The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-05-04
Eject Of the Assassination upon the policy
toward the South.

toward the South.
When the late President was foully mur-
dered Col. Forney was in Richmond. There
he received the first intimations of the foul
deed, but discredited it. Not till he had left
Fortress Monroe for Washington on his return
did he have the fatal tidings confirmed. On
arriving in Washington he wrote a letter ior.
the Chronicle, from which we make the fol-
lowing extract:
The assassins that slew the illustrious sage
who now sleeps In death in the Presidential
Mansion. and attempted the life OF the great
publicst upon whom only less depended than
apon the existence OF the Chief Magistrate
himself--these demons never dreamed that
thew were the unconscious instruments in
pressing the speedy punishment of the rebel
leaders and the complete extinction of the
rebellion and If Mr.. Lincoln's mercy and for
giveness are to be followed bya sterner poll.
cy, 1t will be necessitated by the new perils Of
the Republic. The good men of the South
will not suffer In such contingency. An
drew johnson is himself Southern man.
He is not, it, is true, despot, like Jefferson
Davis nor . porcelain aIistocrat, like HAM
learned fool, like Mason ;but he is neverthe-
less Sohtherner born, and one who, from the
flrst, has fought for progressive principles and
progressive men. No man better knows the
Southern people, and none probably knew the
authors OF the rebellion so well. The glorious
martyr himself, Abraham Lincoln, whose con-
slant kindness and forgiveness could not SOFT
en- the murderer's heart, has not bean q more
q devoted friend Of the South than Andrew
johnson. The bad men who, as they hear OF
Lincoln's death, gloomily anticipate their
ouvv alu x7ch ofad xufth n
the deeper because he hated and exposed
their designs. The manner In which the in
telligence Of the assassination OF Mr.. Lincoln
was received by the Union sailors and soldiers
we met on our return from Richmond was
more than significant. They loved this MAJ.
like father. He had grown into their hearts
His simplicity Of manners and his directness
OF speech; his unceasing attention to them
and to their welfare; his kindness to their rel
atives and friends-had made him their idol,
On the stormy deep, in the biveuac, and on
the march, even in the pauses OF battle, they
talked of "Father Abraham and thousands
of prayers were sent by these brave, men to
the throne of God for the patriot who was
slaughtered just as he had saved his country.
It is difficult TO say whether the spirit of re.
gret or the spifit Of revenge predominated
among them as the dreadful tidings came to
their knowledge. For il a fact MOTIF be for
gotten that, when the rebel troops laid down
their arms, three days after the formal surren-
der, % learn from an eyewitness, both ar
mics commingled together, and many Of the
men then embraced and shed tears, like long
separated brothers and friends. This noble
enthusiasm and oblivion of hatred, was the
legitimate offspring of the teachings OF Abra-
ham Lincoln to the American people. Would
ii not be surprising II the death Of their bene
factor and champion, by the hand Of one who
professed to speak for Virginia, and declared
himself to be the ayenger Of the South, did
not arouse the strongest emotions? The
terms of Grant to Lee, also the result of the
same benign policy, melted many of the rebel
| officers to tears. They were dumbfounded at
| the magnanimity Of the American Govern
ment; and the favorite officer OF Lee, General
Gordon, with many others almost equally emf
| nent, did not hesitate to express his deep and
grateful sense Of this unparalleled exhibition Of
the mercy of great conqueror.
The assassination OF President Lincoln has
awakened the 6ercest passions Of the long
forgiving and long-insulted. people of the free
States and nothing makes these passions
stronger than the remembrance of the i'm.
mortal example Of that good man in his treat
Inens of the foes of the Republic. / believe
that these rebel officers and men will denouuce
this deed of blood with all the severity and in
dignation which it deserves and demands
They will see in 1t, let us hope, new proof
Of the dreadful elements that have been en-
| listed by Slavery against Freedom; and in
theEneM uprising of the people OF the mighty
North, they will read the re-establishment of
the Federal Union on the only terms that .
great and prosperous nation can now afford to
offer and to guarantee to the defeated and the
powerless enemies Of free institutions. -