Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-04-18
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From tho Pittsburg Gazette.
Mission OF Abraham Lincoln.

h Ihe RWIul Tragedy Of Friday night,
which cast q deeper gloom over this nation
than any event in its history. naturally
ca1ses our thoughts to run back over the
period, brief but wonderfully eventful,
slncs he whose tragic death We so deeply
deplote was first called from his quiet
| home 70 guide the destinies OF his country.
Little did We imagine, when we cast our
votes for him in 1860, to what awful duties
and responsibilities, and to what agonizing
anxities we were calling him. But before
the day for assuming those duties and tri-
ais arrived, the dreadful storm through
which he has so we'll guided the ship Of
State, was rising dark and fierce all along
the southern horizon. State after state dart
ed from its orbit, and assumed a hostile
attitude, and the Union seemed to be dis
solving into its original elements Trea-
son, ready armed, bitter and defiant, un-
turled its banner and dared him to the
conflict.
All this he saw and he saw, too, to
what condition Of confusion and week
ness combined treason and imbecility had
reduced the Government. But calmly,
quietly, humbly, in the strength of the
Lord his God. he went forward on the great
mission to which he was called. Feeling
that the work before him was beyond all
uuaided human wisdom and strength, in a
few simple words, but surprisingly elo-
quent because SO simple, he begged the
prayers of his humble neighbors who had
accompanied him to the train. Those words
thrilled millions of hearts, and evoked more
earnest, believing prayer than ever went up
to the Eternal Throne for one man. Men
felt assured that this was GoD's MAN, and
that success was certain, as Mr.. Lincoln
said it would be with Gods blessing. The
faith so feeliugly confessed on that occa-
sion was long and sorely tried Il but 1t
never fAileSy. -. th~oe PTa7Ora- nj hish he
INVOKED continued to ascend in an ever in
ereasiug Holdhe 81 during those four terrible
years from closets, from fresides, from
churches, from soldiers tents, from the
cabins of slaves, from America, from Eu-
rope, from continents and islands, where.
ever there were hearts that loved God and
Liberty and Truth.
And he did succeed. His course was
ever onward, onward, step after step. We
| often, in our impatieuce, chided his slow
ness, and afterwards confessed that he was
fast enough. Some of US blamed his con-
servatism, and, anon, admitted that that
too was right. Slavery, the great monster
evil and the soul of the rebellion, was not
suddenly nor rashly assailed. Had Lincoln
struck the blow when Fremont wished to
do SO, hewould have wrecked the Union,
but left the monster alive. Slowly and
painfully the war was doing the work.
The Ere which slavery had kindled to de-
strOy the government was slowly but sure
| ly Consumingit it. This Lincoln with ga
gacity beyond that of mere statesman
saw, and patiently bided his time.
AT length the hour came, and the bolt
which struck the letters from the limbs
of millions sped. II was soon enough, for
it shook the country to its foundation. 1t
was not too soOn; for it was grand sue
cess. hehthought until that IN oment that
the country was in advance of the Presi.
dent; but it required weeks and months
for a majorityOf the people to come up
with him.
The war, terrible and sauguinary, went
on. HalfNhearted or fAlse.hearted leaders
were dismissed, and better men put in their
places. Decisive victories began to crown
the arms Of the Union, and people began
to feel that if they would save the nation
they must utterly abolish that abominable
thing which had ocoasiOned all our trouble,
In June, 1864, the friends of Freedom
and the Union met'in Convention in Balti.
more, and not only renominated Abraham
Lincoln, but resolved to abolish slavery
totally and at once by a constitu tional
amendment. From that moment Heaven
blessed our arms with signal successes
In November following the people ratified
that great resolve by the election of Mr.
Lincoln to a second term. ThenceforWar6
our armies marched from victory to viotorJ
without q single reverse, until Shermar
had made his Triumphant and uuopposet
march through GeorgiR and both the Oar.
oiiras, and then Richmond fell and Les eur
rendered to tho indomitable Grant.
"With His blessing success is certain,
said our lamented President when he en-.
tered upon his great mission; aud his ey,
grew not dim, nor was his natural foroe
abated, until he saw tho 'fulfilImeut Of hi
prediction. Like Moses, he had his vol
to do, and he did it gloriOpsly, exhibiting
throughout all his 'labors and trials, .
meek, humble, gentle, yet heroic spirit
Like Moses, he led his people as far as 0ot
saw his people victorious aud safe; to eact
it was given 10 SEQ the dawn OF q glorious
future; but to neither was il given 10 do al
the work that was to be done. To Moses
it was given to bless his people before hl
departed, saying "The eternal God il, thy
refuge, and underneath are the everlasting
armp; and he shall thrust out the eneml
from before thee; and shalt say, Dest.oy them
Israel then shall dIoeH in safer GLCfls. III,
fountain of Jacob shall be upon land O
corn and wine, also his heavens shall dror
down dew. Happy art thou, % Israel; wht
is like unto thee, o people saved by th(
Lord, the shield of thy help, and Whoi th,
sword of thy excellency and thine enc
mics shall be found liars unto thee anC
thou shalt tread upon their high places. .'-
Moses uttered these words in his hour
triumph and then was called to give plac,
to another-not to better man, but to ont
better adapted to the stern work yet unac