
word which we now realize it as we have never
realized it BEFORE after having stained the soil
on many Southern plain and mountain slope
with the blood of our nearest and dearest rela-
tives, had dipped its already crimson hands in
| the blood of our President Treason malig-
nant treason, after having fairly failed in
| bloody contest of four years duration to des-
troy the life OF this nation, creeps steathily be-
hind our country preserver and deliberately
sends the missile Of death through his brain
Treason, after having exhausted all its strength
in open combat, by deception the most guilty
works its way to the bedside Of our already
MANNED and suffering Secretary of State, and
with fcndish purpose plunges the dagger into
his throat. Never did treason search deeper
to accomplish its purpose, nor never did it
climb higher to reach its victim. Ye annals Of
the dark ages, unfold thy pages and reveal if
ye can crimes of blacker hue
He that was called upon to stand before the
American people on the occasion of the great
national funeral of our slain President, was
called upon to perform great and solemn duty; ;
such Il duty as he has never heretofore had oc-
caSiOn to perform, nor will he ever again be
called upon to perform such duty. And how
well this duty was performed by the great ma.
iorlty of those who addressed the people on
that occasion, the sOftened hearts and weeping
eyes'Of many an audience bore sufficient testi-
mOny, But, noble sirs, fatter not yourselves
that these tears flowed wholly on account of
your elOquence. You touched tender chord
1t Is true, but that chord lay very near the sur
r face. 4ou caused the hearts of your hearers
to overflow it is true, but these hearts were full
J to the brim ere you commenced. But none OF
l these things detract from the honor and res
{ pect due you from an afflicted people, for the
!, noble manner in which you performed your du
i ty i'll this crisis OF our national affairs and tha
honor, and that respect, will ever be cheerfully
d awarded to you by every loyal American citizen
t Here we would gladly lay down the pen
g But who hesitates or fears to do what he con
2 siders his whole duty in times like the present
. Our faithful President performed his duty am
,e laid down his life for his country. Our nObl
e army has accomplished It's work and Will So0l
r return home with the honor of our flag entirel
d vindicated. Then should the writer stop whe
al his duty is but half performed? Nay Will
| We would award just praise to all who in til
e patriotism of their true hearts offered an ap
ct prOprlate tribute to the memory of our illuStr
,e Gus dead, and to all who, notwithstanding thei
n former predictions and opinions, have no.
ne shown proper respect to our country and ou
~ country .preserver; yet to those speakers who
he ever or wherever they may be, who on the da
at of the funeral of our lamented President faile
as to utter one word condemnatory of the assassi
an that took his life, or one word eulogstc Of thu
m assassin victim, we would say you have
We least made great mistake.
,ss If you had the heart but not the moral cou
i'd age to speak in words of praise of our assass
of mated President for fear of wounding the fee
Sc ings OF your hearers, we would advise you
d. screw up your courage another peg or you W
he prepare for yourselves position in society We
nd similar to that held by a certain party, We
or much in the minority, and very much CO
ell temned, during the revolution.
to But IT you had not the heart nor the cOura
r) to perform this patriotic duty, we have for "
lay no words of condemnation, but leave you
ur- the workings of your own consciences and
ost the judgments Of an insulted people.
to Whether you are willing or not to acce
2! this as truism, that Abraham Lincoln is d
be- serving of fame second to none that Ameri
at has afforded, matters not to posterity, for tn
;ial will award it to him.
Whether you are willing or not, to place
nee single stone in the monument to his memor
DR.. matters not; for without your aid its SUNNI
eir will approach nearer the passing cloud tn
any that now stands in America. L..