Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-11
BISHOP SIMPSONS ADDRESS
AT THE BURIAL OF The
MARTYR PRESIDENT.

Felloc.citizens of Illinois, and of our en-
tire Union: Near the capital of this large
and growing State of Illinois, in the midst OF
this beautiful grove, and at the open mouth !
of the vault which has just received the re-
mains of eur fallen Chieitain, we gather to
pay a tribute of respect aud drop the tears
of sorrow around the ashes of the mighty |
dead A little more than four years ago, !
from his plain aud quiet home in yonder
city, he started, receiving the parting words
of the concourse Of friends who gathered
around him, and in the midst of the drop.
ming of the gentle shower he told Of the
mains of parting from the place whore chill
dron had been born and his homo had been
made so pleasant by early recollections. -
And as he left he made an earnest request
in the hearing Of some who are present that,
ns he was about to enter upon responsible
ties which he believed to be greater than
any which had fallen upon any man since
the days Of Washington, the people would
offer up their prayers that God would aid
and sustain him in the work they had given
to do. His company left your quiet city;
but, as it went, snares were in waiting for
the Chiet Magistrate. Scarcely did he es.
cape the danger Of the way, or the hands OF
the assassin, as be neared Washington, and
| believe he escaped only through the vigi-
lance of the officers and the prayers of the
people; so that tho blow was suspended for
more than four years which was at last per-
mitted through the providence Of God to
fall. How different the occasion which wit
messed his return Doubtless, you expect
ed to take him by the hands to feel the
warm grasp which you felt In other days
and to sac the tall form walking among you
which you had delighted to honor in years
past. But he was never permitted to re-
turn until he came with lips mute and ST.
lent, his frame encoffined, and weeping
nation following as his mourners. Such a
scene as his return to you was never wit
messed among the events of history. There
have been great professions Of mourners. -
There was one for the patriarch jacob
which came up from Egypt, and the Egyp-
tians wondered at the evidences of reverence
and flial affection which came from the
hearts of the Israolites. There was mourn
ing when Moses fell upon the nights Of
Pisgah and was bid from human view
There have been meurnings in the kingdoms
Of the earth, when kings and warriors have
fallen: but never was there, in the history
Of men, such mourning as that which has
accompanied the funeral procession and has
gathered around the mortal remains of him
who was our loved one and who now sleeps
among us. If I'VE glance at the procession
which followed him we see how the nation
stood aghast. Tears filled the eyes of many
sunburnt faces. Strong men, as they clasp
ed the hands of their friends were unable TO
find vent for their grief in words. Women
and little children caught up the tidings as
they ran through the land and were melted
into tears. The nation stood still. Men
left their plows in the fields and asked what
the end would be. The hum Of manufac
tories ceased, and the sound of the hammer
was aot heard. Busy merchants closed THAR
doors, and in the Exchange gold passed no
more from hand. Three weeks have passed.
The nation has scarcely breathed easily yet.
A mournlul silence is abroad upon the land.
Nor. is this mourning confined to any class
all religious creeds seem united in paying
this mournful tribute. The Archbishop Of
the Roman Catholic Church in New York
and Protestant minister walked side by
side in the sad procession, and a Jewish
! Rabbi performed part of the solemn SER
vice. There are gathered around his tomb
representatives Of tho Army and Navy, SEN
ators, Judges, Governors, and officers Of all
the branches Of the Government aud mem
bers of all the civic associations, with men
and women, from the humblest as well a., the
highest occupations. Here and there, too,
are tears as sincere and warm as any that
drop, which come from the eyes OF those
whose kindred and whose race have been
! freed from their chains by him whom they
mourn as their delivorer. Far more have
gazed on the face of the departed than ever
looked upon the face of any other departed
man. Moro eyes have looked upon the pro-
cession for I,60o miles or more by night and
by day, by sunlight, dawn, twilight and by
torchlight, than ever before watched the
progress Of procession. / answer: First,
part of the interest has arisen from the
times in which we live, and in which he
that had fallen was principal actor. 1t is
principle OF our nature that feelings once
excluded from the object by which they are
excited, turn readily to some ether object,
which may for the time being, take posses
sion OF the mind. Another principle is that
tho deepest affections of our hearts gather
around some human form in which are in
carnatod the loving thoughts and ideas Of
the passing age. If we look then at the
times, we scs an age Of excitement. For
four years the popular heart has been stirred
! to its utmost depths. War had come upon
US, dividing families separating nearest
and dearest-a war the extent and magni-
tude Of which no one ceuld estimate-a war
in which the blood Of the brother was shed
by brothers. hand A call for soldiers
was mado by this voice, now hushed, aud
all over this land, from hill to mountain,
from plain 10 valley, they sprang up hun
dreds of thousands Of bold hearts,, ready to
20 forth and save our National Union. This
feeling Of excitement was transformed next
into a feeling Of deep grief because of the
dangers in which our country was placed
Many said Is it possible to save our ma
ton? Some in our country, and nearly all
the leading mon in other countries, declared
it to be impossible to maintain the Union,
and many an honest heart was deeply pain
cd with approhensions Of common ruin, and
many in grief aud almost in despair anx-
ious!y inquired; What shall tho end of these
things bo? In addition, the wives had
given their husbands, mothers their sons
In tho pride and joy OF their hearts they
saw them put on the uniform, they saw
them take their martial step, and they tried
TO hide their deep feelings OF sadness. =
Many dear ones slept on tho battle field,
never, never to return again, and there was
mourning in every mansion and in every
cabin in our broad land. Then came feel
ing to deepen sadness as the story came OF
prisoners tortured to death or starved
through tho mandates Of those who are call
aN. - Il IL.